Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (270 page)

'But first, would you tell me your name?'

had the good grace to laugh at her oversight. She'd been so worried-still was worried-about what these newcomers would mean to Valerian. 'I'm the Dowager Duchess of Cambourne, but you may call me Philippa.'

eyes widened with something akin to excitement. 'You're the one who has the brother, Beldon.'

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was caught entirely off guard. That was the last thing she'd expected the girl to say. 'Yes.

How do you know about my brother?'

The girl seemed to relax for the first time. 'Valerian used to tell us stories about the three of you.'

'Valerian.' She was quite free with his name. She did not call him by a title or his surname.

'I hope the stories were all good,'

said

wryly. 'Perhaps we should start with how you came to know the viscount?'

The girl's reserve was back and she sat straight as she told her tale. 'The viscount was a regular visitor at my father's house. We lived in the Negush district. We were Phanariots. Do you know the word?'

shook her head.

'The Phanario ts were

Christians in

the Ottoman system. Our family held an important position in the government. I suppose you could say we were a type of ruling elite. We had wealth and power and we controlled huge portions of business, especially in the area of shipping.'

nodded her understanding, noting how

the girl spoke of these Phanariots in the past tense.

'Valerian came to our home to

about British

shipping and trade. He was a diplomat. He'd been charged to discover whether or not it would be profitable to establish a business relationship between us and the British government.'

The pieces were starting to come together.

knew how valuable shipping routes were to the British government. But this charge seemed

Scott

rather straightforward to carry out. It sounded as if the Phanariots had British sympathies.

'Valerian visited us often. I've known him since I was a little girl. I would practice my English with him. Languages were important in our house.'

wistful look passed over the girl's face and could well imagine she was recalling a happier time.

'Valerian

my father,

and my

Aunt Natasha. He stayed with us even after the negotiations proved to be unsatisfactory.'

'Unsatisfactory? In what way?'

seized

on the words.

'I was only eight, as young as Constantine is now.

I hardly know exactly. But my father was furious. I do remember him shouting, "By God, we have six hundred ships between the Black Sea and Venice

'But Valerian remained your family's friend?'

pushed, wondering what would have caused him to pursue a personal tie.

'Right until the end. He risked everything for us.

We would have died without him that last night.' Her face grew cloudy.

felt guilty for bringing it up. Perhaps she'd pushed too far on such short acquaintance. She wanted to ask more, but refrained. 'You're tired.

Valerian won't be back until later in the day. He's gone to see an inventor with my brother. Perhaps you'd like to rest?' She did a quick mental inventory of the bedchambers upstairs. One of them had just been completed a few days earlier with fresh linens and paint. She would have the day maids Valerian had hired open up the nursery wing for the boy. He

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might enjoy the chance to be the master of his domain.

Lilya looked relieved at the suggestion. 'It has been an exhausting set of weeks.'

'Do you have trunks or any baggage?'

inquired. No matter what this girl or boy were to Valerian, she could not send them away knowing they had nowhere else to go.

Lilya nodded. 'I left them at the posting inn in the village.'

send a cart for them. You will have them by dinner. Until then, ask for anything you need,'

offered graciously, leading them up the stairs.

The newly finished pale green room at the end of the hall was perfect for Lilya.

small sitting room

opened on to a large, airy bedchamber that overlooked Valerian's prized herb garden.

threw

the long windows open to let the scent of lavender waft up from below. Lilya was enchanted.

have the nursery wing ready for you, Master Constantine, in a few hours, if you'd like,'

said

to the boy. Her curiosity was

her. Was this

solemn young boy with his dark

and the begin-

nings of a broad-shouldered build Val's son? If there were a hundred other questions

in her

mind, not the least being who and where was his mother?

He nodded his thanks and Lilya quickly explained that his English was not that good. She gave an elegant shrug. 'I've taught him what I could, but.. .

Her voice trailed off and

suspected that life