Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (37 page)

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Pickpocket Countess

disguise when she saw it. This man might not be masquerading as
someone
else like she was, but he was masquerading as
something
else. She didn't have to think long to come up with motivations for such a show. Her own motivations served well enough. People confided the most amazing bits of information to those whom they believed had no brain and Wainsbridge was giving a very good impression that he had left his at home.

A man Nora recognised as one of the mill investors approached Stockport and drew him aside. Nora's senses went on full alert. Her suspicions were justified when Stockport returned to the group and took his leave.

'I regret I shall have to leave you. The investors and I are having a short meeting in the library. It seems there is a new plan to catch The Cat.' Stockport looked straight at her, causing her to readjust her earlier

What did Stockport know?

Had he looked at her on purpose? Nora wished she could be The Cat tonight. The Cat would deal swiftly with Viscount Wainsbridge and ferret her way into the meeting to overhear the plan.

Stockport's next words caught her by surprise. 'I Wainsbridge will be safe in your company, Miss Habersham.

If it is not too importunate, I was hoping you might honour him with a dance?'

It wasn't really a question. In an instant, Viscount Wainsbridge was next to her, soliciting for the next dance just starting up on the floor. In front of the group, Nora had no choice but to accept. Nora smiled gamely at Stockport. Apparently, he wanted to play cat and mouse. She would remind him just who was the cat and who was the mouse. If Stockport thought he had her cornered, he would be disappointed. He had no idea just how poorly Eleanor Habersham danced.

Ten

Brandon eyed the five other gentlemen assembled in walnut-panelled library over the rim of his brandy snifter with a certain amount of trepidation. Three weeks ago he would have thought this meeting to discuss further action against The Cat nothing more than due process.

That was before he met The Cat. Now, he was hard pressed to take an interest in any plan that might condemn her. Regardless, there still remained the issue of the mill. She had to be brought to heel before the mill failed, but he could not abide the image of her behind bars

worse, hanging from a gibbet

like a common thief. There was nothing common about her.

Tonight, Brandon found himself in the awkward position of trying to protect The Cat without tipping his hand, all the while trying to cope with the comments Jack had made earlier. How had he got in to such a deep game with her? He swallowed his brandy as Cecil Witherspoon, the mill's leading investor, cleared his throat and called the meeting to order.

'Gentlemen, I dislike having to

the festivities with

business, but the situation regarding The Cat cannot be allowed to continue. Since we are all together this evening, we can make the most of our time by discussing the issue.'

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Pickpocket Countess

The men-Squire Bradley,

St John, Stephen

Livingston and Jonathan Flack-all nodded in accord. Brandon kept his nod minimal and slightly aloof. He heartily disliked Cecil Witherspoon.

By rights, the tall, slender, blond man should have garnered his respect. Witherspoon was an ambitious, self-made man in his late thirties with a shrewd eye towards investments, very much like himself. But Witherspoon's pale blue eyes were icy windows into a glacier soul.