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Only a fool would underestier of Mr Lucien Valin And Jocelyn was no fool

"If you say," she reluctantly conceded

"Is there anything else?"

"There are my rules, of course," she swiftly countered, not at all surprised when his lips curled in open a house I live very quietly I will not countenance loud gatherings or drunken carousing"

A tawny brow flicked upward "I am allowed no callers?"

"Only if they are discreet"

For some reason her cool response only deepened his amusement "Ah"

That unwelcoain inched down her spine, and Jocelyn discovered herself battling back the words to order this Mr Valin fro away a perfectly suitable tenant just because of soement will be of a temporary nature," she instead retorted in an effort to reassure her faltering nerve "No longer than two h"

It appeared everything suited the devil

Jocelyn narrowed her gaze "I also must insist that you respect , but the remainder of the house is not to be entered"

There was a brief pause as he studied her carefully bland countenance Then he gave a vague nod of his head

"As you wish Is that all?"

It was, of course

She was charging hieous sum of money for cramped rooms and meals he would be forced to eat in the servants’ quarters

She had also made ientlereed made her even more suspicious

"Why are you here?" she dearded her with a be your pardon?"

Jocelyn deliberately allowed her gaze to drop to the deep burgundy coat cut by an obvious expert and white waistcoat stitched with silver thread Her gaze continued over the hard, lossy Hessians that cost more than many families could earn in a year

At last she raised her head to discover hi her in a curious fashion "It is obvious that you are a gentleman of means, Mr Valin Why would you desire to take inferior roohborhood most consider fit only for cutthroats and whores?"

"Does it truly matter what my reason?" he deave a sudden chuckle "I assure you that I aallows"

"Then, why?"

"Let us just say that there was a slightwith my cousin"

The explanation was a trifle too s with your cousin and now you desire to hide in St Giles?

\bu shall have to do better than that, Mr Valin"

The devilish glint in the golden eyes becahtGideon can unfortunately be tiresomely unreasonable when he chooses, and I believe there was some mention of a nasty duel It seemed best to avoid him for the next several weeks Just until his temper is recovered"

"What is the nature of this ?"

His features unexpectedly fir lines "That is a private uard by a traitorous prick of disappointentleman? He was, after all, born to break the heart of susceptible wo herself for her unworthy thoughts

She knew nothing of this gentle letch And in truth, even if he were, she was in no position to judge another

"I respect your privacy, but you entleible humor swiftly returned to the bronze features "He has noI am here Besides, Gideon would never harm a lady He far prefers to charestive "As do I"

Jocelyn carefully laid her hands upon her tidy desk This flirtatious banter was precisely what she had feared from Mr Valin It was iht harbor of a casual seduction

"That is all very well, but do not iine for a moment, Mr Valin, that I aht claientleth of his jaw

"Surely you exaggerate, Miss Kingly? Not even reh "A hard woames," she corrected hi"

"Oh, I possess abeneath his jacket to re that he placed upon the desk "Indeed, I even re warily "What is it?"

"The two months’ rent in advance, just as you requested"