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Needed theents orked under the auspices of His Majesty’s Royal Navy were a thorn in his side They followed hiularly, and reclai The reason Maria married two of them could be simply that both men had been wealthy peers, but it could also be related to the agency itself, and if it was, he wanted to knohy

The setting of the Harwick country house was perfect in a way few places could be First of all, he elcome here Second, they were forced to share a roof And lastly, but most importantly, her ho, one of his people would e to join her household She would not be able to sneeze without hilass to her in a silent toast and she smiled a woman’s smile, one fil ed with mystery

To the winner, the spoils

Chapter 4

"I received word from Templeton," Simon murmured, his hand at the s in the pantheon after the clock strikes two I cannot go to hio, of course What do you expect hi for appearance’s sake, but his gaze was sharp as flint "I anticipate he has so here without just cause"

"You expanded the search of the coastlines?" Beneath lowered lashes, she studied theLady Harwick, but Maria had no doubt where his attention truly was

She could feel it--hot and intense

"Yes Because of this, the hed and his fingers stroked over her back The touch was barely discernable through the layers of her garuard Te for you or your sister, he cares only for coin"

"I ahtly and stared up at hiray silk with a quilted silk satin waistcoat, there were no distracting colors to coed, with his dark hair restrained in a queue, his long-lashed blue eyes riveted her attention

Their half-lidded state gave the appearance of boredoaze darkened

"I will turn her away, h with the pro"

"Every wo you Aerously Sies, untautter, and the sense that he could kil or fuck with equal expertise held a potent all ure for " He lifted her hand to his lips "And I never will "

She shook her head with a soft laugh "You take care, as Well, Si, he said, "I aone, and a short time after that St John’s dark-haired companion made her excuses as Well, her anticipation palpable

Maria knew firsthand that the wo her head, she saw St John approaching Whatever remnant of disquiet she felt over Simon fled in an instant, her senses ful y focused on the ht in her stoolden hair and skin burnished by the candlelight

Chain-stitched embroidery accented his creareen of his coat Unlike Si his coloring into stark relief Once again she felt the weight of feht her hand, much as Siesture was entirely different She was not touched by sorrow Not by any aze piercing He was every bit as rough as Simon, and there could be no doubt that thisincluded

However, his bearing was not lazily seductive, as Simon’s was It was brazenly sexual She knew, as only a wo about a bed with laughter and playfulness St John was too raw for that

She was deeply astonished to realize that she was attracted to that pri through Lord Winter’s treats

"H a nonchalance she did not feel

Hethe scent of his skin in the air She felt a feather-light touch drift across her throat "My beautiful deceiver Your heart races I can see it here"