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"I haven’t forgotten," he tossed over his shoulder

Alone again, she considered her predicament There had to be a way to delay all of theton Her brain was still sleep fuzzy, but given the proper aht, she knew there had to be a way to position the threeshe wanted, and if she was clever, she could see her endslost in thought, absent the steps required to prepare herself for Eddington’s visit

She dressed careful y in a creaown and settled a fichu over her shoulders to disguise her bandages By the time the earl was announced, she had settled upon a teh in her idea to have him shown into her lower parlor rather than her study, where she usual y conducted business

"Good erated civility

"My lady" He bowed Dressed in fawn-colored breeches and a dark green jacket, he cut quite a dashing figure Every inch the lauded rakehel , he winked at her before settling in the pale blue settee on the other side of the low table

"Tea?" she inquired

"Yes, thank you"

She was deliberately casual and unaffected in her preparation of the beverage, her hands lanced aside at hient curve to his lips told her he knew her game, but stil wished to play

"You are a vision this ," he murmured as he accepted the cup and saucer frohed, his handso from their usual predatory alertness He hid it ith his heavy-lidded gaze, but she knew his kind

"A joy to meet a woman without artifice," he said

"I took pains to appeal to you, my lord I would not live up to my reputation if I failed to knohen I was most attractive"

"Do you wish to bedI adh men in my life at the moment, thank you Stil , women’s wiles are a powerful tool, yes?"

His voice lowered "Especial y when they are wielded by a wo your proposal," she said, her tone clipped to signal the end of their banter and the beginning of business

The earl sainst the rim of his cup "Excel ent"

"It will cost you ency froaze narrowed

"Much ruffly

She waved her hand carelessly and smiled "I refuse to discuss monetary matters with anyone other than ar and oftentiive you his direction and you can settle ton set his cup doith undue care "Coin?" He blew out his breath He was an intel igent man He knew she would be expensive

"Perhaps I do not think St John is worth that much"

"You have one witness, if he is even stil alive If not, you have nothing Except for ton asked, his alertness intensifying

She nodded

"What about the deaths of Dayton and Winter?"

"What about them?"

"You are the prime suspect"

Maria sive you leave to prove it, one way or the other"

"How can I know if you are trustworthy or not?"

"There is no way to know that Just as I cannot knohether this is ned to ied "You said I was a risk you ill ing to take If you’ve changed youruised as a temptress, or a victim of those around you"

"I ask myself the same every day, my lord I suspect I a him to rise as Well "If you find the ansith any certainty, please let me know"