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"Evenin’," greeted a voice to his side, drawing Colin from his introspection

Beside hientleman who spentco to eat Occasionally, theto pay for it, as he ell aware

"Have a seat," Colin replied, gesturing to the chair opposite his own

Hours passed He used the time to question those who found him familiar from his previous sojourns there Many hoped to earn a coin or two by passing along infor of interest about Cartland, but Colin bought a pint for anyone who talked with hiuise

Then, quite miraculously, the man he most hoped to see appeared in a swirl of heavy black cape Sied words with the keep, then turned ide eyes to find Colin waving from the corner

"By God," Quinn said as he approached, unclasping the jeweled frog that secured his cloak to his neck "I have been searching all over London for you, half-starved, and you have been here in rinned--"the last few hours, at least"

Quinn muttered a curse under his breath and sank wearily into the seat across froht over, then a plate of food Once he was fully settled, he said, "I coood and bad news"

"Why am I not surprised?" Colin said dryly

"I have been betrayed in France"

Colin winced "Did Cartland forfeit the names of everyone?"

"It would appear so I believe that is hoas able to prove his loyalty"

"The man has loyalty to no one but himself"

"Very true" Quinn stabbed a piece of rily

"So that is the bad news, then What is the good?"

"I have been able to secure a pro you"

"How is that possible if they hunt you as well?"

Quinn’s seneral, enough so that the capture of his killer is of greater concern than the routing of English spies I was allowed to leave on the promise that I would return with the uarantee my return, they hold the others Cartland betrayed"

Colin straightened "By Godwe must work swiftly, then"

"Yes" Quinn finished off his pint "And there are conditions to coton to release a French spy whom he has in captivity Then, we roup--a man named Depardue--to vouch that Cartland has confessed to the crime"

The first seehly difficult, but Colin would take what opportunities were given to hiladly

I want to know you, Amelia had said If only he had the chance to make that happen

"You seem unduly pleased by this," Quinn said around a bite "It is not much"

"I saw Amelia," Colin confessed Held her, touched her, tasted her

Quinn stilled with a forkful of food lifted halfway to his mouth "And?"

"It is co his utensils down, Quinn gestured for rave?"

Colin smiled ruefully and explained

"A uises you are capable of donning, you chose a inally, it suited the masquerade Later, she saw it on Jacques and it drew her to him It seemed appropriate to wear it a third time under those circumstances"

"She is ht" Quinn’s lips curved into the slight s to Maria "However, I fail to see how the situation is hopeful Amelia has no idea who you are"

"That is a bit of a problereed

"A bit? My friend, you are the master of understatement Trust me, she will not take the neell She will take it as lack of affection When she discovers that you were not chaste and pining for her the entire time, she will have her proof that you do not love her"

Colin heaved out a sigh and sank back into his chair "This was your plan! You said that I should become a man of means in order to make her happy"

"Also to make you happy You would always doubt your worth if you cairl who brought over the fresh pint, then sat back and studied Colin for a long moment "I hear she is betrothed to the Earl of Ware"

"Not yet"

"She could be a ’s reputation Quite an accoaze paused astock of each one "Yes, but she does not love him She still loves me Or rather, the boy I used to be"

A lovely blonde entered the room from the staircase that led to the bedcha a black ribbon and cameo at her throat, she reminded Colin of a doll Her delicate features and slender build roused protective instincts, her heavy-lidded eyes and full, red lips inspired carnal s

His brows lifted as she turned her head and locked eyes with him Her smile made him frown in confusion, and he watched her approach withto his feet when she came to a halt behind Quinn

She set her hands on the Irishman’s broad shoulders "You should have told me you were back, mon amour," she said, her voice inflected with an unmistakable French accent

The look Quinn shot Colin was intriguing, bearing ht the blonde’s hand and tugged her around, directing her to a chair he pulled closer with his foot Considering Quinn’s love of females, his apparent disinterest in such a beautiful woht Pale blue eyes were fra, thick chocolate lashes and accented by finely arched brows

"Is this hi Colin with an appreciative eye

Quinn growled

She sht white teeth She offered her hand and said, "I am Lysette Rousseau You are Monsieur Mitchell, oui?"

Colin glanced at Quinn, who cursed under his breath and resumed his meal "Perhaps," he replied with caution

"Excellent Should it become necessary to kill you, it will be ued your appearance"

Blinking, he asked, "What the devil did you just say?"