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Which brought up the fact of the lovely Ms Duquet’s unexpected appearance in his front parlor and how she’d ht, Louis knocked lightly on the door of the bedroom suite that Duncan had taken for himself

"Come in, Louis"

The stocky vah and assued to Duncan body and soul, but before he’d becoed in the heat of battle, and he still had fond memories of his days as a military man

Duncan buckled the belt on his suit trousers and sat down to put on a pair of black dress socks "How’d she get in?"

"The duate open with their vehicle while they loaded the trash, and she slipped past I take responsibility for--"

Duncan sighed "It’s not your fault The three of us sih to secure an estate of this size It will be easier after the others get here--and after Miguel brings in the daylight teanore any callers"

"Yes, my lord"

Duncan pulled on his boots, stomped his feet as he stood, and slipped his suit jacket off the hanger "Have you checked out the baseuel called me, my lord"

"Good Thank you, Louis I’riy necessary, my lord I’ll take care of it" Louis dipped his head in a bow and slipped out of the roohts, which ies of Eer-co froht A lovely, old-fashioned na old-fashioned about his visitor Her long, chestnut colored hair had hung down her back in a wild tangle, and those unusual dark violet eyes had been sharp and intelligent, despite the aly she seemed to radiate She wore her severely tailored suit like a knight wore his arht had ever flashed such shapely legs, nor donned a pair of high heels to s had been covered in silk stockings, too This weather was too cold for bare legs, but she hadn’t given in to te than silk He understood the need for hts were certainly practical in this climate But the southern-raised man in him still preferred to see women in skirts and dresses, with the sweet curve of slender calves accented by the sheen of silk Although, to be sure, no self-respecting wo E skirt and jacket, nor would they have worn silk stockings where a rinned Co hadsoabout Ms Duquet’s clothes? He should be wondering instead what she was doing here And what could be so urgent that her eyes had darkened with fear when he told her Victor was gone?

Chapter Five

Eh the last volume of what appeared to be a complete 1776 first edition of Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire And in remarkable condition, too She was no rare book expert, but she’d have bet this particular set had never seen the inside of a bookshop A well-preserved family heirloom was more like it

She shook her head, suddenly iht the whole set fresh off the press and shoved it on a shelf Probably didn’t even know they had it, much less what it orth She slid the book carefully next to the five other volu titles She wondered if there were other treasures like that one, just sitting here with no one the wiser

"Victor had a reuiltily and spun around She stared at Duncan, heropen in shock, until she realized it and snapped her jaw shut hard enough that it hurt Thethere was Duncan, but it wasn’t hione, and didn’t he fill out a suit nicely? Maybe the ambassador required him to dress for visitors, even the uninvited ones

She blinked, tilting her head curiously as his words caught up with her thoughts "You said had a collection Past tense Did so happen to Ambassador Victor? Is that why your boss is here now?" Her heart began to race at the idea that soone to was one hosted by the vampire ambassador himself, or so Lacey had told Eone to one of Victor’s parties, but this one was supposed to be so weekend at a house outside the city Lacey had been so excited She’d blown her share of the rent ive her and cover the whole rent--as always

And right now, Emma would happily pay the rent for the next five years if Lacey would just show up safe and sound

"Emma?"

She blinked "I’m sorry," she told Duncan and shook her head to clear it "U happen to the a unexpected, no," Duncan assured her caloes with the residence, so it’s not really his anyway"

"Oh, of course I guess that enuinely happy with her conclusion, or maybe it was racefully and strolled over to the heavy, ornate desk Miguel slipped into the roo no ed clothes, too, and now took up a position behind Duncan’s left shoulder as Duncan sat behind the desk