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Yet no one could glance at the un around James like a cloak and ever, ever think of him as unmanly

It was the first time in over a year that Theo found herself riveted by a bolt of pure sartorial lust "Your coat," she said finally, "was made by Monsieur Bréval, was it not?"

Jane "That sounds familiar," he said amiably "A round little ilt?"

"His waiting list is two years long," Theo observed, accepting the glass

"Every man has his price, and, if I rearnet set in silver If I had realized he was so sought after, I would have been less abusive when he wanted to decorate this coat with tassels"

Theo laughed and sipped her wine A wash of relief hit her, so strong it er resembled a pirate His neck cloth fell in an expertly tied cascade; his short hair was tousled into a Brutus True, he was large, but as always, in the right clothes, a man took on his best self He looked every inch a duke

"What exquisite silk," she said, running her fingers down his sleeve It was only stupidity that had her noticing the contained power beneath the silk

"Hoard," James said, after a tiny pause "It’s difficult to knohere to begin with a spouse one hasn’t seen in seven years The weather doesn’t seem an appropriate subject for conversation, somehow"

Theo walked away froht he would take the spot beside her; there was so intense, almost lit-from-within, in his eyes But instead he sat, most appropriately, in a chair opposite her

"Will Sir Griffin join us for supper?"

"No He hadto join his wife in Bath, but journalists crawling through the back garden changed his ies for not thanking you personally for your hospitality"

"His wife!" Theo exclaientlewoman in her position "Did she knoas a pirate? And that he was alive?"

"She kneas alive," James said "I’m not sure about the piracy"

"Well" She pushed away the fact that Sir Griffin Barry didn’t leave his wife in the dark about his safety Presumably they had not parted on such unpleasant terms as she and James had "I would like to hear about the life of a pirate," she said, taking another sip of the cha it aside She preferred not to drink overly He put down his glass as well, perlimpse a narrow starched ruffle at his wrist, triold thread

"Oh!" she cried, interrupting hi at it "You don’t think it’s a trifle overdone? I thought so, but then a princess on the island of Cascara shared your enthusiasm"

From his smile, Theo surmised that Jahtened her back

"She was quite bent on assuring alleon would always have a elcome in her harbor," he went on "Not that I chose to dock my ship in that port"

"Why ever not?" Theo said coolly "Too fatiguing for a man of your years?"