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This hat Sister Luke would describe as the Pri directly to Temptation With a capital T And probably Sin Capital S No wonder they said it was a straight and easy road Being carried by a strong and attractive —next door to four men—on a blissfully soft bed All undoubtedly wicked

After that, how could travelling in a carriage with two gentles any worse? She wasn’t sure she trusted Lord Weybourn’s slanting smile, but Mr Rivers seemed eminently reliable

‘Thank you, my lord That will be very satisfactory’ It was certain to be a very coe, for none of these h they stinted on their personal co, then stopped when no one leaped to their feet and started to bustle aroundwill it take us?’

‘Seven and a half, eight hours’ Finally, Lord Weybourn got to his feet

‘But ill arrive after dark I do not think the ships sail in the dark, do they?’

‘We are not jolting over ht on board, whether a ship is sailing or not’ The viscount strolled across to one of the other doors, opened it and shouted, ‘Gaston!’

‘They do sail at night and I a,’ Mr Rivers remarked ‘But I am in haste, you’ll do better to take the opportunity to rest, Miss Ellery’

‘I am also in haste,’ she stated

Lord Weybourn turned from the door ‘Do nuns hurry?’

‘Certainly And you know perfectly well that I a creature refused to be chastened by her reproofs, which showed either arrogance, levity or the hide of an ox Probably all three ‘I am expected at the London house of the Order’

‘The Channel crossing is notoriously uncertain for weather and ti you for a day or so either way Unless soative brow Tess shook her head ‘There, then Arrive rested and, hopefully, not hobbling Always a good thing to be at one’s best whenan entrance Breakfast is on its way’

He sauntered out, lean, elegant, assured Tess’s fingers itched with a sinful inclination to violence

‘Youa fly, Miss Ellery,’ the blond icicle reraphically He inclined his head in a graceful almost bow ‘Crispin de Feaux, Marquess of Avenestured towards the third hwaye’

Lord Edenbridge stood, swept her an extravagant courtesy, then collapsed back into his chair ‘Enchanted, Miss Ellery’ His cards appeared to enchant him more

‘I’ll send for some hot water for you’ Mr Rivers held the bedchamber door open ‘You will feel much better after a wash and some breakfast, believe me, Miss Ellery’

Tess thanked him, curtsied as best she could to all three men and sat down on the bed to await the water It wasn’t their fault She knew just who to blame, but because she was a lady—or, rather, had been raised to have the ue and do her best to act with grace So to be almost noon by the time it was finished at this rate

As she had suspected, the carriage proved to be very comfortable ‘I keep this and my own horses over here,’ Lord Weybourn explained when Tess exclaimed in pleasure at the soft seats and the padded interior ‘Job horses and hired vehicles are unreliable’

‘You coly into one corner and sub the seat and covering the A hot brick wrapped in flannel was tucked in, too Such luxury She would enjoy what good things this journey had to offer, especially as the future seeant coach travel

‘We all do’ Lord Weybourn folded his length into an opposite corner while Mr Rivers took the other They had given her the best, forward-facing position, she noted ‘Cris—Lord Avenress and half doingand fleecing any gah to cut cards with him and Grant here buys horses’