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Bonaparte had just iuton’s forces, when Sapphira began her assault on his father’s sensibilities, so Rob had neverbride What would he ra wondered
Send her to the rightabout i bosoh Rob wasn’t elderly or grieving for a beloved wife’s touch, he was a man She couldn’t be certain he would prove any more immune than Uncle Robert to Sapphira’s charms
She should go forith her plans to find era concluded as she finished her chocolate, fir the stubborn relics of her old roh she would stay and see Rob established here as Lord Lynton before she e possibility that Sapphira uiled his father ra determined to have alternative plans for her future in place by the time Rob returned
With one last sigh over the handsome countenance she so vividly rera set aside her cup, took up her pen and went back to her list
CHAPTER TWO
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, a knock at the door of his Chelsea parlor distracted Willia open, he discovered his cousin Lucilla, Lady Do on the threshold, hands on hips as she surveyed the sant ruby pelisse and bonnet, she looked as out of place in his shabby sitting room as her expression of distaste proclaimed her to feel
Covering his shock—and a surge of gladness—at seeing his favorite childhood cousin after a gap of two years, he rose from his chair and drawled, “Lucilla,here, you know Leave immediately and I shall swear I never saw you”
With a sniff, Lady Domcaster advanced into the roo look to intihten y set of rooms!”
Realizing with perhaps too great a sense of relief that Lucilla wasn’t going to allow hiuidly to the sofa “Coies that the accoh I’d still advise you to reconsider this call”
“If you’d answered either of my two notes,” Lucilla replied as she seated herself, “I wouldn’t have to do so my bachelor cousin in his rooms”
Will brought one hand up over his heart “Dear me! My wicked reputation Is Domcaster likely to call me out?”
“Oh, I can handle my lord husband,” Lucilla assured him, a sparkle in her eye “Besides, the on-dit says you only seduce married ladies in their own boudoirs or in love nests of their providing Now, since I’ve already coht as well offer me refreshment—if there’s any to be had?”
“Give me a moment and I’ll see if Barrows can scare up so her a courtly bohich she waved off with a grin, he entered his chamber to hail his valet, friend and man-of-all-work
Barrows stepped back so abruptly, Will knew hedevelopment!” Barrows said in an undertone “Shall I fetch wine or stay to play chaperone?”
“Wine,” Will replied softly “The better to send her on her way more quickly”
“Excellent point,” Barrows replied and headed toward the back exit
The errand gave Will a moment to trap the joy his cousin’s unexpected visit had surprised from him and bottle it back under the urbane, bored demeanor he affected
“Wine is forthco,” he announced as he walked back in “So, to what do I owe the honor of this highly irregular visit?”
“Did you not even read the notes I sent?” Lucilla asked with a touch of exasperation
As if he would not have immediately devoured the contents of the first correspondence he’d received from any relation in nearly two years But afraid, if he called upon her as she’d bid, he h to resist the temptation to renew the friendship they’d shared in their youth—a liaison that would now reflect no credit upon an otherwise respectable o to North Audley Street
War him out, it would still be best for her if he rebuffed any atte her ave her instead a lazy grin “Refresh my memory”