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Chapter One

Curzon Street, Mayfair, November 1820

"What the devil have you done with my ward, madam?"

Shocked, Fenella jerked her attention from the eht at home

Good heavens Aroom

An angry mountain

Astonishment, rather than fear, was her immediate reaction She slid her tahtened in her chair "And who on earth are you?"

Greaves, her butler, rushed in with two brawny foot behind him "My lady, this fellow pushed his way into the house before I could stop him"

The fellow clenched his huge fists at his sides and shot her servants a narrow-eyed glare Despite their size, Tom and John faltered back

Fenella could see why The mysterious intruder looked ready to commitdid nothing to hide his impressive muscles and the breadth of shoulders and chest

When he focused that searing stare on her, her stomach jumped with nerves Was this soh he didn't look unhinged Just furious

"Don't pretend you don't knoho I a his deep, resonant voice "Just stop all this blasted nonsense and take me to the lad"

Fenella snatched a shallow breath and rose with an appearance of cal knees beneath her frothy lemon skirts

"It isn't nonsense to expect a guest in estured to a brocade chair, ignoring Greaves's surprise at the way she faced theher as if she was too fragile for this rough world "Pray calm yourself, sir, and state your business Preferably without blasting and deviling your way through the explanation"

She waited for the intruder to explode into a rage, but he sucked in a deep breath and directed a doubtful glance at the chair She couldn't blaht and brawn, and he turned her airy drawing room into a salon from a doll's house

"Too"

"My lady!" Greaves protested as the footlance at the butler "He could be dangerous"