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Chapter One

Matthew tipped his glass of whisky back and finished it in a single s His third in as in to nu to the Kicking Horse Tavern and Inn

He scrubbed his face with his hands several tione cold For the last two years, he’d been searching for his sister The one person in this godforsaken country he loved Or maybe it was just him that had been forsaken

“I’ll have another” He waved at a barrimaced in response He wasn’t certain if that meant she wouldn’t serve him or she just disapproved He hoped it was the latter because he needed the forgetful bliss alcohol could provide The worst part, he was the reason his sister Caone

“Bloody hell,” he murmured under his breath as the memories replayed in his mind She’d come to him for help but he’d turned her away Why had he done that? He knew the reason of course but it still made no sense to him He’d been mired in his own difficulties and sure they were more important than whatever Camille wanted to share with him

He’d never erase the ih he’d instantly regretted his choice They’d always helped each other But his disappointood sense

His head dropped into his hands as ue hilasses he’d already consu the details over and over That night was the last time he’d seen Camille before she’d disappeared Not six months later, their father had passed away He’d becoton but even his title couldn’t help him find her

In fact, he’d found it a hindrance, particularly in places such as this, the seedy docks of London’s underbelly So he’d posed as a coain any information he could He’d traced her to the docks fro Horse, but the trail ended there He believed her ship had sailed to France but he’d been unable to find anyone who could confirone cold

So he’d returned to the last place he knew she had been, The Kicking Horse

By all accounts, she hadn’t been here against her will; in fact, the tavern wench who’d seen her said she’d been with a ave hiave him hope that she was alive, if only he could discover where

A new serving girl weaved her way through the crowd, her tray unsteady She had that look like she was unsure of as happening around her Her eyes ide as she stu into patrons

A pang of sympathy stabbed at him She was lovely, really, with her dark hair pulled back at the nape and wide blue eyes that see for someone to save her As with all tavern wenches, she showed a fair ae, they appeared exactly right for fitting into a man’s hand

He shook his head Christ, he had to slon on the whisky if he was ogling soirl He blinked to clear his vision but he couldn’t help but look at her again when she stopped next to him to serve drinks to the fellows beside him

Her back was to hily noted the tininess of her waist, the perfect lines of her neck, and the silky tresses brushing down the sliave hie himself in the pleasures of women He’d kept his dalliances few and far between Not that he didn’t have his share of fe hiful pursuits It was better to spend his ti for the people around him, the servants and workers who depended upon hi for his sister rather than dallying with a hoyden

Though he hadn’t known Sarah had ill intentions, the one time he’d fallen in love, she’d only proven what a distraction affection truly was Sarah had not only broken his heart, she’d clouded his judg Sarah’s betrayal to push Camille away

The serving girl made to leave but one of the rabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap “Ye just got here”

She pushed at his chest “There are a great many customers and I—”