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Sybil squirmed “Are you always so forward in manner, my lord?”

A sudden shift in the air captured her attention She was so busy thinking of a way to lure Lord Newberry into her trap that she failed to notice Lucius Daventry enter the ballroolanced around covertly but couldn’t see hi nerve in her body said he was close

“You’re an intelligent woman, Miss Atwood, not one of the dim-witted ones I’m sure you knoorks”

“Of course” Her father said the truth was one’s greatest friend She wondered if Lord Newberry would agree “You want to bed aret You want to bed hter You hope, after a night of pleasure, I ht reveal his secrets”

Lord Newberry’s head fell back, and he laughed

It was then that Sybil saw Mr Daventry ast the crowd Dressed in black, he prowled the peri his prey

Her heart skipped a beat

Weak knees caused a misstep

Lord Newberry firrip and must have presumed he had a powerful effect on her senses “Perhaps a delicate little lauise, Miss Atwood”

Aware of Mr Daventry’s penetrating gaze, Sybil stuttered, “And … and perhaps a devil lurks beneath your angelic mask, my lord My father was a keeper of secrets He liked to observe the actions of immoral men The study of people is a science, too, is it not?”

The lord’s expression turned serious The light vanished fro about the study of the human psyche”

“Do you not?” The n

eed to hurry—for the dance would soon be at an end—and the need to speak secretly to Mr Daventry forced her to say, “Few peers care about science Which begs the question, what possible interest can you have in my father’s work?”

The question seeant lord His mouth opened and closed, but he failed to find the answer

“No doubt you couldn’t write a stately “My father cared about the poor, about prison refor their positions As you’re not poor or in prison, I must assume you have an interest in the latter”