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Locating Newberry wasn’t his only reason for venturing upstairs After a brief conversation with Mrs Cockborne—a notorious ho rode her conquests so hard those in the demimonde referred to her as Mrs Cockburn—Lucius discovered that Sir Melrose Crampton had a private office and a library on the first floor

Both the office and the library were locked, which ned a skeleton key capable of bypassing warded locks But the stifling heat in the ballrooe in the fa rooback chair near the , holding court with an entourage of aded to unlock the library door before hearing the pad of footsteps on the stairs

Returning to the task of finding Lord Newberry, Lucius headed towards the other three rooms on the floor Those doors were locked, too Perhaps the fop had ventured up to thethe peer in a coive Lucius a perfect excuse to throw a punch

“Lucius”

He was about to mount the stairs to the upper floor when he heard the fe panic rose to his throat Miss Atwood knew better than to repeat his given naue upstairs Although on reflection, he knew it to be Larissa Sinclair’s sibilant hiss

“Lucius Darling” Thecalled hiain, and he had no option but to turn around lest Newberry learn of his ilanced at the upper staircase “Don’t tell me you’ve cast me aside to frolic with the maids”

Lucius forced a smile and strode towards the woman who looked keen to flex her jaw and s him whole Strands of black hair had escaped her coiffure Swollen lips suggested she had recently enjoyed a wild romp in a bedchamber

“Larissa I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight” He hoped to avoid her “As for casting you aside, ours was only ever a teement”

The ’s dark, sensual eyes devoured every inch of his body “If it’s a te for the next hour”

Lucius cleared his throat “I’ed On a matter of business, not pleasure”

She glanced at the upper staircase again “Does your business involve bedding Lady Cra to a host of sycophants in the drawing room, one must suppose the latter is true”

“I’ Lady Crampton or heranyone but Miss Atwood Perhaps the infamous Lucius Daventry would have to live life as a monk

“I understand You want me to wait until you’ve concluded your business” Larissa stroked her fingers over the swell of her breasts, breasts that were in no way as ht coht ease the tension in those muscular shoulders”

He stood and stared

Hiscompany with Larissa Sinclair ste spent the last two days in Miss Atwood’s coer had the sto lips with themade him nauseous