Priceless by Christina Dodd

Author:Christina Dodd [Dodd, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2011-11-05T11:24:47+00:00

The tap came on the door early in the morning, but Adam was awake. How could he help it? This bed was of generous size for one, most unsuited for two. The week he’d spent sleeping in it hadn’t hardened him to the discomforts, nor the joys, of sharing it with Bronwyn.

“Lord Rawson?” Rachelle spoke quietly through the panel. “There is a man here who is most insistent he see you.”

Ever wary, Adam asked, “Who?”

“He says his name is Northrup.”

Adam rolled out of bed. “Thank you. I’ll be down at once.”

Pushing her hair out of her eyes, Bronwyn struggled up onto her elbow. “What is it?”

Adam grinned at his darling, yawning and rosy from the night’s lovemaking. “Nothing. Go back to sleep. Bronwyn Edana has translations to do today, and Cherie has a salon to entertain tonight.”

“I leave the entertaining to Daphne.” Bronwyn sank back on the pillow. “Will you go right to Change Alley?”

“Always.” He dressed rapidly, now used to doing without a valet.

“You spend too much time down there,” Bronwyn complained. “Every day.”

“Not every day, although I should be there every day. You must remember, my dear, I have no ancestral lands to wring money from. My father sold all those. I have no court appointments to collect bribes from. I’m not corrupt. I must make my money in Change Alley.” He leaned close to her. “You’re marrying a man with an unstable income.”

She lifted her head and put her nose against his. “I’m not marrying anyone, but if I were marrying you, I’d never worry about money.”

Half-pleased with her answer, he said, “Besides, you’ve managed to lure me from my duty more than once.”

She smiled at the reminder. “It’s dreadfully early for anyone to be astir at the Alley.”

He paused, his hand thrust halfway into his shirt. “Is there a reason for me to return here?”

She stretched, and a nipple peeked from beneath the sheet. “Perhaps.”

“Then perhaps I will return.” He chuckled at her pout and knew the perhaps would be a certainty. He descended the stairs, entered Rachelle’s study, and caught Northrup pacing back and forth in agitated, jerky movements. Seeing Adam, Northrup flew to him and grasped his coat panels. Adam gently put Northrup’s hands aside as he said, “Calm yourself. Nothing is so bad one may lose his composure over it.”

“I’ve done it.” Pale beneath the carmine he used to highlight his cheeks, Northrup gasped as if he’d run for miles. “I’ve found a way to pay you back.”

Adam studied the young man. “Pay me back for what?”

“For your help, for the training, for—”

“I told you there was no debt.”

“To me there was, and I’ve got information you will kill for.”

“Tell me, then.”

“After your first visit to Change Alley, and every other time you’ve come, there has been a problem.”

Northrup was serious, deadly serious. Adam sobered and leaned closer. “What kind of problem?”

“Stock.” Northrup jerked off his wig and threw it to the floor. “Counterfeit stock is released every time you’re in Change Alley, and everyone says Adam Keane, Lord Rawson, is selling it.

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