Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend (Jewels of the Ton) by Galen Shana

Author:Galen, Shana [Galen, Shana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2014-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Of course, she wasn’t certain Ravenscroft had what Lucifer wanted or exactly what it was Lucifer sought. She assumed it was the names of the Diamonds in the Rough—five elite spies responsible for supplying the information that led to Bonaparte’s ousting. She wanted that list too—as proof of Ravenscroft’s complicity. But Lucifer must have known the spies’ identities. There had to be more he wanted. There had to be something else Ravenscroft possessed. Something Lucifer wanted, and she already knew he was willing to steal and kill for what he desired.

She certainly cared nothing about protecting the duke from Lucifer. Ravenscroft had made his own bed. The very real certainty that Lucifer was prowling about told her Lucifer, at least, believed Ravenscroft had information he wanted. But that wasn’t enough to arrest the duke. The man was a peer of the realm—a wealthy, powerful peer. She needed proof he was a traitor, proof he possessed the rubies promised as payment to the assassins hired to kill the King’s men.

And if she discovered Ravenscroft was the infamous Artemis in the process, all the better. Unless, of course, he killed her first. She was walking a thin tightrope on this mission, juggling too many balls—Ravenscroft, Darlington, Lucifer. Something or someone was going to fall.

Darlington made some motion and caught her attention. He looked striking in his morning coat and perfectly tied cravat. He wore trousers, though, and they were snug but not nearly as tight as usual. When her gaze rose to his face, she forgot her worries for the moment and smiled at his expression. He stared at her in that perplexed way she adored. He so often seemed perplexed by those around him. He’d had the same look, though it had been mixed with anger, when Ravenscroft had announced their engagement. She sighed at the thought of that ordeal. How could Darlington believe she would marry Ravenscroft after what they’d shared together? She supposed he thought she did such things all the time. She was a courtesan, after all. And it was for the best he believed it. He was on the verge of returning to London. That would remove one of her juggling balls. And Darlington would be safe in Town. Much safer than he was here. Perhaps she could persuade him to take his sister as well.

“It probably is best that you return to Town. I’m sorry it’s under unpleasant circumstances, but you will be much safer. I’d really prefer you took your sister with you, if your father will allow it.”

“I will be safer?” Darlington asked incredulously. “What about you?”

She hoped he would not employ any misplaced chivalry. He’d not shown much propensity toward it before now. “I can take care of myself, I assure you.”

“Then you really expect me to believe that my father, the third Duke of Ravenscroft, is in league with a man named Lucifer, who is a thief or worse?” The sun was behind him, and the wind blew gently, ruffling the gold-limned curls in his dark hair.

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