To Seduce A Scoundrel by Darcy Burke

Author:Darcy Burke [Burke, Darcy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

THE following day, Ambrose managed to get himself bathed and dressed, despite the lingering pain of his wounds. He hurt in places he hadn’t injured, given the effort he’d exerted. Though he fought regularly, he rarely fought that long and never that hard.

He’d just donned his second boot when there was a knock on his door. Slowly, agonizingly, he made his way to the outer chamber and answered the summons, splaying his hand against the jamb to support his weight. Upon seeing his caller, he cursed his decision to leave his bed.

Jagger swept his hat from his head. “You’re looking better than when I saw you last.”

Ambrose gripped the jamb as if he’d pull it from the wall. “What the hell do you want?”

“Better, but you still look like shit.” Jagger raised his brows. “May I come in?”

Ambrose threw the door wide and stepped to the side.

Jagger strolled inside, lightly swinging an ivory-handled walking stick. “You live here?” he asked, perusing the meager furnishings. “I live better than this.”

Ambrose strode to the middle of the room where Jagger stood judging. He turned to say something else, but Ambrose silenced him with a fist to his mouth.

“Christ, Sevrin.” Jagger lifted his fingers to his mouth and wiped his lips.

Ambrose shook out his hand. God, that hurt. But it was worth the pain. “That’s for Philippa.”

Jagger stroked his jaw. “I’m surprised Nolan lasted as long as he did if you hit him that hard.”

“Oh, I could hit you much harder.” And one day he just might.

“Then it’s just as well you’ve found a prizefighter and our association is nearly at an end. Who is he, and when can I meet him?”

“Ackley. Perhaps you’ve seen him fight.”

Jagger thought a moment and shook his head. “Doesn’t sound familiar. But he’s good?”

“Quite, but more importantly his potential is excellent.”

“Brilliant. Who’s to train him?”

“Me.”

Jagger’s obsidian eyes flashed with surprise. “You’re willingly going to continue our affiliation?”

“Not because I’m particularly fond of you—I still haven’t decided if I’m going to beat you senseless yet. That depends on what happens with Philippa.”

“Ah, such tender feelings you bear this girl. One might wonder why you don’t marry her.”

God, how this bastard’s needling rankled, especially because his taunts hit far too close to the mark. He cared far too much for Philippa. “That’s precisely the kind of blathering that will see you thrashed. Do it again, and I’ll show no mercy.”

Jagger held up his hands in supplication—one of them still clutching his hat and walking stick.

Ambrose continued, “I’m training Ackley to be a champion, but not due to any desire to help you. My involvement is solely about Ackley’s potential and my personal interest in his success.” Ambrose had drafted the lad into this, and he wouldn’t abandon him to the likes of Jagger.

Jagger’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

“Calm yourself. I don’t want a share—I’m not foolish enough to think you’d part with that. I merely want control of his training, and you’ll leave me and my associates—including Philippa—entirely alone.

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