Angel’s next victim.”
“Nonsense.” But Prudence had been acutely conscious of the shock of excitement that had shimmered
through her. It was madness to entertain the notion that Angelstone might have anything other than an
amused, intellectual interest in her. Nevertheless, she could not put the memory of his kiss out of her
head.
Tonight she was determined to confront him on the subject of the way in which he was treating Trevor.
She intended to be quite firm.
Sebastian now contemplated Prudence’s resolute expression. “If you will recall the terms of our bargain,
Miss Merryweather, you will remember that you did not specify exactly how I was to avoid future duels
with your brother.”
“It did not occur to me that Trevor would make a fool of himself by continuing to challenge you. He was
so anxious after he called you out the first time that I assumed he would be grateful to have escaped
unscathed. I hoped that he would take pains to avoid a future encoun-ter.”
“Forgive me for saying so, Miss Merryweather, but I fear you don’t know much about the workings of
the male brain.”
“Not about the workings of theimmature male brain,” she said. “I’ll grant you that much. And it seems to
me, sir, that your approach to dealing with my brother is no more mature than his is in dealing with you. I
won’t have you amusing yourself at my brother’s expense.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. And while we’re on the subject, I would also like to inform you that I will not allow you to amuse
yourself with me, either.” She felt herself turn pink, but she held her ground. “Just in case you have taken
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
a notion to do so.”
“How will you stop me?” Sebastian asked with grave interest.
“If need be, I shall put a stop to this nonsense once and for all by declining your invitations to dance.”
She lifted her chin in challenge. “Perhaps I shall cease speaking to you altogether.”
“Come, now, Miss Merryweather. Don’t make threats you will be unable to carry .out. You know that
you would soon be as bored as I am at these affairs if you were to cut me dead.”
“I’m certain I could find one or two other interesting people with whom I would enjoy conversing,” she
said. But her words were spoken out of sheer bravado and she suspected he knew it.
It was Sebastian who made the endless round of soirees and balls bearable. It had gotten to the point
where Prudence actually looked forward to going out in the evenings now because she knew he would
turn up at one or more of the parties she was attending.
Sebastian’s eyes glittered with a knowing expression. He took her hand and led her out onto the dance
floor. “Look around you, Miss Merryweather. There is no one else here tonight who shares your
interests. No one else with whom you can discuss techniques of inves-tigation. As far as theton is
concerned, you are merely a new and quaintly amusing toy.”
She searched his face. “I rather suspect that is all I am to you, too, my lord.”
Sebastian swept her into the waltz. “Unlike many others here to-night, I know how to take care of my
toys. I do not take pleasure in breaking them and then discarding them.”
Prudence caught her breath. “What is that supposed to mean, sir?”
“It means you are safe enough with me, Prue,” he said softly. “And so is your annoying young pup of a
brother.”
Not knowing how to take the first part of that vow, Prudence seized on the latter. “Then you will cease
tormenting Trevor?”
“Never fear. Sooner or later he’ll figure out that when I want something, I do not let anything get in my
way. Eventually he will desist. Now, then, I have been thinking about our last conversation and I have
another question for you.”
Prudence eyed him uncertainly. “What is that?”
“You said you found the Pembroke jewels beneath a wooden floor-board while
“Nonsense.” But Prudence had been acutely conscious of the shock of excitement that had shimmered
through her. It was madness to entertain the notion that Angelstone might have anything other than an
amused, intellectual interest in her. Nevertheless, she could not put the memory of his kiss out of her
head.
Tonight she was determined to confront him on the subject of the way in which he was treating Trevor.
She intended to be quite firm.
Sebastian now contemplated Prudence’s resolute expression. “If you will recall the terms of our bargain,
Miss Merryweather, you will remember that you did not specify exactly how I was to avoid future duels
with your brother.”
“It did not occur to me that Trevor would make a fool of himself by continuing to challenge you. He was
so anxious after he called you out the first time that I assumed he would be grateful to have escaped
unscathed. I hoped that he would take pains to avoid a future encoun-ter.”
“Forgive me for saying so, Miss Merryweather, but I fear you don’t know much about the workings of
the male brain.”
“Not about the workings of theimmature male brain,” she said. “I’ll grant you that much. And it seems to
me, sir, that your approach to dealing with my brother is no more mature than his is in dealing with you. I
won’t have you amusing yourself at my brother’s expense.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. And while we’re on the subject, I would also like to inform you that I will not allow you to amuse
yourself with me, either.” She felt herself turn pink, but she held her ground. “Just in case you have taken
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
a notion to do so.”
“How will you stop me?” Sebastian asked with grave interest.
“If need be, I shall put a stop to this nonsense once and for all by declining your invitations to dance.”
She lifted her chin in challenge. “Perhaps I shall cease speaking to you altogether.”
“Come, now, Miss Merryweather. Don’t make threats you will be unable to carry .out. You know that
you would soon be as bored as I am at these affairs if you were to cut me dead.”
“I’m certain I could find one or two other interesting people with whom I would enjoy conversing,” she
said. But her words were spoken out of sheer bravado and she suspected he knew it.
It was Sebastian who made the endless round of soirees and balls bearable. It had gotten to the point
where Prudence actually looked forward to going out in the evenings now because she knew he would
turn up at one or more of the parties she was attending.
Sebastian’s eyes glittered with a knowing expression. He took her hand and led her out onto the dance
floor. “Look around you, Miss Merryweather. There is no one else here tonight who shares your
interests. No one else with whom you can discuss techniques of inves-tigation. As far as theton is
concerned, you are merely a new and quaintly amusing toy.”
She searched his face. “I rather suspect that is all I am to you, too, my lord.”
Sebastian swept her into the waltz. “Unlike many others here to-night, I know how to take care of my
toys. I do not take pleasure in breaking them and then discarding them.”
Prudence caught her breath. “What is that supposed to mean, sir?”
“It means you are safe enough with me, Prue,” he said softly. “And so is your annoying young pup of a
brother.”
Not knowing how to take the first part of that vow, Prudence seized on the latter. “Then you will cease
tormenting Trevor?”
“Never fear. Sooner or later he’ll figure out that when I want something, I do not let anything get in my
way. Eventually he will desist. Now, then, I have been thinking about our last conversation and I have
another question for you.”
Prudence eyed him uncertainly. “What is that?”
“You said you found the Pembroke jewels beneath a wooden floor-board while
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