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Chapter 189
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The League of Rogues Chapter 190
She was gone. When James woke a few hours after dawn, the realization had been like a knife to his chest. The woman he'd shared the most intimate night with had abandoned him. Rather than James running out like a heartless rogue, she was the one who had fled. It was as though the world had turned upside down on him.James hunched over on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor where his clothes lay in a crumpled heap. He was completely naked, which wasn't unusual, but for once he felt exposed. He'd never taken mistresses, had only bedded one other woman in his life before last night, but damned if he didn't feel as though he had lost his virginity rather than Gillian losing hers."My lord?" Dr. Wilkes's voice came through the closed door."Yes, Dr. Wilkes. Give me a moment." He scrambled out of bed and hastily threw on his clothes. When he opened the door, Dr. Wilkes was standing there, frowning."I wished to check on you. It's not like you to" Dr. Wilkes's eyes strayed to the be
The League of Rogues Chapter 191
"I think you've gone mad," Gillian informed her mistress.Audrey lay on her stomach on the bed, penning her next column for the Quizzing Glass Gazette. A sleek black cat pawed at the quill pen each time Audrey frowned and crossed a line and rewrote something in its place."Hmm?" Audrey murmured, clearly not listening.Gillian rolled her eyes. She folded the red silk gown Audrey had worn the previous night, though it was perhaps beyond repair. It was tattered, and its stitching was ripped in a few places, no doubt caused when Audrey had scaled the window."I said I think you've gone mad, my lady."Audrey's eyes flicked up from the paper, and she stared at Gillian."Mad because I'm writing an exposé on the Unholy Sinners of Hell, or mad that I brought home Archimedes?" She glanced toward the handsome black cat on the bed beside her."Both, I should think." Gillian stared at the black cat. The Unholy Sinners had claimed he was the devil. Gillian was not fool enough to believe such
The League of Rogues Chapter 192
James didn't feel like sitting, but when Audrey motioned for him to sit while she poured tea, he did the gentlemanly thing and eased into the nearest chair. He took a moment to study the lady before him. She looked bright-eyed and well, with no hint of the dark horrors she had faced the previous evening. She, like Gillian, was like no other woman he'd ever met. He was used to encountering preening, silly creatures who focused only a man's title and wealth. These two petite Amazons with their warrior spirits surprised himand fascinated him."How are you after last night? I'm afraid that due to the chaos we could not avoid getting separated. I trust Mr. St. Laurent escorted you safely home?""Oh yes, we were fine." She held out a cup of tea and he accepted it, taking a sip only after she sipped from her own cup. The orange pekoe was one he did not drink often, but he rather liked the subtle hints of spices upon his tongue. Audrey had excellent taste in tea."And Miss Beaumont? Did she
The League of Rogues Chapter 193
Gillian stepped down from the coach behind Audrey and faced the vast entrance of Rochester Hall. "I think this is a terrible idea.""Nonsense. I had to watch you mope about for an entire week, and now you owe me." Audrey's smile was far too sweet, and Gillian's stomach fluttered with nerves. Her mistress was up to something again.Gillian let the hood of her cloak fall back, even though a cold breeze played with her skirts and tugged at her hair."But to act like a lady when I am not one""Hush. You are a lady gently born. Your circumstances after that do not make you any less a lady."Gillian frowned. She was certain her mistress had taken leave of her senses. When Audrey told her two days before that she might need Gillian to play a larger role in her future endeavors, she had worried about what that might entail. When she was told she was to act as a lady at Audrey's sister's house party, Gillian had prayed she'd been joking. But as usual, with Audrey, she hadn't been."Horati
The League of Rogues Chapter 194
Gillian laughed as her horse galloped ahead of James's along a field of wildflowers and wheat-colored grass. A late summer had lingered this year, leaving the field glowing with color and life. The thunder of hooves behind her made her glance over her shoulder. James was grinning astride a black gelding. Their eyes met, and he smacked his riding crop on his horse's flank. The beast took the command quite seriously, and James was suddenly racing alongside her."First one to the road wins!" he shouted.Gillian leaned low over her own horse, gripping the reins tight, listening to the mare's steady but labored breaths."Come on, you can beat him," she whispered in the horse's ear. Then she gave her mare a kick, and the horse picked up its pace. Just enough to pull ahead.The end of the road came all too soon. She laughed as she reined the horse in till it was huffing and dancing in place.James steered his horse close to hers, their knees touching in a light bump. "You won." She'd had
The League of Rogues Chapter 195
Dinner was a dreadfully dull affair from James's perspective. He had to spend the entire evening next to a young woman of his acquaintance, Miss Venetia Sharpe. She was a nice enough girl, but her naked ambitions always sent him running. He had no desire to marry a woman who would push him into a political career because it would further elevate her own status. He sought out Gillian farther down the table, and their gazes briefly locked. He smiled at her as he remembered how they'd made love in the meadow. A blush reddened her cheeks, and she returned his smile, although she soon ducked her head and turned to speak with her companion."My lord?" Venetia leaned closer, her perfumed scent distracting. It wasn't unpleasant, by any means, but it wasn't Gillian's sweet scent of rosewater and something feminine and natural."Er Yes." He reached for his wine goblet for what felt like the hundredth time that evening. Already his senses were beginning to become unsteady. He would be lucky t
The League of Rogues Chapter 196
Gillian touched her lips, lost in the sudden rush of emotions she felt in James's kiss. Then a cry from the room behind her had her rushing back inside. Horatia was crouched beside the bed, and groaning in just a nightgown.Lucien gripped one of her hands, his other arm at her lower back. She panted and puffed out several quick breaths and then relaxed. Audrey hovered nearby, her hands wringing fretfully."Does it hurt much?" Audrey asked her older sister."Ah!" Horatia clenched down on Lucien's hand.He winced. "God's teeth! Where does a woman find such strength?" "I think it's safe to say it hurts a great deal," Charles said to Audrey. "Why don't you see if we can't get some chips of ice or cold cloths soaked in water?""Right." Audrey turned to Gillian. "Did you hear that?""Yes, my lady, I can fetch them," Gillian reassured her."Thank you." Audrey hugged her and then turned back to her sister."I think I need to lie downcatch my breath," Horatia gasped. Lucien helped her
The League of Rogues Chapter 197
James and a footman rushed up the stairs, a heated knife, water, and towels in their arms. Horatia's next scream rent the air, and James nearly stumbled but caught himself as he reached the top stair. When he reached Lucien's room, he almost rushed in, thought better of himself, and knocked. Audrey opened the door, her face white as she grabbed the items from the footman. When she saw the knife, she just jerked her head for James to enter."I don't think I should""My sister does not care," Audrey cut in. James followed her inside, eyes downcast until he spotted Gillian at Horatia's feet.Bloody hellCharles rushed over to James and grabbed the knife. "Be ready to catch the babe, Gillian."James pressed himself against the wall, feeling useless and in the way, but he couldn't make himself leave. He was fixed on Gillian as she reached beneath the tent of Horatia's nightgown-clad legs and suddenly pulled out a small blueish-skinned baby. It was sticky and a little bloody and unmovin
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