Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (198 page)

Chapter 4

The diamond necklace threw sparks of colored light against the wall of Sophie's rented rooms on the

Sophie turned the

necklace a fraction and watched the prisms dance in the

sun appreciatively.

This

she was filled with satisfaction.

She'd sent a note immediately to the Italian count.

She only had to await his direction regarding how he wanted the diamonds delivered. She stretched on the faded sofa, enjoying the elation of a job completed. In this case, a career completed.

Never again would she have to take the risk of running afoul of the law. She understood that not everyone viewed her job the same way she did. What she saw as the task of returning misplaced property to its

owners, others

could easily see as thievery of a sort. After all, if people were willing to simply give back their misbegotten items she wouldn't have had a job; a

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job she'd desperately needed, but hadn't on.

No decently brought up girl

on a

career like hers. She certainly never had. But then she'd never

on being evicted

her

girlhood home by a distant male cousin, or having to make her own way in the world.

Sophie put down the necklace and picked up a bracelet, letting it slide over her slim wrist. She felt no qualms about trying on the merchandise.

Once she returned to England, there would be no more luxuries in the earthy life she for

herself.

She did feel a twinge of regret over that aspect. She'd become accustomed to a life of pretty dresses and glittering ballrooms, although she was never more than a visitor in that milieu.

When she had her horse

there would be no

more silks, champagne parties and no more well-heeled men like Julian Burke, who were as dangerous as they were handsome.

While Sophie didn't give a second thought to taking the jewels, her behavior with Julian Burke had been quite scandalous-appalling , really.

She'd fondled him! And he'd fondled her, she reminded herself in all fairness. It was quite

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

equitable. Yes indeed, a most equitable amount of kissing and caressing had occurred. But it was also as

as it was equitable. She hardly

knew the man except by reputation alone. Lord knew that reputation wasn't sterling.

last

night, that reputation would need some polishing if anyone found out. Julian Burke, a jewel thief!

She shouldn't be surprised.

Sophie had learned quickly in

that

few people were what they appeared to be. Julian Burke was obviously no exception. To the public eye he was an Englishman here on diplomatic business and pleasure. From what she'd experienced, that was absolutely

pleasure

being the larger part of his obligations. But he had them all fooled. No one knew he was also a jewel thief.

Sophie sighed and lay back against the of

the sofa. Last night had been an incredible stroke of luck. If she'd backed out of that room and quietly gone on her way, she would not have discovered the diamonds had already been retrieved. The discovery had been sheer accident.

She couldn't take intentional credit for it. She could only take credit for having been in the man's arms, for giving in to the temptations he

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roused in her. Those temptations had led to the intimate explorations she'd been undertaking when her hands had run across the diamonds in his pocket. She'd studied the drawings of the jewels long enough to recognize the contours when she felt them.

It had been simple enough to encourage him to explore the fever rising between them, and to slip the jewels

his pocket, although it would

have been easier if the man hadn't been struck with a guilty conscience and ended the interlude so soon. Oh yes, encouraging him had been the easy part. Forgetting the reciprocal feelings he'd raised in her was proving to be far more difficult.

What she'd done with him was outrageous.

She could pretend with herself that it had all just been part of the job, but she could not forget what he'd roused in her. She needed to set those feelings aside. She would never see him again and it was for the best. She had a respectable life waiting for her.

Sophie raised her

turning her wrist this

way and that to show off the bracelet, focusing her attentions on the dancing facets.

"They look lovely on you," an all-too-recognizable voice said from the doorway.
So