Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (289 page)

Philippa's eyes narrowed. 'Your

has

never been misplaced.' Perhaps she ought to take the deal and live to fight another day. But then she thought of Beldon's words the time she'd suggested giving Lucien the mines. She thought of Valerian's honour and all that he'd risked over the years to live by his code. It gave her the strength to stand up, toe to toe with Lucien Canton.

'I won't sign the bill of sale. I won't give you permission to take what isn't yours. Nor will I give you permission to start a career of blackmail. This won't end until you possess every mining asset ever owned. I see your game and I won't play.'

'You're beautiful in a temper, my dear. Perhaps there's another game you'd play to save your mortal soul?' Lucien whispered, his eyes going to her lips.

'I'd play that game with you.'

lowered her eyelids to hide her thoughts, trying not to flinch at Lucien's hands on her waist,

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The Viscount
Claims
His Bride
trying not to think about the gun he held laxly in one hand as he began a lazy seduction. This was her chance, a chance to grab the gun, a chance to flee out of the door and into the street. If only she could make Lucien believe.

'Open your mouth, darling.' Lucien whispered, but they were not love words, they were commands.

She did, trying to guess what he wanted. His kiss was rough, bruising against her mouth. Reflexively, her body tensed in resistance at the hard pressure of his member against her. He held her tightly, aroused by her instinctive struggle.

'Oh, yes, don't make it too easy,' he moaned, his eyes dangerous glints of malicious desire. 'I a

challenge

He had her against the edge of the desk, the hard wood biting into her back. Her resistance was real and it seemed to inflame him further. With one arm, he swept the desk clear of ledgers, laying the gun on the corner of the desk to force her on to the surface.

saw it out of the corner of her eye, not daring to look at it fully lest she give away her intentions. She let him lay her back on the surface. The gun was closer now, her fingers could almost stretch out and claim it. She wriggled, hoping to inch closer to it.

Lucien's hips pressed into hers, grinding out his rising desire. She fought back the urge to give into tears. She'd been so foolish to think a man capable of Lucien's evil could be stopped by the threat of blackmail. That was his speciality, not hers.

His lips were on hers, hard and unrelenting, his

Scott

body stretched over her, his hands in her hair, painfully pulling it free. She reached out her hand and found success.

closed her hand over the

gun and brought it up with a sickening thud against Lucien's head.

He jerked back howling, dizzy with surprise and pain. 'What the hell!'

shoved with all her

might, sending him toppling to the floor. She sprang up from the desk and ran for the door. But Lucien was not done.

He grabbed a handful of her

as she sprinted

past. She tripped, half-falling, then half-running to put the sofa between them as a

Lucien grabbed

up a vase and threw it at her.

screamed,

ducking as crystal shattered against the wall.

Like a miracle, she heard someone call her name.

She screamed again. This time the door burst open, against the wall so hard it fell off its hinges.

Valerian was there, followed by a half dozen members of the Watch, and Beldon.

'Stop where you are, sir! ' the captain yelled. 'Is that the man?' He

to Valerian for identifica-

tion, who nodded. 'Mr Canton, you are under arrest for the murder of the Duke of Cambourne and for attempted blackmail.'

Lucien went rabid. 'You have no proof. Those are not easy accusations.'

'We have diaries, supplied by the Dowager Duchess of Cambourne, that are written in your hand, outlining your premeditation of the crime and your intention to swindle the Duchess out of her holdings, either through marriage or blackmail, and

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

also including over-exaggerating charges of treason against Viscount St Just.'

Lucien paled. Then he roared and lunged for over the sofa. 'Bitch!' She was no match for his angry strength and she went down beneath him, the gun sliding out of her hand and beyond her reach.

She

yelling, 'Get off

then

Lucien's crushing weight was lifted from her.

Valerian and Lucien fell to the ground, wrestling, punching. They were too closely engaged for anyone to intervene. Valerian had the advantage, landing punch after punch, but, in one desperate move, Lucien had the gun.

screamed a warning. Valerian' s arm reached out with lightning speed and grappled with the gun hand. But the gun was cocked and volatile.

It fired and both men lay unmoving. 'Help me!

Someone help me!'

was down next to

Valerian in an instant, shoving him away from Lucien's body. 'No, no, no, no.' There was blood everywhere, on his shirt, his face-she couldn't be sure it was not all his. 'Val, please wake up.'

'I'm awake,' Valerian groaned.

'Are you hurt?' She started searching his body through his clothes, frantic over what she might find.

'Miss, it's the other one,' the captain said quietly, motioning for men to join him at Lucien's still form.

'He took the bullet.' The captain shook his head.

'He's gone.'

Valerian struggled to sit up. 'Are you all right, Philippa?'

'Yes. Yes, we're both all right,' she said but she