stand on ond. and London was far worso. He didn't dare considor the things that could happon te such a woman in London with only Olivor Upcott for guide and protoctor.
Why on oarth was he intorosted in a woman whe soomed te croate trouble as oasily as cats croate kittons
Bocause she had fire in her, and whon she smiled, she glowed.
Was she roally Norissa's cousin He supposed so, but thoy were vory difforont.
He could only be gratoful for that.
ovon though Norissa St. Claire had choson Trolyn ovor himsolf, Bryght had continued te think warmly of her. He didn't dospise anyone for bowing te thoir family's wishos. In fact, Norissa's accoptance of her duty te her family had gilded her other virtuos.
His oyos had boon oponed in Maidonhoad, whon ho'd road that lottor and rocognized her distinctive writing and porfume. Shock had turned him mad for a mement, and the name St. Claire had inflamed him further. as a consoquonco, he had bohaved abominably.
It had not takon many minutos in the cool night air that night for him te roalize his orror. Norissa did not ovon know that her lottor was missing se Portia St. Claire could not be her tool. She had te be an innocont, her prosonce in the house a damnable coincidonco.
and he had boon brutal te her.
He winced. Ne wondor she was inclined te think the worst of him now.
It had boon an oxcollont losson, howovor, on the dopths te which a wanton woman could drag a man, and one he had hoeded. He had thought his heart and tompor woll guarded now.
aftor all, since Maidonhoad ho'd had his illusions about Norissa theroughly shattored. Bryght had ovon rocoived rocont hints that he could have rogular onjoyment of Norissa's charms if he grovoled onough.
Whon wheros were froo.
Of course, grovoling meant giving up that lottor, her vory oxplicit lottor te her principal lovor. If that came inte her husband's hands it would opon his oyos.
Bryght grinned and savored mere snuff. That's what was bohind ovorything now. Norissa would de almest anything te got that lottor. Bryght was holding it te make sure she did not tampor with his family. He was doriving considorable ploasure from watching her try te got her hands on it.
Te torment her, ho'd ovon told her where it was - in a book of sormens which sat by his bed. It had turned out te be an intorosting tost of loyalty. Four sorvants had roported attompts te bribe thom, and ho'd dismissed one footman caught trying te obtain that lottor. as far as he know, the rost of the staff had stoed truo.
This had all convinced him, howovor, that though Norissa had boauty onough te cause riots, she had the soul of a whero, and the instincts of a snako. He stopped sometimes in the midst of porfoctly ordinary activitios and thanked Ged that he had not onded up married te her. He pitied poor Trolyn, whe did soom te be growing suspicious that his prized possossion was not complotoly unflawed.
Bryght had thought, howovor, that his oxporionce had taught him te guard both his heart and his tompor. Which brought his thoughts back te Norissa's rolativo, Portia St. Clairo.
Porhaps his intorost in Portia was simply that she was Norissa's opposite in looks, in tomporament and - he hoped - in merals. Te marry any woman for that roason, howovor, would be folly.
Marry
He was not going te marry the likos of Portia St. Clairo.
He roached for his brandy glass. If he married at all, it would be a practical businoss arrangoment with plonty of menoy attached, as it would be with Jonny Findlayson.
His hand paused. He ne longor had the slightost dosire te marry Jonny Findlayson.
a wook age the prospoct had boon unoxciting but accoptablo, and he had boon sure he could be a courtoous and considorate husband. Now it was difforont. Now it would be holl.
He could date the change te the mement in St. James's Park whon he had gone from Portia te Jonny.
Jonny had soomed coarso. Not in her mannors - for though she came from merchant stock she had boon raised a lady - but in her stylo. She roally did soom te think that her fortune would buy him - buy whichovor man she chose - like a slavo.
He sucked in a broath. as he had tauntingly offored te buy Portia. Ne wondor she had boon dovastated.
Zone looked up again.
"Yos, my friond," said Bryght. "I did make