My Duke's Seduction (Wicked Lords of London 1)

But her insides betrayed her as they danced with excitement.

* * *

“I’ve looked over your list of missing items. Jewelry, fine liquors, and even a few missives from the crown. They have one thing in common, they are goods easily sold for profit.” Mr. Hart gave him a meaningful glance across his desk.

“Easily?” Ryker gave him a look of disbelief.

“If you operate in the right circles.” Mr. Hart nodded his affirmation. “I only know one man who could make such goods disappear. The Marquess of Highwater.”

Ryker assessed the man across the table from him. Mr. Hart had every reason to tell him the truth but something didn’t sit right. Even a marquess could be felled by a duke and certainly the Prince Regent. “You think he’d steal from me?”

Mr. Hart sighed. “I don’t think knowingly. But…” His eyes drifted away before returning to Ryker’s. “You share the same solicitor.”

A growl rumbled deep within his chest. “Mr. Winters. My father’s solicitor.” Ryker closed his eyes. He’d thought he’d seen the man the night before last when he’d been in the docklands investigating the thefts. “I saw him. The first night I was at the docks.”

Mr. Hart nodded. “And the man gambles. A great deal, actually. He could be selling the goods to the marquess—”

A knock at the door interrupted the rest of his thought. “Yes?” Ryker barked. As a general rule, he didn’t like interruptions. With one notable exception, of course. Tricia. She had done nothing but interrupt and yet, he found that he liked it with her.

His butler opened the door. “The Earl of Sussex is here to see you, sir. He claims that it is urgent.”

Ryker swore under his breath. He knew Sussex would be visiting in short order but he’d hoped to deal with the issue of the thief first. “Send him in.”

The butler nodded and Mr. Hart rose. “Should I step outside, Your Grace?”

“Yes, thank you.” Ryker stood from his chair, taking a deep breath to clear his mind. “This shouldn’t take long.”

With a nod, Mr. Hart stepped out as Sussex came in.

“Sussex,” Ryker nodded.

“Your Grace,” Sussex returned.

“You needn’t be so formal. Landon will do fine. We’re to be family, after all.” Ryker returned to his seat, and gestured for Sussex to do the same.

“Well that was rather simpler than I had anticipated.” Sussex took the chair Mr. Hart had just vacated.

“Truth be told, I’d made up my mind to pursue a match before I saw you this morning.” Ryker folded his hands preparing for the negotiation about to happen. With Tricia’s father ill and her brother still quite young, it didn’t surprise him that her brother-in-law had been sent to see to the details.

Sussex nodded. “I assumed as much, after seeing the way you looked at her today.”

Ryker started in surprise. How had he looked at her? This wasn’t a love match.

He had simply deemed her to have the necessary attributes in a wife. And he considered it an asset that they could forgo courting through a series of painful social commitments. Of course, the attraction he felt was also pleasantly unexpected. “I don’t know what you mean.”

But Sussex only winked. “I am married to her sister, remember? They are difficult women to resist.”

Ryker frowned deeper. That wasn’t what was happening here. “It isn’t a matter of being unable to resist. I find her to be the type of lady who would make an admirable duchess.”

Both of Luke’s eyebrows rose then. “A duchess should sneak out at night and travel unattended to the worst sections of London?” He leaned forward then. “Tabbie has a certain affection for abandoning the rules and I must confess I find her unrestrained side rather…exhilarating.”

Ryker nearly choked. “Sussex, that is rather more information than I needed.”

But the other man’s eyes danced with merriment. “Tricia has more restraint than her sister, which will likely suit you well but there is a wild streak that I am sure you noticed, and will likely enjoy, as her husband.”

A sudden image of her on his lap, pressed against him, her eyes hooded and her lips pouty. Luke was undoubtedly right. His mind wandered further. He’d seen her delicate curves in her frocks and pelisses. What might she look like without them? Sussex was a terrible influence. “You must have been quite the rake.”

Luke chuckled. “I was. But a certain little red-haired minx has reformed me completely. Can’t deny her a thing.”