A Rogues Proposal (Cynster 4)

Straightening, he exchanged polite nods with his mother and aunt, then looked back at Flick. He hadn't released her hand. "Can I tempt you to a stroll about the lawns?"

"Oh, yes!" Eagerly, she shifted forward. Demon suddenly understood her interest in the couples on the lawn: simple envy. She was used to riding every day-she would miss the exercise.

His smile deepening, he opened the carriage door. Over Flick's head, his mother glared at him and mouthed "new dress." Inwardly grinning, he helped Flick down, very willing to let his gaze roam. "Is that new?"

She threw him an ingenuous smile. "Yes." Releasing his hand, she twirled, then halted. "Do you like it?"

His gaze had locked on her body, sweetly encased in lavender-blue twill; now he lifted it to her face-and couldn't find words to answer. His chest had seized, his wits scrambled-the pounding in his blood escalated. The sheer glory of her face, her eyes, didn't help-he'd forgotten what it felt like to be smitten by an angel.

His mother and aunt were watching, eagle-eyed; he cleared his throat and managed to smile urbanely. "You look… extremely fetching." She looked delectable, delicious-and he was suddenly ravenous.

Retaking her hand, he laid it on his sleeve. "We'll take a turn down to the flowerbeds and back."

He heard an amused "humph" from the carriage, but he didn't look back as they strolled onto the lawn, too busy enjoying the sight-and the sensations-of having his angel on his arm again. She smiled up at him-her golden curls caught his eye. "You've had your hair trimmed."

"Yes." She angled her head this way and that so he could appreciate the subtle changes. Her curls had always framed her face, but loosely. Now, by dint of artful clipping, the frame was more complete, more stable-if anything, brighter. "It suits me, I think."

Demon nodded. "It's undeniably elegant." Lowering his gaze, he met her eyes. "I expect it complements your new evening gowns well."

She blinked her eyes wide. "How did you know?…"

He grinned. "I called yesterday and heard you'd gone shopping. As it appears you've visited a modiste, and I know my mother, the rest is easy."

"Helena came, too. It was…" She paused, then smiled at him. "Very enjoyable."

Content, Demon returned her smile, then looked ahead.

They strolled in silence, as they had so often on the Heath. Neither felt any pressing need of words, deeply easy in the other's company. Flick felt the breeze ruffle her skirts, felt them flap against Demon's polished Hessians. The steely strength of the muscles beneath her fingers, the sense of strength that reached for her, surrounded her and lapped her about, was blissfully welcome.

She'd missed him. Her singing heart told her that; her exulting senses confirmed it. Tipping her face to the sun, she smiled, aglow with an emotion that could only be love.

She slanted him a glance-only to find him watching her. He blinked, a frown forming in his eyes. Even as she looked, his face hardened.

He looked ahead. "I thought you might like to know what we've discovered about Bletchley."

Guilt struck. In the whirl of the past days, caught up in her own discoveries, she'd forgotten Dillon and his problems. "Yes, of course." Strengthening her voice, she looked ahead. "What have you learned?"

From the corner of her eye, she saw Demon grimace.

"We've confirmed Bletchley arrived on the Newmarket coach. It stops at Aldgate. We checked, but he isn't known in the area." They reached the flowerbeds and turned onto the gravel path beside the display. "Montague-my agent-is organizing a watch on the venues gentlemen use to meet with the riffraff they occasionally hire. If Bletchley appears, we'll pick up his trail again."

Flick frowned. "Is this Mr. Montague the same man you came down to see before?" Demon nodded; she asked, "Has he learned anything by looking for the money?"

"Not yet, but there's a large number of possibilities to check. Stocks, bonds, deposits, foreign transactions-he'll check everywhere. He has finalized the approximate sums we're looking for-the amounts taken from each fixed race over the autumn season, and the first race this year."

"Is it a lot?"

De

mon met her gaze. "Enormous."

Reaching the walk's end, they turned back across the lawn, passing close by a number of other couples. With easy grace, Demon exchanged cool nods, distant smiles and steered her on. Flick mimicked his politesse with a calmly serene expression.

Once they were free, Demon glanced at her, then lengthened his stride. She kept pace easily, but wondered why he was hurrying.

"The total amount taken is simply so huge," he continued, "it's utterly inconceivable that it won't show up somewhere. That's one encouraging point. Luckily, we've still got a few weeks before informing the stewards becomes imperative."

"Is there anything I can do?"