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"You are coreed"

Jasper looked for Eliza and found her She appeared co her brow betrayed both her peevishness and be her artless honesty

"She would be better served with me," Westfield said "How can any woman live the life you do, Bond?"

"I expect Miss Martin and I will discover the answer as tiresses"

Westfield stepped forward, then turned to face hi up the entirety of his view "Is there anything you will not do in your quest to ruin Montague?"

"This has nothing to do with Montague"

"Of course it does"

"On the periphery," Jasper conceded, sidestepping to resu of Eliza

"Wait" The earlabout her last night? That nonsense about wanting so badly?"

"Yes" He wanted her now Eliza had worn another of her owns, this one in a lovely rose hue It was as sio, but the bodice was provocatively low and the waist perfectly snug The slender beauty of her figure was a joy to behold

"Bloody hell" Westfield looked over his shoulder at Eliza "Do you love her?"

"I enjoy her, and I canternify? I enjoy half a dozen wo to any of them"

"Therein lies the difference between us," Jasper drawled "There are very few things I’ve enjoyed in ree hich I enjoy Miss Martin’s coued," Westfield co what I et about her in any other capacity than as my wife, and that will be the end of it"

"H "I have yet to see Montague I should like to kno he’s taking the news of your engageht

The htened and his breath hissed out between his teeth Shifting his position, he canted his body away fro at his sides Soon, he would be able to put Montague behind him, but not now Not yet The earl had still to pay for his sins and the sins of his father

Eliza She et himself, which was one of the reasons why he needed her But she couldn’t serve that purpose now Not yet His plan was in the final stages after years of frustrated waiting and endless hours of work

"Mr Bond"

Turning his head, Jasper watched as Sir Richard Tolliver approached Although Jasper had believed Tolliver couldn’t be any thinner, it appeared he was tonight His dark coat hung loosely on his shoulders and his aped a little just above the top button "Good evening, Sir Richard"

"I hear congratulations are in order," Tolliver said, looking far froratulatory

"They are Thank you"

"How fortuitous that Miss Martin should decide to marry so soon after you returned to her life Al for you these last few years"

"Poetic," Westfield drawled "Perhaps if you’d shared your talent for roht have had more luck with her"

"What talent did you share?" Tolliver shot back, glaring at Jasper

"Be very careful whenme," Jasper warned softly "Should you inadvertently cast aspersions on Miss Martin’s character, I assure you, I won’t take it well"

Tolliver’s foot tapped against the floor "Your long familial friendship with the Tremaines makes it decidedly odd that Miss Martin can share little about you"

"Cannot? Or will not?" Jasper challenged "She understands the value of privacy It’s one of thea nuisance Go find a new heiress to woo"

Tolliver re mo, Mr Bond And to you as well,friends already," Westfield said, staring after Tolliver "I have to say, I never guessed he had such forcefulness in his for Miss Martin were true after all"

"Nothing so sublime" Jasper rolled his shoulders back This hat he’d wanted--to attract the attention of whoever was endangering Eliza But he hadn’t anticipated the feeling of jealousy Tolliver had roused his proprietary instincts and his discoressed

The sound of Montague’s na bandied around them drew Jasper’s attention toward the farthest entrance "He caun to doubt he would"

"Look at this place" Westfield gestured with a jerk of his chin "Lady Val of this size in many years The curious come en masse to see Miss Martin’s transfored her appearance for you, did she not?"

"She did it for the investigation At first" Jasper gave hiain He was torn between his two goals--winning Eliza’s hand and staying focused on his vengeance "Tonight, I think she did it fortruthful when she said she had feelings for you?" Westfield snorted "What in God’s name does she see in you?"

"I wish I kneould show her h the roo He was heading toward Eliza, who stood on the opposite side of the room

Jasper started in that direction Westfield fell in line They worked their way through the crowd, their path repeatedly blocked by one inquisitive isher after another

"Is your ue’s destruction is now assured?" the earl asked

"Not yet I have learned he’s for a pool of investors for a coal lass of le footman

"Is that what shored up his confidence about his finances and pro his marker?"

"I hope to know the answer to hirabbed his elbow and pulled him to a halt "Bond"

Jasper’s brows rose in silent inquiry

"Have you considered eue’s future to fate? Intheir own sorry end"

"I a back the contents of his glass He started forward again, lae’s inability to make the scrutiny directed his way sworth bea in sapphires and adorned hite plual confidence that supported such accessories instead of depended upon them