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Chapter 1

October 1819

Northamptonshire

"You want to get a move on Looks like the Hounds of Hell are on our heels"

"What?" Jerked froaze froroo thunderheads sweeping down on them from behind "Blast!" Vane looked forward and flicked the reins The pair of reys harnessed to his curricle stepped out powerfully He glanced over his shoulder "Think we can outrun it?"

Considering the storot three , nor yet to make Northampton"

Vane swore It wasn't the thought of a drenching that exercised hisin its spurs; his eyes on the road as the greys swept on, he searched for some option, some route of escape

Onlyof Devil, Duke of St Ives, his cousin, boyhood companion, and closest friend-and of the wife fate had handed him Honoria, now Duchess of St Ives She who had ordered Vane and the other four as-yet-unmarried members of the Bar Cynster not only to pay for but attend the dedication service for the roof of the church in Soe, close by the ducal seat Admittedly, the ains, their winnings froer of which neither she nor their e that the only women Cynster males need be wary of were Cynster wives still held true for this generation as it had for those past The reason as not so any male Cynster liked to dwell on

Which hy he felt such a driving need to get out of the path of the stored for Honoria and Devil to meet, in circue Vane wasn't about to take unnecessary chances

"Bella ive us shelter"

"That's a thought" Duggan sounded more hopeful "The turnoff should be close"

It was around the next bend; Vane took the turn at speed, then cursed and slowed his cattle The narrow lane was not as well surfaced as the road they'd left Too fond of his high-stepping horses to risk injuring theriloo whine of the wind