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Authors: Cara Elliott
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the law. I do not look for any sympathy from that quarter.”
“Do you know for certain that Dudley possesses these incriminating papers?” he asked after a moment of thought.
“Yes. He showed them to me. As I said, their meaning is open to interpretation. But a hint of public scandal, even if unproven, would likely ruin Georgiana’s engagement.” Her face pinched in worry. “If jilted, she’ll likely be doomed to a life of spinsterhood in Terrington. And Penelope—she, too, would have little hope for the future. I can’t let that happen.”
“So you have been bribing Dudley and his friend to remain quiet?”
She gave a miserable nod. “Yes, I’ve been buying time.”
“To do what?” asked Cameron softly.
“I—I don’t know. I keep trying to think of something.” She lifted her chin, resolve rather than tears shimmering in her eyes. Strong, steady Sophie —even as a slip of a girl, she had possessed the same quiet courage. “The demands have been escalating, and I fear that with the loss of my earrings, the next payment he asks for will be one I can’t meet. And with the wedding fast approaching…” Her lashes flickered. “But somehow I will find a way to fight back.”
Despite the seriousness of the subject, he nearly smiled. For all her claims of being a cautious soul, Sophie was not afraid to cut loose on occasion and raise holy hell. The two of them had shared a number of devil-may-care adventures as adolescents.
“I’m well aware of your mettle. But to fight—” began Cameron, only to fall silent at the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Oh, bloody hell,” whispered Sophie as a figure shoved through the greenery.
Georgiana’s eyes went wide with shock.
“I-it’s not what you think,” stammered Sophie, trying to wriggle out of Cameron’s arms and straighten her clothing at the same time.
“Oh?”
“Truly. I can explain.”
“Please do,” said Georgiana, eyeing the disheveled state of Sophie’s bodice. “This should be exceedingly interesting.”
Cameron stepped back and calmly smoothed the wrinkles from his coat. “Nature truly works in wondrous ways. I would never have guessed that the plump little gosling I knew as Georgie-Porgie would turn into such a lovely swan.” He smiled as her jaw went slack. “Allow me to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials, Miss Georgiana.”
“ Cameron ? Is that Cameron Fanning?
“In the flesh,” he replied with a wink. “Though for various reasons, I now go by the surname of Daggett.”
“Why, we all assumed you were dead!” blurted out her sister. “That is…” She swallowed hard as a rush of color turned her cheeks a vivid scarlet. “Sorry, that was horribly rude.”
“Not at all,” replied Cameron. “Any sensible person would have come to the same conclusion. At your age, I was hellbent on breaking every rule in Creation, even if it led to my own destruction.”
Georgiana regarded him with undisguised curiosity, taking in his broad shoulders, tapered waist, and long, muscled legs. “Well, it appears that you came through your rebellious youth unscathed.”
“Life always leaves its mark, though some are more subtle than others,” he murmured. Seeing her brow furrow, he added, “At some point you will understand what I mean.”
Her puzzlement tightened to a scowl. “That is odiously condescending, Mr. Daggett.”
“So it is,” he agreed. “But that does not make it any less true.”
“Speaking of truths…” Sophie cringed as her sister fixed her with a pointed look. “You were just about to explain to me why the two of you are trysting here in broad daylight.”
“It’s not a tryst,” Sophie hastened to explain. “It’s a…”
“A business meeting,” finished Cameron smoothly. “Your sister is in need of someone to conduct a few discreet inquiries, and given my skills at moving through the dark shadows of Society, I offered to take on the job.”
“Ha! I knew there was
“Do you know for certain that Dudley possesses these incriminating papers?” he asked after a moment of thought.
“Yes. He showed them to me. As I said, their meaning is open to interpretation. But a hint of public scandal, even if unproven, would likely ruin Georgiana’s engagement.” Her face pinched in worry. “If jilted, she’ll likely be doomed to a life of spinsterhood in Terrington. And Penelope—she, too, would have little hope for the future. I can’t let that happen.”
“So you have been bribing Dudley and his friend to remain quiet?”
She gave a miserable nod. “Yes, I’ve been buying time.”
“To do what?” asked Cameron softly.
“I—I don’t know. I keep trying to think of something.” She lifted her chin, resolve rather than tears shimmering in her eyes. Strong, steady Sophie —even as a slip of a girl, she had possessed the same quiet courage. “The demands have been escalating, and I fear that with the loss of my earrings, the next payment he asks for will be one I can’t meet. And with the wedding fast approaching…” Her lashes flickered. “But somehow I will find a way to fight back.”
Despite the seriousness of the subject, he nearly smiled. For all her claims of being a cautious soul, Sophie was not afraid to cut loose on occasion and raise holy hell. The two of them had shared a number of devil-may-care adventures as adolescents.
“I’m well aware of your mettle. But to fight—” began Cameron, only to fall silent at the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Oh, bloody hell,” whispered Sophie as a figure shoved through the greenery.
Georgiana’s eyes went wide with shock.
“I-it’s not what you think,” stammered Sophie, trying to wriggle out of Cameron’s arms and straighten her clothing at the same time.
“Oh?”
“Truly. I can explain.”
“Please do,” said Georgiana, eyeing the disheveled state of Sophie’s bodice. “This should be exceedingly interesting.”
Cameron stepped back and calmly smoothed the wrinkles from his coat. “Nature truly works in wondrous ways. I would never have guessed that the plump little gosling I knew as Georgie-Porgie would turn into such a lovely swan.” He smiled as her jaw went slack. “Allow me to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials, Miss Georgiana.”
“ Cameron ? Is that Cameron Fanning?
“In the flesh,” he replied with a wink. “Though for various reasons, I now go by the surname of Daggett.”
“Why, we all assumed you were dead!” blurted out her sister. “That is…” She swallowed hard as a rush of color turned her cheeks a vivid scarlet. “Sorry, that was horribly rude.”
“Not at all,” replied Cameron. “Any sensible person would have come to the same conclusion. At your age, I was hellbent on breaking every rule in Creation, even if it led to my own destruction.”
Georgiana regarded him with undisguised curiosity, taking in his broad shoulders, tapered waist, and long, muscled legs. “Well, it appears that you came through your rebellious youth unscathed.”
“Life always leaves its mark, though some are more subtle than others,” he murmured. Seeing her brow furrow, he added, “At some point you will understand what I mean.”
Her puzzlement tightened to a scowl. “That is odiously condescending, Mr. Daggett.”
“So it is,” he agreed. “But that does not make it any less true.”
“Speaking of truths…” Sophie cringed as her sister fixed her with a pointed look. “You were just about to explain to me why the two of you are trysting here in broad daylight.”
“It’s not a tryst,” Sophie hastened to explain. “It’s a…”
“A business meeting,” finished Cameron smoothly. “Your sister is in need of someone to conduct a few discreet inquiries, and given my skills at moving through the dark shadows of Society, I offered to take on the job.”
“Ha! I knew there was
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