SEDUCTION in Regency Society August 2014
DECEPTION in Regency Society September 2014
PROPOSALS in Regency Society October 2014
PRIDE in Regency Society November 2014
MISCHIEF in Regency Society December 2014
INNOCENCE in Regency Society January 2015
ENCHANTED in Regency Society February 2015
HEIRESS in Regency Society March 2015
PREJUDICE in Regency Society April 2015
FORBIDDEN in Regency Society May 2015
TEMPTATION in Regency Society June 2015
REVENGE in Regency Society July 2015
Anthony de Portnay Smythe sat at his regular table in the darkest corner of the Blade and Scabbard pub. The grey wool of his coat blended with the shadows around him, rendering him almost invisible to the rest of the room. Without appearing toâfor to stare at his fellows might prove suicidally rudeâhe could observe the other patrons. Cutpurses, thieves, petty criminals and transporters of stolen goods. Rogues to a man. And, for all he knew, killers.
Of course, he took great care not to know.
The usual feelings of being comfortable and in his element were unusually disconcerting. He dropped a good weekâs work on to the table and pushed them towards his old friend, Edgar.
Business associate, he reminded himself. Although they had known each other for many years, it would be a mistake to call his relationship with Edgar a friendship.
âRubies.â Tony sorted through the gems with his finger, making them sparkle in the light of the candle guttering on the table. âLoose stones. Easy to fence. You need not even pry them from the settings. The work has been done for you.â
âDross,â Edgar countered. âI can see from here the stones are flawed. Fifty for the lot.â
This was where Tony was supposed to point out that they were investment-grade stones, stolen from the study of a marquis. The man had been a poor judge of character, but an excellent judge of jewellery. Then Tony would counter with a hundred and Edgar would try to talk him down.
But suddenly, he was tired of the whole thing. He pushed the stones further across the table. âFifty it is.â
Edgar looked at him in suspicion. âFifty? What do you know that I do not?â
âMore than I can tell you in an evening, Edgar. Far more. But I know nothing about the stones that need concern you. Now give me the money.â
This was not how the game was to be played. And thus, Edgar refused to acknowledge that he had won. âSixty, then.â
âVery well. Sixty.â Tony smiled and held out his hand for the money.
Edgar narrowed his eyes and stared at Tony, trying to read the truth. âYou surrender too easily.â
It felt like a long hard fight on Tonyâs side of the table. Tonightâs dealings were just a skirmish at the end of the war. He sighed. âMust I bargain? Very well, then. Seventy-five and not a penny less.â
âI could not offer more than seventy.â
âDone.â Before the fence could speak again, he forced the stones into Edgarâs hand and held his other hand out for the purse.
Edgar seemed satisfied, if not exactly happy. He accepted the stones and moved away from the table, disappearing into the haze of tobacco smoke and shadows around them, and Tony went back to his drink.
As he sipped his whisky, he reached into his pocket to remove the letter and his reading glasses. He absently polished the spectacles on his lapel before putting them on, then settled his chin in his hands to read.