Free Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle by Bronwyn Scott Page A

to resist the lure of such a bold undertaking. Entering the Squire's house as a masked guest and making free with his unguarded hospitality was a temptation too great to resist for a thief of The calibre.
    She was among the crowd, somewhere. He'd been watching for her-for midnight hair and cat-green eyes. It unnerved him to think she was in the room and he did not know it. He wanted to find her first before she found him.
    Across the ballroom behind the protection of her black-feathered mask, Nora smiled with satisfaction. Stockport was for her. Oh, not obviously. No one would guess he was waiting for someone. His gaze gave nothing away, but his other body movements did. There was a certain tension to his posture and his long fingers beat an impatient tattoo against his thigh.
    It was apparent to her that he wanted to find her first. Not yet.
    She was having too much fun dancing, wearing a pretty and being herself for a few hours.
    Well, the gown was a heavily remade cast off from a brothel and she wasn't really being herself. Tonight she posed as Adelaide Cooper, daughter of a potential investor in the new

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    Pickpocket Countess
    textile mill project. Everyone would assume she was here on someone else's invitation and no one would expect to see her in the
    'Miss Cooper, may I have this dance?' a voice politely asked beside her.
    It was the Squire's
    Frederick, a
    enough young man
    with his father's bluff country looks. Nora favoured him with a smile and accepted. The dance was a hearty polka she loved.
    After this she'd get to work. Frederick could even help her get started.
    'Who is that man over by the pillar?' Nora asked as they spun around the floor, pretending ignorance of the masked man's identity.
    'That's the Earl of Stockport, but it's a masked ball so we aren't supposed to know. Really, who could mistake him for anyone else? The local lads and I all admire his style.' Frederick supplied, quick to oblige the reportedly rich, pretty daughter of a man who would make his father even richer if the investors could ever enlist the last two people needed to complete their financing.
    'Not many
    would deign to dirty themselves with
    trade, but this man sees the possibilities, he admits to the future.' Frederick would have kept going, clearly suffering from a case of hero-worship for the Earl's wardrobe and his progres sive ideas.
    Nora cut him off with a coy toss of her head, uninterested in hearing the benefits of a dirty mill extolled in her presence.
    It was time to confront Stockport. 'Do you think you could introduce me? I've never met an Earl.' She added a silly giggle for good measure.
    Within moments the dance ended and Frederick unknowingly escorted her straight to the side of her adversary. He made the introductions and eased the way into conversation with small talk.

    Scott
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    Nora noted Stockport was polite, but distracted. He made cursory responses, doing only the minimum required to sustain the conversation without appearing rude. Just as he had politely borne the conversational forays made by the Bradley girls during the carriage ride from Manchester, tonight he was unaffected by Adelaide's efforts. He was no more interested in young Adelaide than he'd been in the Squire's daughters.
    His indifference prompted the curious question-what of woman would interest him? The answer was suddenly obvious. He liked The Cat. Her boldness appealed to him. She did not stand on ceremony and she challenged him. It was the only way to explain why he had not taken the opportunity to apprehend her on the two occasions they'd met.
    Of course, being attracted to The
    bold sensuality was
    no more than a courtesan's allure. A man of his position would never seek to make such a woman his Countess.
    Wife? She had to stop her wool-gathering immediately. It must be the ball that made her so fanciful. Either that or Stockport's excellent physique. Surely a girl was entitled to a little fantasy now and then as long as she