Free Brazen Temptress by Elizabeth Boyle

so imagine my surprise when I saw you out on the floor with
him."
    Julien D'Artiers.
So that was de Ryes's London name. At least he'd kept the Julien part. She wondered if D'Artiers was his real name or another
nom de guerre.
    "Yes, well, Mr. D'Artiers left me little choice."
    Lady Mary clucked her tongue. "I suppose I should be furious that he didn't seek a proper introduction before he whisked you out on the floor. From what Lady Dearsley has told me, there seem to be no limits to what that man can do to rules and appropriate conduct and get away with. Why, it is scandalous." The lady looked anything but horrified, more like delighted.
    "Is he as wicked as they say? Whatever were you two discussing?"
    "Nothing of consequence," Maureen said. "I found him quite annoying and told him so."
    "Oh, how delightful," her companion said, rubbing her hands together. "Why, he's considered the catch of London, and if you turn your nose up at him, why, you will be the next Original before the week is out. You'd never catch that dull Miss Wilcott calling Julien D'Artiers annoying."
    "I hardly think the Lord Admiral is doing all this so I can become the ton's next Original." Maureen didn't like the direction in which this conversation was headed.
    But even worse she didn't know if she liked Julien being considered a catch. Not that she cared, but they were after all still married. Obviously, such a small fact didn't matter to him. The heartless cad!
    Then again, what would his beloved
ton
say when they found out who he truly was?
    An American privateer and spy.
    She smiled to herself. The idea of toppling him from his lofty perch only added to her satisfaction. It also meant he wouldn't be very hard to find when it came time to betray him.
    When?
    What was she thinking? One night at Almack's, one dance with Julien, and she was becoming as fanciful as Lady Mary!
    This wasn't a matter of biding her time. She had the lives of her crew to consider. While they were locked in the cold and damp hold of her ship, eating whatever scraps their guards deemed worthy fare, she was partaking of three meals a day and sleeping on a feather mattress.
    First thing tomorrow she would send a message to the Lord Admiral and tell him she had, indeed, found Captain de Ryes and be done with the entire business.
    But even as she made up her mind, Julien's warning about the Lord Admiral haunted her.
    ... don't trust that man. It won't prick his conscience to betray you any more than it did when he consigned your father to life on a prison hulk.
    Her father in the Royal Navy, much less court-martialed or ever having spent time on a prison hulk? Why, it was too ridiculous to even consider.
    No, Julien was lying. As he'd lied about everything he'd said tonight, including that he'd never stopped loving her.
    As if he ever had to begin with.
    The arrogant bastard probably thinks I won't have the courage to do it, she fumed. No wonder he walked out of Almack's as if he hadn't a care in the world.
    Oh, hand him over she would, first thing in the morning.
    "Ah, yes," Lady Mary was saying as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of her little house. "Tonight was a triumph that will be envied by every mother in Almack's and all the ones unable to get their daughters vouchers. You were the only one with whom Mr. D'Artiers chose to dance. Whether you like it or not, you've been chosen. Tomorrow morning will find us buried in invitations, just you wait and see."
* * * * *
    Maureen settled into her bed, but sleep appeared as likely as de Ryes owning up to his sins in the morning paper.
    Julien de Ryes.
She crossed her arms over her chest.
The wretched, base-born fiend.
Soon she'd be well rid of him.
    Still, she found it wasn't so easy to dismiss him from her thoughts. His words whispered over her, as if he lay beside her, held her close.
    Reenie ... I never stopped loving you.
    Pulling a pillow over her head, she tried to muffle the devilish murmurs.
    Instead, she found herself