Free The Major and the Pickpocket by Lucy Ashford Page A

know there are plenty of those in London town! Why not look one of them up, and leave me out—’ she let scorn trickle into her words ‘—of your petty scheme of revenge?’
    Marcus was silent for a while, but he was still assessing her with those iron-hard eyes that made her feel so uneasy. At last he said, ‘This isn’t about me, Tassie. Corbridge, you see, has cheated not me, but my godfather, a kindly, honest old man who has no idea how to protect himself against rogues. That is why I am acting for him. I want to lay a trap for Corbridge, I want him lured into deep, deep play; and I want you to be the bait at the heart of it.’
    Bait. Tassie swallowed rather hard on the sudden dryness in her throat. His coat of dark grey broadcloth had fallen open as he talked, and the moulded softness of his white silk shirt did nothing to diminish the breadth or the power of his shoulders and chest. She found her gaze flickering with some agitation over the strong muscles of his thighs beneath his tight-cut breeches and remembered a little faintly how she’d felt, all too clearly, the evidence of his arousal as he’d casually fondled her breasts.
    Bait. This man wanted to make a bargain with her. He wanted to cold-bloodedly use her to trap an enemy he despised.
    Oh, this was possibly the most dangerous man she had ever met. She would have to keep her defences up, every minute, until she got well away from here. She tilted her chin in defiance, though really she felt more alone and more afraid than she had for many years. ‘And how exactly were you thinking of paying me,Marcus? By the hour? By the day? How do you usually hire your—your sluts, pray?’
    He folded his arms across his chest. ‘I thought I’d reassured you several times that you’re really not to my taste. I was merely offering to pay you for your time, and skills—’
    Her fear was banished by anger. ‘Oh, this I will not endure! You think your fancy words and fine money give you the right to insult whomsoever you please—but you’ve truly picked the wrong person this time, believe me, Major Forrester! Now, I’d be extremely obliged if you’d give me back my clothes and let me go, this very minute.’
    ‘No!’
    There was a pause. Then Marcus said slowly, regretfully, ‘It really is a great pity, Tassie, but I think you’d be wise to go along with my plan.’
    Tassie paled. ‘Why?’
    ‘Unfortunately, some things are beyond my power. You see, the constables have got hold of that young red-headed scamp who was with you last night.’
    She was shaking her head, feeling unsteady. ‘No. Lemuel got away from the Angel, I know he did. You’re lying!’
    He shook his head. ‘He made the mistake of going back to the Angel once the fuss had died down, to look for you; that was when the constables arrested him. Lemuel’s not as clever as you, is he, Tassie? He’s the kind who talks too much. If he’s not released pretty quickly, he could get you and all your friends into serious trouble.’
    Her heart was thudding again and she felt rather sick. ‘So what must I do? To help him?’ Oh, poor Lemuel, always the most loyal of friends, and ‘tis all my fault… Marcus’s eyes were hard as granite. ‘I have a certain amount of influence at the Bow Street office. I could get your friend out of there, without a charge. But only if you agree to help me with my plan against Corbridge.’
    Tassie gazed at him, her heart aching with distress. ‘So—so you’re prepared to blackmail me now, are you, in order to get what you want?’
    ‘Blackmail?’ he queried sharply. ‘Hardly. All you have to do is dress yourself up like a lady—in clothes which I will provide—and speak charmingly, as I know very well you can. When the time is right I want you to play cards with my cousin Lord Sebastian Corbridge, making quite sure that you win; in return, I’ll help your foolish friend and reward you handsomely.’
    ‘How much?’
    ‘I’m willing to offer you the