Free Deverell's Obsession: A Risqué Regency Romance by Sahara Kelly

yours?”
    “Nice chap,” answered Dev. “You’d like him. I met him back when Charles had that spot of bother with Hannah’s father, and more recently at the Mitra—I was told some Duke had put him up for it, and you know he seemed quite at home in the environment. Not quite the behavior one expects from a Redbreast.”
    “A little more to him than meets the eye, perhaps?” Lucius looked interested.
    “Yes, I think so. But I’m sure I’ll be meeting him again soon, so I’ll do some tactful probing and see what I can find out. “
    “Sounds good to me.” Lucius stood. “We should scout out the ladies and see what’s happening. And I want to see Léonie.”
    “She’s…quite something.”
    “I gathered as much.” Lucius grinned. “Let’s go find out exactly what.”
    Dev led his friend from the room and they walked toward the noise. It seemed that four women and several boxes could produce a sound not unlike feeding time at a large chicken farm.
    Lucius squared his shoulders before entering the room, and Dev took a breath. “Heaven help us.”
     
    *~~*~~*
    Léonie saw him enter and noticed the man beside him. That would be Julia’s husband, Lucius, of course. Though not very much alike in appearance, there was something that linked them both. A look, perhaps, or a demeanor that spoke of breeding, and marked them clearly as gentlemen through and through. It wasn’t their clothing or an air of superiority—neither betrayed anything like that, and Léonie had seen more than enough in her travels.
    No, Dev and Lucius looked exactly like what they were. Men you could rely on, and men who understood the word ‘honor’. If only all gentlemen could be cut from that cloth.
    She was well aware how lucky she was to be here in Deverell House, with Dev as her erstwhile guardian and protector. And now, she had clothes as well.
    “Look Dev. Look how amazing this is…Mary and Eileen have been so very busy on my behalf…” She gulped back tears. “I scarce know what to say.”
    Dev came to her side. “You say thank you, of course.” He turned to the two women beaming at them. “And you tell them how very blessed we are to know them.”
    “Oh there you go again, Dev. Just stop with the fussing.” Mary blushed. “We guessed Léonie wouldn’t have anything to wear but the one outfit and ‘t’was but an evening’s work to put a few things together for her.”
    Julia grinned. “And when I went to visit, they told me of poor Léonie’s adventures, and I insisted we come with them. And I wanted to say hello to you, of course.” She smiled innocently.
    “Yes of course you did.” Dev laughed and turned back to Léonie. “Julia is the best of women. With a curiosity that would turn a cat green with envy.”
    “Nonsense.” Julia dismissed his humor. “We’re here now, I’m so glad that Léonie is on the mend and I’ve made her promise to come to Gordonstone Hollow when she’s fully recovered.”
    “Indeed she has.” Léonie smiled. “And I would love to visit and meet her son.”
    “So while we’re here, Dev…” said Julia, again with a voice full of innocence, but eyes full of mischief, ”I understand you are going to show us your obsession .”
    “Er…”
    Dev glanced at Lucius, who shrugged and looked vaguely uncomfortable. “Charles.”
    “I thought as much, damn him.”
    “Might as well get it over. You won’t get a moment’s peace otherwise. Take it from me.” Lucius assumed the meek expression of a henpecked husband.
    A snort from his wife was the only response. Everyone else was looking at Dev.
    “Oh come on then. It’s in my rooms.”
    Mary and Eileen hung back, but Dev beckoned. “I’ve told you two about it, so come along. You’re both part of all this and you deserve to know it all. No escaping us now, you know.”
    They grinned and caught up with Dev, Léonie, Lucius and Julia. Thus assembled, the party walked up the stairs and along the corridor to Dev’s suite of