TER

other's fool

there were few, given the ungodly hour), the splendidly sumptuous vehicle was sorely out of place in the filthy streets of St. Giles. Inside the carriage,

sted until well after midnight. Julius had been invited as well but had chosen not to attend, it seemed. Indeed, Stok

untered each other in passing these days. Since Julianna was traveling, there was no one home but the servants, who were certainly all at rest by now; perhaps he

was Philips, deep in his cups- God, was he ever anything but deep in h

g hell in

ccounted for the carria

sness! he thought again. By God, but there were times he swore his brother cared about nothi

but three pursuits- gambling, whoring, and drinking. As for Philip... we

the earth, rife with pick pockets, thieves, whores...and worse. It seemed a man could scarcely walk down any street in London th

le wonder, he decided blackly, that

the movement. Yet in the next instant, the carriage swerved abruptly and lurched to a halt. Syl

d flung open the door

h atop the cab. "No, my lord," h

" Sebastian couldn't

. "My lord, there is a

to drink. Sylvester very nearly advised

loak that all but enshrouded what looked to be a surprisingly small form. His booted heels rapped sharply on the brick as he leaped down and strode forward with purpo

ossibility, Sylveste

gled. A whore who'd imbibed too heavily? Or perhaps it was a trick, a ruse to b

quickly. Damn. He'd left his gloves on the s

aid loudly. "Mis

ed. His gaze slid sharply to his hand. The tips of his fingers were wet, but i

nscious volition, swiftly easing her to her side so he coul

raised her head. Sylvester's heart

see much of her face. Yet he knew the precise moment awareness set in. When her eyes opened and she spied hi

never-ending moment. Then she gave a tiny shake of her head. "You

now quite what he'd expected h

se I'm n

and came out to touch the center of his lip. "Because no

inish, however. All at once the girl's eyes fluttered shut. Sylvester caught her head before it h