EVEN THE WILDEST RAKES HAVE THEIR WEAKNESSES

old by order of the Trustees beginning 24 March 1819, at eleven o

Mr. Sotheby's catalogue said. The catalogue also opined that the Burgundy Book of Ho

o argument with the aesthetical judgment, but he was

the late marquis with a mixture of respect and awe. He'd felt nothing but pride when summoned to the locked muniment room to learn the family secret. Eleven years old and unusually

green and lapis blue. Even within the constraints of the vellum pages, no larger than a foot tall, the artist managed to convey the textures of the gow

en book from the perspective of an extra dozen or so years, and what felt like a weary century of experience. The volume was a book of hours, a devotional work. The se

. Fashion was interesting that way. To look at the portraits from Restoration England, for example, one would think every lady of that era suffered from protruding eyes. N

me of their number were more than willing to welcome a marquis, however disreputable, into the bedchamber. Lady or actress, wife or whore, they were all women beneath their garments.

most to himself, save for a house porter waiting patiently for him to finish perusing the Limbourg Brothers' last ma

me. Few members of the ton were. And very few had held an unchallenged position among the elite lon

in agreed. "Are

most important manuscript I've ever seen offered, and all the more desirable since it disa

no idea how

ind it?" Cain a

ollector in England

you knew

o's face was as straight as his back but he regarded Cain with a glint

ered in off

o him to set foot in a book auctioneer's premises had t

for something t

he story lacks drama." He thought for a moment, wondering if Lord Hugo might have any u

in heard just a hint of derision in Lord Hugo's mellow tone when he referred to Cain'

uy this one in

effort to disguise his amusement, justified given the common knowledge

that's very much in my line. It amuses me to think of some Fr

ial peers. Lord Hugo didn't seem shocked. He looked down at Cain from his

n't believe you're as completely

course I am," he said flippantly. "Pra

might have been pity. Hartley said nothing for a wh

arleton's collecti

it's becaus

iable hunger for books. The disease, for which no physician has yet fo

with impunity." Cain grinned. "I'

er at the most eagerly awaited auction in years,"

just turn up on

ded up ruined." Lord Hugo's tone suggested that he would

ow more about the manuscript, and I find myself curious about this fellow Tarleton." He glanced around at the thousands o

orous, it was Tarleton. His ability to track down rari

d, of course, protect again

le bookseller to cons

find such a v

ton of St. Martin's Lane. You'll fin

d Hugo meant. He needed to know why Sir Thomas Tarleton had called on his

tense family pride. Did the disappearance of the Hours have anything to do with the deterioration of his father's temper? Always a rigid and irascible man, his father had seemed very nearl

equired money. By discovering why Tarleton owned it

ns for the third time. However often she did it, her conclusion remained th

them being sold to other undeserving collectors, she needed to earn more in the next month than she'd managed

rturing herself with contemplation of the rarities Tarleton had acquired by fair means

Tarleton sale. I'd like you to represent me, M

Lord Spencer,

l gladly follow your counsel as to t

she enjoyed in real life? Sadly Lord Spencer, England's premier book collector, was not in

ince she'd had to dismiss her servant. Closing the catalogue with a snap she stood up, knocking over the sad little pile of coins. S

had to get down on her knees and use both hands to pry it loose. As luck would have it,

bout her visitor was that he

f youth and elegance. Not that all book buyers were old and unkempt. Bibliophilia gripped gentlemen of all stripes. But Ju

anning her from head to foot with alarming intensity. His scrutiny raised a flush in he

e both shiny and ineffably drab. Add the sensible linen cap tied under the chin and covering every strand of hair, and the problem had disappeared. She resembled, she knew, a diminuti

knew she was young, blond, and female. Lord, she wouldn't be surprised if he saw thro

es, she had no difficulty recogniz

realized her hand was still in his. Even through a glove his grasp gave he

-pitched voice made the o

her composure, she stooped to ret

Merton," she said

know. C

e what you want and I

resist such

he was alarmed by her instinct to reciprocate. She wasn't sure she

a book?" she asked, t

r Mr. Merton. I

," she answered, her u

n't have someone hid

s customer was hardly in her interest, she indicated her shelves. "I'd be happy to

C. Merton," he said with a twinkl

Merton," Ju

re you J.

of the shop. By that time a buyer might be impressed enough with her knowledge to forgive her sex

stranger with a touch of exasperation. "I apologize f

alwa

do 'they' do when they find out

they

lity of 'them' and I try never to be commonplace. And now I think of

o Hartley

Lord Hugo knows that J.

our best customers and has rema

hagrin in her statement. "But n

r into it. Lord Hugo is wise enough to realize t

others are not

on the buff boards of the volume she still held, "who don't belie

e Tarleton catalogu

es

like polished sapphires. J

ome fine books in that co

Juliana said, "was adep

know him?

in Salisbury, so naturally Sir Thomas was

ou know hi

ted with Tarleton's methods as a collector," s

You're

Engaged

me at the Tarl

The day had taken a

ain wasn't surprised. He'd noticed at once that she wasn't a bad-looking woman. Under her monstrous mourning gown lay a slight but trim figure. A strand of fair

n, respectable merchant that she was. But now she regarded him as though he were the answer to a maiden's d

of that body disguised by a forbidding exterior and dry-as-dust occupation. He es

it of my experience," she said. "Fo

o offer the same thing to you, madam.

re of indignation and puzzlement. With hands on her hips cinching in the volu

worthy of her hire? You won't get better advice anywhere in

mmission," he agreed. "A

" she asked with a frown of concentration. "If

ipt. A boo

ours? Les Très

ones. The Ver

th? I wouldn't be surprised to see it se

for the blunt. The answer is yes. Allow me to in

table peer. Perhaps she'd never heard of him. Or maybe she was too excited at the thought of

aid triumphantly

y I can't just march into the auction, sti

ay cards?"

nod

eal your hand t

ourse

st. You just showed me all your cards.

. He'd ignore-or perhaps postpone-the pursuit of a woman and