EVEN THE WILDEST RAKES HAVE THEIR WEAKNESSES

s deep with disapproval. "My dea

is a serious man. But he's all I have if I intend to maintain a presence at the Tarleton sale. No on

d. She winced as he waved his cup around. They were seated at the table in the rear o

notorious for his wretched morals and

f those whose morals don't live up

different. I a

r, in the sense that

y in every sen

d invitations on heavy stock. He imitated their accents in his speech-not very successfully-while pretending to decr

must take my customers in whateve

d for her hand instead. His was fleshy and slightly damp. "Your year of mourning is almost comp

elp her with bookkeeping, and their teas afterward were almost her only purely social in

clear on numerous occasions, want for nothing. Except privacy, independence, and an interesting life. He'd never allow her to continue in her own trade, seeing it as a

sy. Joseph's demands in that area had been moderate, i

e and since, she'd wondered if there was more to that side of things than she'd discovered with Joseph. Surely there must, else what were th

rthur's wet mout

e said firmly. "You need not fe

y repressed. Her relations with Chase would be str

lone. "To be seen in the man's comp

eople will view our association precisely as it is. I am a bookseller and he is

ngers, and light-skirts are the o

ctors. Under my guidance that is wh

eares. But if Chase could be persuaded to wider purchases, she could earn enough to make acquisitions for stock at the Tarleton sale. That wou

ve to even think ab

r shop thronged with well-to-do cognoscenti

lia

n, Arthur. My min

rried ab

's no

is reputed to be irr

I can't even remember exactly what he looks like." And truly, she cou

iercing blue eyes

fixing her thoughts on that commission. What did blue eyes matter in comparison to a really important manus

down the Strand, and looked for her new patron. Two gentlemen stood in conversation outside Sotheby's premises, both too

ation as she drew near en

nth-century poetry. He now acknowledged her with a bow. Sebastian Iverley was a different matter. He peered at her through gold-rimmed spectacles and apparently hadn't y

halt at the entrance to the auction rooms. A footman in red and black livery was perched behind, but the door opened without the servant's help. Julia

I should have thought to pick you up." It came back to her how the f

approximation of a masculine bow. She never curt

s partner. And not at all wet. Really, she ought to look away. She'd given herself a stric

res to mind. It was very important to be able to recogn

disfavor. "God's breath, Chase," he said. "Wha

ce, throwing his cheekbones into relief. Just looking at

ou I'm trying to impress. The ladies love it." He pinpointed

ul," she said

u s

ot a curricle? If you must make a spectacle of you

myself. I prefer to have my hands free for other activities." He seemed thoroughly pleased with himself, and it struck Jul

ed to his tall form in exquisite understatement, Chase, a good six inches shorter than the dandy, wore his with a

should have thought. Precious few"-he glanced at Juliana and changed wha

to the presence of either marquis or carriage, gru

y a book, of cou

ey's attention

ould say anything indiscreet. "Lord Ch

th a glimmer of interest. Or perhaps it was his spect

Iverley. Iverley, this is Chase. And you must already

itted. "She still has some decent books

to Iverley, not if he crawled the length of St. Martin's Lane

used, smiling at Iverley with a look of pure innocence. "Mrs. Merton has kindly agre

emark, Juliana had the oddest desire to laugh. And he hadn't

s, Chase." Compton spoke with his habitual languor,

on, but I can read, and I do so on occasion. I like t

get through one, maybe

that I like t

"It's useless to expect a serious answer from you, Chase. You ap

tion house, presenting a comical contrast between

rked. "Iverley doesn't seem

has no time

ool! And

. As one would expect of Lord

ow of their

e nobility, everyone knew each other and who was related to whom. Indeed, most of them were

thing they shared with her. They were dedicated and knowledgeable biblio

ly she ha

and look at that manuscript? I promise to list

at the Burgun

y n

books. The most important books are saved for the last day of the sale. The big collectors must plan their earlier

to boast I'd say I can match