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Prologue

London, 1839 He enty-four, and it was the first time he had ever visited a brothel Nick Gentry damned himself for the icy sweat that had broken out on his face He was burning with desire, cold with dread He had avoided this for years, until he had finally been driven to it out of desperate carnal need The urge to er than fear

Forcing hi, Nick ascended the steps of Mrs Bradshaw's red brick establishment, the exclusive business that catered to well-heeled clients It was coirls would cost a fortune, as they were the best-trained prostitutes in London

Nick would easily be able to pay any price that was required He had reat deal of arnered a fortune froreat deal of notoriety in the process Although he was popular with most of the public, he was feared by the underworld and detested by the Bow Street runners, who regarded him as an unprincipled rival On that point the runners were correct-he was indeed unprincipled Scruples had a way of interfering with business, and therefore Nick had no use for them

Music drifted froantly dressedas if they were at an upper-crust soiree In reality, they were prostitutes conducting business transactions with their patrons This was a world far removed from his flash house near Fleet Ditch, where buttock-and-file whores serviced s

Squaring his shoulders, Nick used the lion's-head brass knocker to rap sharply on the door It opened to reveal a stone-faced butler, who asked what business he was about

Isn't that obvious?Nick wondered irritably "I want to meet one of the women"

"I a new patrons at this time, sir-"

"Tell her that Nick Gentry is here" Nick shoved his hands into his coat pockets and gave the butler a grim stare

The nition of the infamous name He opened the door and inclined his head courteously "Yes, sir If you ait in the entrance hall, I will inform Mrs Bradshaw of your presence"

The air was lightly scented with perfulanced around the marble-floored hall, which was lined with tall white pilasters The only adorn herself in an oval htly at the top of her own thigh Fascinated, Nick stared at the gold-frahtly blurred, the triangle between her legs painted with hazy brush strokes Nick's stomach felt as if it were filled with cold lead A servant wearing black breeches crossed through the hall with a tray of glasses, and Nick's gaze dropped swiftly fro

He was intensely aware of the door behind hiht now But he'd been a coward for too long Whatever happened this night, he was going to see it through Clenching his fists in his pockets, he stared at the glea the glow of the chandelier overhead

Suddenly a woh the air "What an honor it is to receive the celebrated Mr Gentry Welcome"

His gaze traveled fro sherry-colored eyes Mrs Bradshaas a tall, wonderfully proportioned wohtly dotted with amber freckles, and her auburn hair was pinned up in loose curls She was not beautiful in any conventional sense-her face was too angular, and her nose was large However, she was stylish and i about her that beauty seemed entirely superfluous

She smiled in a way that caused Nick to relax in spite of himself Later he would learn that he was not alone in this reaction All reeable presence One could tell just by looking at her that she didn't mind coarse words or booted feet on the table, that she loved a good joke and was never shy or disdainful Men adored Gemma because she so clearly adored them

She gave Nick a conspiratorial snificent cleavage "Do say you've come here for pleasure, rather than business" At his brief nod, she sh the drawing room with me, and ill discuss how you h his Nick jerked slightly, checking the instinctive i off her hand

The idity of his arm Her hand fell away, and she continued to chat co untoward had occurred "This way, if you please My guests often like to play cards or billiards, or relax in the sirls as you wish before deciding on one Then she will show you to one of the upstairs rooed an hourly rate for her coirls myself, and you will find that each has her own special talent Of course, you and I will discuss your preferences, as soh play"

As they entered the drawing roolances They all looked healthy and well tended, entirely different froate They flirted, chatted, negotiated, all with the same relaxed manner that Mrs Bradshaw possessed

"It would be my pleasure to introduce you to a few of theentle voice in his ear "Does anyone catch your eye?"

Nick shook his head He was usually known for his jaunty arrogance, for having the smooth, easy banter of a confidence trickster However, in this foreign situation, words had deserted him

"Shall I own is exceedingly popular Her na and lively, and possesses a quick wit The one standing near her, the blondthat is Mercia A entle manner that appeals to many of our patrons Now, Nettie-that is the little one by the looking glass-is practiced in the more exotic arts" Mrs Bradshaw paused as she observed the stiff set of Nick's jaw "Do you prefer the illusion of innocence?" she suggested softly "I can provide you with a country lass who in"

Nick was dalanced at them all, dark-haired, blond, sliinable, and suddenly the sheer variety overwhel to bed with any of them, and fresh sweat broke out on his forehead

His gaze returned to Mrs Bradshaw Her eyes were a clear, warm brown, surmounted with ruddy brows a few shades darker than her hair Her tall body was an inviting playground, and her mouth looked plush and soft But it was the freckles that decided him The amber flecks decorated her pale skin in a festive spray that made him want to smile

"You're the only one here worth having," Nick heard himself say

The hts, but he sensed that he had surprised her A shtful compliment However, I do not sleep with the patrons ofpast You irls, and-"

"I want you ," he insisted

As Mrs Bradsha the raw honesty in his eyes, a faint wash of pink spread across her cheeks "Good Lord," she said, and laughed suddenly "It is quite a trick to otten how"

Nick did not smile back at her "I will pay any price"

Mrs Bradshaw shook her head in wonder, still s, then stared at his shirtfront with concentration, as if struggling with so on impulse It's a personal rule of mine"