A Seduction at Christmas Read Online Free Page A

attention.
    At last, he troubled himself to give her a good hard look and then almost dropped his jaw in stunned surprise.
    The resemblance between her and the Oracle he’d met nine years ago in the ruins at Delphi was uncanny. Almost frightening. And yet there were differences.
    The Oracle had been a spirit, a glowing, ethereal vision whose eyes had been hidden from him. This woman was flesh and blood and her eyes snapped with insult. He could well imagine her skewering him with her fork, but he didn’tunderstand why. He really hadn’t been that rough with her.
    What she did share with the Oracle was beauty. Her cheekbones were high, her red hair a dark auburn that tumbled becomingly down around her shoulders, the pins having been knocked loose when he’d grabbed her. She was of average height, her waist trim, her breasts full. It was almost the perfect figure for a woman, except there was a leanness to her as if she’d missed more than her share of meals. It was a look common amongst London’s lower classes.
    A memory floated in his consciousness. “We’ve met before,” he said, speaking his thoughts aloud.
    He knew he was right because her shoulders straightened and her gaze grew wary. “Where was it?” he asked.
    “Where is Lord Belkins?” she countered. She had courage. Few spoke to him in that manner.
    Nick spread his arms to show he hid no tricks. “I don’t know.”
    “He was supposed to be here.”
    “He sent me instead,” Nick answered and decided to lay all his cards on the table. Then perhaps she would relax to tell him her purpose and he could gain a clue to the mystery of Ramigio.
    “Lord Belkins owes me money. A gambling debt.” It was no news that Belkins was done up.He’d lost huge sums to men all over town and the rumor was he had little chance of meeting those obligations. “He came to me yesterday with an offer. He said he could arrange a meeting with Andres Ramigio, Barón de Vasconia, if I would forgive the debt, something I was willing to do. The barón took something from me once that I want back. I’ve been searching for years for him. You can imagine I leapt at the opportunity. I was expecting the barón to walk through the door, not you.”
    His explanation obviously did nothing to ease her fears. She kept her fork pointed at him.
    “What of yourself?” he prompted. “Why are you here?” And why did she expect to meet Belkins when he so obviously hadn’t planned on being here himself? If Belkins had passed up an assignation with this beauty, he was a fool.
    A small worry line appeared between her brows. Her glance drifted to the door behind him and he knew she wanted to escape.
    He wouldn’t let her do that. Not until he knew more about her. It had to be more than a coincidence that she, who looked so much like his vision at Delphi, should appear at the same time he’d been approached about Ramigio.
    He tried charm, albeit his was rusty from disuse. In fact, his smile stretched his face in wayshe’d not felt for quite some time. “I know I gave you a scare when you first came into the room. That wasn’t my intention. I beg you to accept my apology, Miss—” He paused, waiting for her to fill in the answer.
    She hesitated, reluctant to relax her guard, but at last said, “Bowen. Miss Bowen.”
    “Like in Hester Bowen?” he hazarded. “The woman who paid for this room?”
    “Yes, that’s me.”
    “Liar.”
    Her eyes widened at the accusation. Nick almost laughed at having caught her in the fib. “Hester Bowen is known by every gentleman of my acquaintance. She makes certain it is that way. You are no Hester Bowen.” He flicked his gaze over her person in an appreciative way. “And you should be thankful of that.”
    Risking that she wouldn’t bolt for the door, and undecided of what he’d do if she did, Nick walked to the table. He pulled his coin purse out of his pocket and held it up for her to see before dropping it on the table. “What is your name