When Tempting a Rogue Read Online Free Page A

replaced by a devil-may-care twinkle. “Of course!”—Archer sliced into his steak with a smirk—“What else is a second son to do? Someday, no doubt, a lady will take a shot at me as well.”
    Trystan remained silent as his brother added a bit of egg to his fork and lifted it and the meat to his mouth. If anyone shot Archer it probably wouldn’t be a woman, he thought—and doubted the person would live long enough to claim credit. It unsettled him, seeing his sibling that way. Chilled him to the bone.
    “So,” Archer asked after a few moment’s silence, “how much did you win off Angelwood?”
    “It’s not how much, but rather what I won from his lordship.”
    Archer took a sip of his coffee and smiled. “God bless the Irish. Allow me to rephrase, then, Mr. Subterfuge. What did you win from the earl?”
    One thing that hadn’t changed was the fact that Trystan had always trusted Archer with even his deepest secrets. Oh, he might rub his little brother’s face in a mess, but he never, ever revealed what Trystan told him. “Vienne La Rieux’s I.O.U.”
    Fork and knife in hand, Archer put both of them to rest against the sides of his plate and stared at Trystan. The younger man grinned at his brother’s surprise.
    “What exactly does this I.O.U. entail?”
    “Let’s just say that madam now has a partner in her emporium scheme.”
    “Good lord, boy. Some day someone’s going to shoot you.”
    Trystan’s smile faded. “Don’t call me boy . You know I hate that.”
    There were six years between the two of them. Comparing the closeness in age of Grey and Archer, Trystan would often keenly feel the gap. It didn’t matter that Bronte, their sister, was eight years his junior and the youngest of the family. Being the baby of the sons made him all too aware of how his brothers and society viewed him. He was the youngest Kane boy, forever compared to his notorious older siblings, the eldest of whom just happened to be a bloody duke.
    Cutting another piece of steak, Archer eyed him with undecipherable scrutiny. “Fair enough. My apologies.”
    Of course, this instantaneous contrition made Trystan feel every inch a stupid arse—exactly the effect his brother no doubt hoped to achieve.
    “Though, given how indubitably in shock the lady must be over the events of last evening, perhaps I will refrain from sharing the news with her just yet.”
    That got a chuckle. Archer raised his cup in salute. “Sound judgment, brother.”
    Trystan smiled and returned the gesture with his own cup, connecting the porcelain rims with a solid but gentle clink .
    “Lord Archer, Lord Trystan. Good morning.”
    Both men glanced up at the familiar voice and then promptly stood as gentlemen ought when in the presence of the fairer sex. Before them stood Sadie Moon, who was the wife of Trystan’s business partner, Jack—only there seemed to be some dispute as to whether the two of them were actually married. But the eager look, often seen in the lady’s large, unusual eyes while in Jack’s midst, showed her true feelings.
    Trystan bowed over her bright purple glove. The lithe woman, in her colorful clothing, stood out like an orchid amid daisies. “Madame Moon. How good to see you again. Have you word from our mutual friend?” It was the most tactful way he could think to ask.
    She inclined her head, the huge hat she wore tipping dangerously, plumes trembling. “I have. He hopes to be back in London within the fortnight.”
    Trystan had tried to do as much as he could for Jack after the unfortunate death of his grandfather, but it had been Sadie who had done the most. And now she waited while Jack tied up loose ends at the family estate in Ireland. “If that is what he says, then that is how it will be.”
    Sadie smiled softly at that. Her shoulders heaved ever so slightly, as though she silently sighed in relief. “Where are my manners? May I present one of my dearest friends, Miss Indara Ferrars?” She gestured to the