Worth Any Price Read Online Free Page A

cruel twists of fate that no one could avoid forever. The tribulations of a schoolgirl were nothing compared to the ugliness that he had seen and experienced. He would have no compunction about bringing Charlotte to Radnor, collecting the remainder of his fee, then putting all thought of the luckless bride-to-be completely out of his mind.
    His gaze chased restlessly over the scene, but so far there had been no sign of Charlotte. The great house was filled with at least three dozen families, all of whom were attending what amounted to a month-long house party. The annual event was hosted by Lord Westcliff. The daytime hours were devoted to hunting, shooting, and field sports. Each evening had entertainment, such as soirees musicales, and dances.
    Although it was nearly impossible to gain one ofthe sought-after invitations to Stony Cross Park, Nick had managed to with the help of his brother-in-law, Sir Ross Cannon. Nick had decided to pose as a bored aristocrat who needed to refresh himself with a few weeks in the country. At the request of Sir Ross, the earl of Westcliff had extended an invitation, having no idea that Nick was a Bow Street runner on the hunt for a runaway bride.
    The myriad of lights hung from the oak branches caused the women’s jewels to glitter madly. A wry smile tugged at one side of Nick’s mouth as he reflected how easy it would be to strip these pigeons of their finery. Not long ago he would have done exactly that. He was an even better thief than he was a thief-taker. But now he was a runner, and he was supposed to be honorable.
    “Lord Sydney.” A man’s voice interrupted his thoughts, and Nick turned away from the terrace to face Marcus, Lord Westcliff. The earl possessed a formidable presence. Although he was of only average height, his form was broad and exceedingly muscular, almost bullish in its heavily developed power. His features were bold and decisively formed, his shrewd black eyes set deep in his swarthy face.
    Westcliff looked nothing like the slender, fair peers who occupied the first circles of society. Were he not dressed in elegant evening clothes, one would assume he was a dock-worker or journeyman. However, Westcliff’s blood was unquestionably blue. He had inherited one of the most ancientearldoms of the peerage, a coronet that had been won by his ancestors in the late 1300s. Ironically, it was rumored that the earl was not an ardent supporter of the Monarchy, nor even of hereditary peerage, as he believed that no man should be insulated from the toils and concerns of ordinary life.
    Westcliff continued in his distinctive gravel-scored voice. “Welcome to Stony Cross, Sydney.”
    Nick executed a shallow bow. “Thank you, my lord.”
    The earl regarded him with an openly skeptical glance. “Your sponsor, Sir Ross, mentioned in his letter that you suffer from ennui.” His tone made it clear that he had little tolerance for a wealthy man’s complaint of excessive boredom.
    Neither did Nick. He chafed inwardly at the necessity of affecting ennui, but it was part of his ruse. “Yes,” he said with a world-weary smile. “A debilitating condition. I have become decidedly melancholy. I was advised that a change of scene might help.”
    A surly grunt came from the earl’s throat. “I can recommend an excellent cure for boredom—simply apply yourself to some useful activity.”
    “Are you suggesting that I work ?” Nick summoned an expression of distaste. “Perhaps that would do for someone else. My kind of ennui, however, requires a careful balance of rest and entertainment.”
    Contempt flickered in Westcliff’s black eyes. “Weshall endeavor to provide you with satisfactory amounts of both.”
    “I look forward to it,” Nick murmured, taking care to keep his accent clean. Although he had been born a viscount’s son, too many years spent in the London underworld had given him a lower-class cadence and woefully soft consonants. “Westcliff, at the moment what would