He knew her.
Behind that lush beauty of hers ran a streak of wildness—and willfulness, too.
In fact, it was these very qualities he’d sought to exploit in his pursuit of her.
And now she was almosthis.
Though he could all but taste the victory, it yet failed to excite the part of him that reveled in vanquishment.
“Quite the country estate you have here,” came an East End voice behind him.
Dev turned to find Blaze Jagger’s mouth curled into a cocksure smile, his diamond stud winking in greeting. The rogue cut a flamboyant figure in his evening blacks and garish fuchsia silk waistcoat.
“A right inspiration to us honest working men.”
Dev’s brow lifted. “Is that how you think of yourself? Anhonestworking man?”
Jagger’s smile increased in width and arrogance. “Let’s leave it atworkingand call it a compromise.”
Dev didn’t join in the smile. In fact, he had a few words to speak to this man. “Join me on the terrace.”
Once out of earshot of the card party, which was growing more boisterous by the second. Dev got to it. “This debt you’re holding.”
Jagger cocked his head, a sudden serious glint in his eye that disconcertingly mirrored his sister’s. “That’s between me and the marquess.”
Dev gave his head a slow shake. “It affects Beatrix. If you turf Lydon out, you’ll be turfing her out, too, and damaging her reputation along with it.”
Jagger wagged a finger. “Now, see? That math doesn’t add all the way up. The lady will be marrying a man who is rich as—or more like, richer than—the king himself, so I don’t see how Lydon’s troubles affect her at all.”
Of course, Dev wouldn’t be explaining his arrangement with Beatrix to this man, but Jagger wasn’t one to accept anything at face value. He would always be on the lookout for the angle—or the lie, as it was. Dev would have to present him a new angle to consider. “Beatrix doesn’t have anyone fighting her corner.”
Jagger’s brow lifted in utter disbelief. “Doesn’t she haveyou?” A beat. “Her fiancé?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Seems simple to me.”
Dev wasn’t sure if Jagger realized he’d done it, but he’d squared up to Dev.
A startling possibility occurred to him.
Was Jagger feeling…brotherly?
Dev saw an opening to say what needed to be said and seized it. “I’ll pay off Lydon’s debt.”
Jagger gave a low whistle. “That’s right generous of you.”
“With one caveat.”
“I do revel in a good negotiation.”
“You can buy as much of Lydon’s debt as you like. But you don’t send correspondence to Little Stanhope Street. Lydon won’t see it, but Beatrix will, and she’ll feel responsible for it.”
“How is that?”
“She’s that sort of person.”
“Nah, I get that about her.” Jagger sucked his teeth. “The other thing. How will she see Lydon’s mail? Won’t she be living in happily-ever-after bliss with her husband and openinghismail?”
