In the shadowy light, she sent him a searching look, then nodded. Without another word, she turned on her heels and marched back to the library’s French doors.
Asher followed a few steps behind her. As she stepped into the library she glanced back at him. Her thoughts jumbled, she tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind.
She almost jumped out of her skin, when he touched her on the shoulder. “Run along,” he said softly. “I’ll wait here until I know you’re in the hallway.”
Annoyed, but unable to think of anything else to do, Juliana did just that. Cautiously opening the door to the main hallway, she peeked out and seeing it deserted, stepped quickly into the hall. Shutting the library door behind her, she hurried toward the ballroom.
Asher waited until he was certain she wasn’t coming back and then walked across the room. At the desk, it took him only a moment to find and reopen the secret drawer and replace the Ormsby necklace. It was a bitter moment. He’d planned this for weeks and now it was all for naught. But he had no choice—Juliana knew he had been here and when the outcry, and there would surely be one, over the theft of the necklace arose, she would know that he had stolen it. Easing into the garden, he grimaced. And she was such an honest little thing, most likely she’d feel honor bound to tell Ormsby of his presence in the library or nag him to death until he returned the thing. Easier to return it now and wait for a better time.
Despite the outcome, Asher was lighthearted as he scaled the back wall and disappeared into the darkness. He was a great planner. And there would be another opportunity.
Arriving at his rooms near Fitzroy Square, he began to pack. He’d come to town this time without a valet and had traveled light. All of his belongings fit into the one valise and buckling it shut, he looked around to see if he’d forgotten anything. He hadn’t.
Tomorrow would find him riding back to Kent and the people he held dear. He’d had some reservations that he could settle down to the uneventful life of a gentleman farmer, but tonight’s events insured that there would still be a little excitement to be gleaned. The Ormsby necklace was still out there and sooner or later he’d find a way to snatch it right from under Ormsby’s nose. And Juliana…what the devil had she been searching for? He grinned. Finding out her secret might make life very interesting indeed….
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2008 by Shirlee Busbee
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ISBN: 978-1-4201-1901-5
Seduction Becomes Her Page 36
