The Lady Travelers Guide To Larceny With A Dashing Stranger. Victoria Alexander

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      “Then you like adventure and dashing heroes and sultry heroines?”

      “I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t, especially with heroes like Allan Quatermain.”

      “Some might think such stories are rather frivolous.”

      “And yet some of the most enjoyable moments in life are completely frivolous.” She shrugged.

      “As well as unexpected.”

      “I believe unexpected is the very definition of adventure.”

      “Then one can’t plan adventure?”

      “Goodness, Mr. Montague.” Her blue eyes twinkled. “Where would be the fun in that?”

      He leaned forward and gazed into her eyes. “You don’t think one can set out to seek adventure?”

      “Ah, seeking adventure is a far cry from planning it. One can expect for adventure to arise or hope for it but I suspect exactly what form that adventure might take would always be unanticipated.”

      He grinned. “Agreed.”

      She laughed.

      He settled back in his seat and studied her. “Why did a woman like you agree to host an excursion like this?”

      “As you just noted, I like adventure.”

      “Shepherding a group of women and their daughters on an abbreviated tour to a handful of countries scarcely strikes me as adventure.”

      “Adventure, Mr. Montague, is where you find it. Who knows what might happen between here and there.” She thought for a moment. “We could encounter famous personages—someone like Mr. Haggard himself—on the boat crossing the channel.”

      “Which might not be an adventure so much as an interesting moment I would say.”

      “Oh, then you’re hoping for grand adventure.” Amusement underscored her words. “Well then, instead of a famous author we might encounter a...a princess. Yes, that’s good. A princess in disguise fleeing England and marriage to a horrible beast of a man, who might throw herself on your mercy and beg for you to help her. That would certainly constitute adventure.”

      He laughed. “Now, I think you’ve gone a bit too far.”

      “Goodness, Mr. Montague.” She sighed. “You are a difficult man to please. First, you think my suggestion of an adventure isn’t truly an adventure and then you think my next idea is entirely too much. Let me think.” She tapped her forefinger on the table thoughtfully. “You must agree, travel itself is fraught with adventure.”

      He nodded. “I do.”

      “Simply setting foot in a place one has never been before is exciting and exhilarating. Even when difficulties arise, there is an element of adventure. Why, any one of the trains we will be taking could break down and we could be stranded. And perhaps forced to survive by our wits alone. Which would be something of a problem but would certainly be an adventure nonetheless. One never knows what is around the next corner.”

      “Indeed.” He nodded. “Still, this tour does seem a bit, oh, tame for you.”

      “Ah.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “My reputation precedes me, I see. And here I was hoping legendary was the worst of it.”

      “Come now, Lady Bascombe, you can’t expect me to entrust my dear sister and niece into the hands of anyone whose background I have not thoroughly checked.”

      “Then you no doubt know all there is to know about me.”

      “I doubt if there is anyone who knows all there is to know about you, Lady Bascombe.”

      “With any luck at all, Mr. Montague.” A knowing smile played on her lips.

      “But I confess I am still puzzled as to why you agreed to host this tour.”

      “It’s really quite simple,” she said smoothly. “One of the founders of the Lady Travelers Society—Mrs. Persephone Fitzhew-Wellmore—is my godmother. This trip was in danger of falling apart and, as American lady travelers are seen as a lucrative prospective clientele, my godmother was quite eager to see it proceed as planned. Apparently, one thing that appeals to Americans is the presence of a fellow traveler with a title.”

      “True enough.” He nodded. It really was an excellent business strategy and quite perceptive given his own business dealings with Americans. There was nothing more impressive to them than a lady or lord attached to someone’s name.

      “One thing led to another and here I am.” She paused. “As fate would have it, I was planning to travel to Venice in the near future so this was not the least bit inconvenient.”

      “Still, leading a tour is not the sort of thing that comes to mind for a woman like yourself.”

      “Hosting a tour, Mr. Montague,” she said and frowned. “And I do wish you would stop saying that. That ‘woman like you’ nonsense. I am not a stock character in a drawing room comedy.”

      “I do apologize. I didn’t mean—”

      “I would do anything for my godmother. She has been a rock of support for me in recent years. More so than anyone else I can name.”

      “Fair-weather friends I suspect?”

      She heaved a sigh. “Mr. Montague—”

      “Why Venice?”

      “Why not?”

      “Have you ever been to Venice?”

      “Goodness, Mr. Montague. Hasn’t everyone?”

      He chuckled. “You’re evading my question. And it was a remarkably innocent question. Not one I would imagine anyone would ignore.”

      “I’m not ignoring it. I simply find it curious that someone who has had my background thoroughly checked would not know the answer to that. And I think it’s my turn in this fascinating conversation of ours to ask you a question.”

      “My life is an open book.”

      “No one’s life is an open book, Mr. Montague.” The slightest hard note edged her words. “We all have secrets. Even those closest to you have secrets. Only a fool thinks they don’t.”

      “Oh.” He wasn’t quite sure what to say, given he did indeed have a secret of sorts. “Perhaps you’re right. Although I can assure you whatever secrets I harbor are minimal and barely worth the effort to keep.”

      “Your sister said you’re financing her trip as a bribe.” She propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin in her hand and smiled into his eyes. “What is said bribe for?”

      “My sister was just being annoying.” He drew his brows together. “Roz takes great joy in annoying me. She is five years my senior and has always delighted in doing whatever she can to set my teeth СКАЧАТЬ