Charmed and Dangerous by Jane Ashford

all of them are…powerful.”
    â€œI really don’t know what you mean.”
    He leaned uncomfortably close, his shoulder brushing hers. “You can tell me, Signorina Devane. It is only for my art, you see—to make my picture right. I have no other interests.”
    Everyone at the congress had other interests, she thought. The hard part was sorting them out. Was Oliveri part of the plot she had already brushed up against? she wondered. Or was this some other intrigue entirely? “I don’t think I have anything useful to tell you.”
    â€œYou don’t know what I might find useful,” he responded quickly, his face too close to hers.
    â€œSignor,” she protested.
    He pulled back, as if conscious of going too fast. “It is so interesting—all of these leaders gathered here. And I am so anxious to paint it well. This could bring me many other commissions, you see.”
    That could be all of the truth, Laura thought. And it could be only a small part of it.
    â€œCome to my studio and see my work,” he urged, handing her a card. “Then you will understand what I ask.”
    What meaning lay behind his urgent tone? Laura slipped the card into her glove, putting off deciding.
    â€œGood,” he said. “We cannot talk here. It is too public.”
    As if to confirm this, they were interrupted by a deep voice saying, “Miss Devane?”
    Gavin Graham had approached from the side. Laura wondered how much he had heard.
    â€œMrs. Pryor is looking for you,” he added. “She asked me to bring you to her.”
    Laura stood. “You must excuse me, Signor Oliveri.”
    â€œOf course.” He had also risen, and now gave her a deep bow. “It was my very great pleasure to speak with you,” he said in English.
    Gavin pointedly offered his arm. Laura took it, and he swept her off before she could reply. “She really is looking for you this time,” he said.
    â€œIt was very kind of you to fetch me, then.”
    He was quite unaccountably angry, Gavin thought. It was all these ridiculous parties—a complete waste of time. “She was shocked that you would stay talking to Oliveri for such a long time. He is not a suitable object for such marked attentions.”
    â€œCatherine said that to you?” she answered in an irritatingly innocent tone.
    â€œAnyone would say it.”
    â€œWe were simply talking, in full view of…”
    â€œSkulking behind a fringe of trees,” he corrected.
    â€œSkulking!”
    â€œIf you are going to allow yourself to be deceived by the most obvious kind of wastrel—”
    â€œYou think he was trying to seduce me?” She looked astonished, as if this hadn’t even occurred to her.
    She was a very odd combination, Gavin thought, feeling inexplicably lighter. She would speak of things that other women would blush to mention. Yet she seemed to be unaware of the reality of the idea. “It is an obvious conclusion,” said Gavin. “He is that sort of man.”
    â€œIs he? I suppose that would explain… But then why…?”
    He bent his head to catch the murmur, but she said nothing further. “You should be more careful in your associations.”
    â€œIndeed?”
    She turned her eyes full on him. Gavin experienced a strange shock of recognition.
    â€œI imagine I should avoid men who haul me into dark gardens and assault me, then?”
    â€œI did not assault—”
    â€œYou know, Signor Oliveri did not attempt to pull me into the trees and…just what did you have in mind?”
    â€œI was going to kiss you,” he said harshly.
    â€œAnd you dare to warn me about other men?”
    â€œIf you would rather kiss Oliveri, be my guest!”
    Spotting the Pryors, he pulled her several steps in their direction and then left her to join them on her own. He was furious, he realized, as he strode away. He was as angry as he’d