How to Beguile a Beauty by Kasey Michaels

them, check the stones, the clasps, that sort of thing. The man didn’t even blink.”
    Justin reached inside his waistcoat and pulled out a jewelers loupe. Leave it to Justin to own his own. “Perhaps because he’s innocent. Perhaps because I was incorrect in my assessment of last evening. Or,” he added,opening one of the velvet cases, “perhaps he’s less the buffoon than he looks. Lined up on the desktop, you say? I don’t think I can award you any points for subtlety, old friend.”
    â€œIt was a bit cow handed, wasn’t it?”
    â€œFar be it from me to comment on the obvious. Although I believe I’ll make an exception concerning that plaster stuck to your handsome face. You should have feinted to your right before you turned. But perhaps your fears for the lady clouded your instincts.”
    Tanner sat down, his eyes hard on his friend. “How?”
    â€œHow? Oh, how. I was there, of course.” He opened the case and put the loupe to his eye, screwing up his handsome features in order to hold the thing tight. “Garnets.” He put down the case. “Hardly worth the effort to steal them. But pretty enough.”
    â€œThe bloody hell with the garnets. You were there, in the gardens?”
    â€œIt seemed the most logical place. After all, Molton was obviously looking for some sort of confrontation. If I was gone, had deserted the field as it were, who did that leave?”
    â€œMe.” Tanner got to his feet. “I think I could do with a glass of wine. Would you care for one?”
    â€œAt this early hour? Of course, I would. I would have made myself known to you, Tanner, but you seemed to be deep in conversation with the Lady Lydia, so that I was loath to interrupt. For a man who says he lays no claim to the lady, you seemed rather…intent. At any rate, Molton and his trained monkeys showedup just as I had decided I should be no friend at all if I did not give you and the lovely lady some privacy. Happily, I hadn’t gone yet, and was about to announce myself when Molton went on the attack. That was a wisty castor you placed on his phizz, as my coachman would say.”
    Tanner handed him a glass of wine, and took a sip from his own glass. “I left him there with his nose pouring blood. Molton. And left the the whip as well, now that I think of it. You, ah, you didn’t do anything, did you?”
    â€œDid I confront the man who would have horsewhipped my friend, you mean? The bumbling, stumbling, yet dangerous creature who would bring two well-born thugs with him to face one defenseless man? A pig of a fool who would frighten a woman such as the lovely Lady Lydia, with his only wound a slight rearranging of his nose? Tanner. Do you really want me to answer that?”
    Tanner shook his head, then chuckled under his breath. “No, I don’t think I do.”
    â€œGood choice,” Justin said, raising his wine glass in a mocking toast. “So, when are we leaving for Malvern Hall?”
    â€œYou listen at keyholes now, as well?”
    Justin smiled. “I confess it. I may have been on the other side of that door longer than politeness dictates, only hastening back down the hallway to the foyer once I was convinced you weren’t going to wring that idiot’s neck. Although I rather like that appellation he gifted me with. The bad baron. But I’m hardly that. Encroaching mushroom, isn’t he?”
    â€œMy father did cause his injury all those years ago,” Tanner said. “And, according to Thomas, he and my father grew very close over the course of my father’s final illness.”
    â€œYou weren’t there?”
    â€œI was on the peninsula. My father left no last letters to me. Not that I expected any. We weren’t very compatible, and when I took myself and my seed off to be killed by some Froggie—my father’s words, not mine—we became permanently estranged. I can