London's Most Wanted Rake by Bronwyn Scott

were not her friend. She’d wished with all her heart the prize had been anything but a diamond necklace, the one piece of jewellery she’d come to despise above all else, the one thing she intensely associated with the humiliations of her marriage: the diamond collar she’d worn the day Channing had come to the park, the same collar she’d worn at the comte ’s command whenever he wished her to remember her place, at his feet like a dog.
    She put a hand to the jewellery where it lay against her neck. ‘Thank you, Mr Seymour. Did you enjoy the egg hunt?’ Alina enquired out of politeness. She had no doubt the event would be the talk of London when everyone returned to the city in a couple days. Lady Lionel had certainly succeeded there.
    She’d been wool-gathering. Shame on her, when she should have been working. The evening had slipped by; dinner had given way to a pleasant evening of music and cards. Here it was, nearly time for the tea cart and she hadn’t made her next move with Seymour. Time was running out. There was only the ball tomorrow and the party would be over.
    She caught sight of Channing starting to cross the room and quickly slipped a hand through Seymour’s arm. If she meant to take the next step with Seymour, she needed to have him to herself. Channing would only serve to scare Seymour off. She guided Seymour towards the doors leading outside.
    ‘I did. I made several interesting discoveries.’
    Too bad he hadn’t choked on his bon bons, Alina thought. But then she wouldn’t have the pleasure of catching him out and seeing him ruined. She gave a pout, letting her expression cloud. ‘I had such a good time today, so you can imagine how disappointed I was to return and find a letter waiting from my solicitor.’ She looked up at him from underneath her lashes, suddenly reticent. ‘Did you mean it last night about wanting to help me? I wouldn’t want to burden you.’ She hesitated ever so slightly.
    ‘My dear comtesse, it would be no burden at all,’ he replied silkily. Good lord, the man could barely keep the avarice out of his eyes. He was disgusting.
    ‘I have a property that is failing. It’s a good property,’ she added hastily, ‘but it needs improvements in order to turn a profit and improvements are beyond my current budget.’ She fingered the necklace and gave a rueful smile. ‘Perhaps not now, though. I suppose I could sell my necklace. I was going to ask if you might be able to help me arrange for a loan, but now I think I might ask if you could pawn my necklace for me?’ She conjured a watery gaze. ‘These kinds of arrangements are unknown to me. I fear I would be taken advantage of if I attempted them on my own.’
    ‘I hate to see a lady sell her jewels for something as mundane as farming implements and tenant roofs.’ Seymour cocked his head as if an idea had just surfaced. ‘I don’t think such a prize should be sold. It will be a wonderful memento of this day.’
    ‘But I have no choice,’ Alina gently reminded him.
    ‘I could loan you the money,’ Seymour suggested.
    She let herself brighten at the prospect. ‘You could? You would do that for me? It would be perfect. It would be private? No one needs to know?’
    ‘No one needs to know,’ he echoed, covering her hand where it lay on his sleeve. She fought the urge to withdraw it. ‘I am the soul of discretion, comtesse .’
    She sighed. ‘But there is a problem. I haven’t any collateral. I have no way of securing the loan and I don’t want to take advantage of you.’
    He smiled again. ‘Never mind about that, here’s how we’ll do it.’ He explained the process and she managed to nod in key places. ‘Do you understand, comtesse? It’s all very simple really. We’ll have your property turning a profit in no time.’
    ‘Yes, I understand perfectly.’ She understood all too well. There was no problem in what he suggested, only in what he did when the property was under his purvey. ‘Thank