Lust by Charlotte Featherstone

marveling at his own beauty.”
    Niall grinned at Kian’s obvious envy of Rinion’s legendary beauty. “Vanity does enjoy looking at himself. But find him.”
    â€œI believe that Vanity has already found his virtue. He made it very clear that he intended to wed and bed her on the Eve of Beltane.”
    Niall frowned. “He was not at court when I left this morning.”
    â€œHave you seen his virtue, Your Highness?” Avery asked. “I think you haven’t, for if you had you would realize that Rinion most likely has her locked away in his room. She’s quite a beauty, and Rinion was like a stallion on the scent of a mare.”
    Laughing, Niall sheathed his sword. “Then we are fortunate. Rinion has secured us our first virtue.”
    Kian’s eyes flashed with resentment. “I’ll be next.”
    No, Thane thought. I will. Chastity was nearly in his grasp. He could feel it.
    â€œI cannot linger,” Niall announced. “I’m going north, where I’ve heard some reports of women who may be the last of the seven we are searching for. Do as you must, but remember not to enchant them or force them.”
    Thane watched as Avery, Kian and Niall left the woods. Climbing atop his horse, Thane nudged his mount forward, then began to canter through the paths of Hyde Park while Bel loped beside him. After a few short minutes, he found himself across the road from Chastity Lennox’s town house.
    There he would wait. If he could not go to her, he would have to find a way for her to come to him.
    Â 
    It was a fine evening for a stroll in the gardens. The air was fresh and the sun was setting in a most marvelous display of fuchsia and orange. Picking a handful of lily of the valley, Chastity inhaled the heady scent. She had always enjoyed the smell of flowers and grass. Herfamily liked to tease her about her sensitive nose, claiming she was like a bloodhound. She supposed there was some truth in that. Her olfactory sense was rather heightened and developed, so sensitive that she could detect the subtle differences between base, middle and top notes in a perfume or a decadent dish laced with herbs and cream. Even now, she could decipher the difference between the sweet perfume of the lily she held in her hand and the delicately soft essence of the lilacs that were in bloom at the back of the garden.
    Strolling through the herbal garden that had been allowed to grow out of control, Chastity mentally made a list of things that needed to be done. The trees and plants seemed to be in decent health, but the herbs had grown woody and coarse, requiring a heavy hand with the pruning. She had been a small child the last time she was in London, and in this garden. While her sisters had preferred the formal ornamental gardens at the side of the yard, Chastity had always preferred the kitchen garden. She used to come out with Cook and the housekeeper, Mrs. Badderly, and help them cut herbs and flowers. The garden had always held a mystical charm that Chastity found intriguing. There was no formality here, no rules. The flowers and herbs grew alongside each other, their borders not defined into perfect manicured squares like those of the ornamental garden. She had spent many an afternoon here, chasing butterflies and frolicking with Cook’s assistant.
    But then she and her sisters had gone away. She had often thought about this little copse at the back of thehouse, and the hours she had spent running free. It was such a shame that her favorite spot had been neglected, allowed to whither into wildness.
    If they were going to be spending any time in London, Chastity would need to see to this garden. Not only because herbs and flowers interested her, but because she needed something to take her mind off last night in the maze and the dark-haired stranger. He hadn’t said his name. She knew only that he was a prince, and that he had spoken to her most scandalously, and she had