thought you a complete failure."
"You called me a coward, I believe."
"Yes, well, my temper was somewhat frayed at the time. I trust you will make allowances?"
"Why not?" Gabriel's tone was dry. "I suppose ladies who send knights out on quests have the privilege
of being demanding."
Phoebe smiled. "And I suppose knights who are asked to risk their necks are entitled to be somewhat
temperamental."
"We are in agreement on one topic, at least." Gabriel took a step closer and caught her chin on the edge
of his gloved hand. His strong thigh brushed against the silk skirts of her gown.
Phoebe shivered. His touch instantly reignited everything she had felt that night on the road when he had
taken her into his arms. She had never been so acutely conscious of a man before in her life. There was
danger in this kind of masculine power, she realized suddenly. But it was also incredibly alluring. She
drew a deep breath and tried to compose herself.
"My lord," she said, "I must ask you if you have come here tonight because you have decided to assist
me in my quest."
"I think you know the answer to that."
Phoebe gazed up at him in gathering excitement. "Then the answer is yes? You will help me locate the
murderous pirate who stole The Lady in the Tower?"
Gabriel's mouth curved faintly. "Rest assured, Lady Phoebe. You will know the identity of the owner of
your book before the Season is over."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
" I knew it." Overcome with joy, she threw her arms around Gabriel's neck. "I knew you would not be
able to resist such a bold quest. I do not know how to thank you, my lord." She stood on tiptoe and
brushed her lips across his cheek. Then she stepped back quickly. She felt the heat in her face as she
realized what she had done.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. He touched the side of his face briefly. "That will do for starters. But I think I
should warn you that these days when I set out on quests, I make certain I get properly rewarded for my
efforts."
"I understand. You said there would be a fee for your services." Phoebe straightened her shoulders. "I
am prepared to pay it."
"Are you, indeed?"
"If it is within my means," Phoebe amended quickly.
"It will definitely be within your means."
Phoebe searched his unreadable face. "What is your fee, sir?"
"I am still calculating it."
"I see." Phoebe did not know how to take that. She cleared her throat cautiously. "I, myself, have never
been very good with calculations and such."
"I am very, very good with them," he assured her softly.
"Oh. Well, then, you must let me know as soon as you have settled upon a sum. In the meantime, I shall
give you some preliminary instructions."
Gabriel eyed her. "Instructions?"
"Yes, of course. This quest is a very serious matter and I would have you proceed carefully and, above
all, discreetly." Phoebe took another step back and began to pace up and down in front of him. She
frowned in thought. "First of all, we must maintain absolute secrecy."
"Secrecy." Gabriel considered that for a moment. "Why?"
"Don't be a dolt. Secrecy is necessary or we shall risk warning our quarry that we are on his trail."
"Ah."
Phoebe held up her hand and raised one finger. "Secrecy is the first requirement. No one must know that
we are working together on this quest." She raised another finger. "The second requirement is that you
keep me informed of your progress."
Gabriel's brow rose. "You want regular reports?"
"Yes. That way I shall be able to guide and coordinate your work. I shall make certain you are covering
all the obvious avenues of inquiry."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You do not trust me to be able to find all those particular avenues on my own?" Gabriel asked.
"No, of course not. You have been out of Society for eight years, my lord. There is much you do not
know. I shall be able to give you a great deal of
"You called me a coward, I believe."
"Yes, well, my temper was somewhat frayed at the time. I trust you will make allowances?"
"Why not?" Gabriel's tone was dry. "I suppose ladies who send knights out on quests have the privilege
of being demanding."
Phoebe smiled. "And I suppose knights who are asked to risk their necks are entitled to be somewhat
temperamental."
"We are in agreement on one topic, at least." Gabriel took a step closer and caught her chin on the edge
of his gloved hand. His strong thigh brushed against the silk skirts of her gown.
Phoebe shivered. His touch instantly reignited everything she had felt that night on the road when he had
taken her into his arms. She had never been so acutely conscious of a man before in her life. There was
danger in this kind of masculine power, she realized suddenly. But it was also incredibly alluring. She
drew a deep breath and tried to compose herself.
"My lord," she said, "I must ask you if you have come here tonight because you have decided to assist
me in my quest."
"I think you know the answer to that."
Phoebe gazed up at him in gathering excitement. "Then the answer is yes? You will help me locate the
murderous pirate who stole The Lady in the Tower?"
Gabriel's mouth curved faintly. "Rest assured, Lady Phoebe. You will know the identity of the owner of
your book before the Season is over."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
" I knew it." Overcome with joy, she threw her arms around Gabriel's neck. "I knew you would not be
able to resist such a bold quest. I do not know how to thank you, my lord." She stood on tiptoe and
brushed her lips across his cheek. Then she stepped back quickly. She felt the heat in her face as she
realized what she had done.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. He touched the side of his face briefly. "That will do for starters. But I think I
should warn you that these days when I set out on quests, I make certain I get properly rewarded for my
efforts."
"I understand. You said there would be a fee for your services." Phoebe straightened her shoulders. "I
am prepared to pay it."
"Are you, indeed?"
"If it is within my means," Phoebe amended quickly.
"It will definitely be within your means."
Phoebe searched his unreadable face. "What is your fee, sir?"
"I am still calculating it."
"I see." Phoebe did not know how to take that. She cleared her throat cautiously. "I, myself, have never
been very good with calculations and such."
"I am very, very good with them," he assured her softly.
"Oh. Well, then, you must let me know as soon as you have settled upon a sum. In the meantime, I shall
give you some preliminary instructions."
Gabriel eyed her. "Instructions?"
"Yes, of course. This quest is a very serious matter and I would have you proceed carefully and, above
all, discreetly." Phoebe took another step back and began to pace up and down in front of him. She
frowned in thought. "First of all, we must maintain absolute secrecy."
"Secrecy." Gabriel considered that for a moment. "Why?"
"Don't be a dolt. Secrecy is necessary or we shall risk warning our quarry that we are on his trail."
"Ah."
Phoebe held up her hand and raised one finger. "Secrecy is the first requirement. No one must know that
we are working together on this quest." She raised another finger. "The second requirement is that you
keep me informed of your progress."
Gabriel's brow rose. "You want regular reports?"
"Yes. That way I shall be able to guide and coordinate your work. I shall make certain you are covering
all the obvious avenues of inquiry."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You do not trust me to be able to find all those particular avenues on my own?" Gabriel asked.
"No, of course not. You have been out of Society for eight years, my lord. There is much you do not
know. I shall be able to give you a great deal of
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