valuable information about certain book collectors and
booksellers. You will, in turn, be able to apply that information while you are investigating."
"Phoebe, I agreed to this quest of yours, but you had better understand from the beginning that I am not
some damn Bow Street Runner you may order about as it suits your whim."
She paused in her pacing to give him a placating smile. "I am well aware you are not a Runner, my lord.
This matter is well beyond the scope of a mere Runner. You are a knight-errant. My knight-errant. In a
very real sense you will be working for me, my lord. You do comprehend that, do you not?"
"I am starting to grasp your notion of how this partnership is supposed to work. But I don't think you
have got a proper concept of how a knight-errant functions."
She peered at him in surprise. "What do you mean, my lord?"
"Knights-errant are notorious for going about their quests in their own fashions." Gabriel slowly stripped
off his gloves. His eyes gleamed in the shadows as he leaned over her. "Do not misunderstand me. They
are happy to serve their ladies, but they do so as they see fit."
She frowned. "Be that as it may, you will find my guidance quite necessary, my lord. Not only can I
supply information, I can also secure the invitations you will need."
"Hmm. I cannot argue with you on that score," Gabriel conceded. "With your contacts, you can get me
invited to the same parties and soirees that you will be attending."
"Precisely." She gave him an approving smile. "And you will find me very useful in other ways, too. You
see, my lord, we must work closely together on this. I don't mean to put too fine a point on it, but the fact
is the quest to find my book is my idea. Therefore, it stands to reason that I should be in charge."
Gabriel caught her face between his bare hands. "Something tells me that reason does not have a lot to
do with this entire affair." He bent his head.
Phoebe's eyes widened. "My lord, what are you doing?"
"I am going to kiss you."
"I am not at all certain that is a sound notion." Phoebe was violently aware of her racing pulse. Visions of
his last unnerving kiss flashed in her head. "I believe knights-errant are supposed to admire their ladies
from afar."
"Now, that is where you are quite wrong." Gabriel's mouth brushed across hers with tantalizing
slowness. "Knights-errant did everything in their power to get as close as possible to their ladies."
"Nevertheless, it might be best if we—"
The rest of Phoebe's half-strangled protest was lost as Gabriel's mouth came down on hers. She
clutched at his shoulders, riveted by the intensity of feeling that was washing through her.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The first time he had kissed her, he had been wearing gloves. Tonight the unexpected roughness of his
palms against her skin startled her. Not the hands of a gentleman, she thought. Dear heaven, these are the
hands of a warrior.
Gabriel deepened the kiss swiftly, his mouth fierce and demanding. Phoebe felt herself respond with a
sudden urgency that took her by surprise. She moaned softly. Her fan fell from her hand as she moved
her arms up to circle his neck.
She was even more dazed and breathless now than she had been when he had danced with her. Gabriel
was consuming her and at the same time creating a shattering hunger within her. His lips moved on hers,
seeking a response that matched his own. Phoebe hesitated, uncertain how to handle the still unfamiliar
and utterly devastating sensuality he ignited within her.
Then she felt Gabriel's callused thumb at the corner of her mouth. She realized he was coaxing her lips
apart. Uncomprehending, she obeyed. In an instant he was inside, groaning heavily as he plundered her
softness.
Phoebe had been kissed before by the occasional overly bold suitor. Such embraces, frequently
snatched in gardens outside a crowded ballroom such as this, had been
booksellers. You will, in turn, be able to apply that information while you are investigating."
"Phoebe, I agreed to this quest of yours, but you had better understand from the beginning that I am not
some damn Bow Street Runner you may order about as it suits your whim."
She paused in her pacing to give him a placating smile. "I am well aware you are not a Runner, my lord.
This matter is well beyond the scope of a mere Runner. You are a knight-errant. My knight-errant. In a
very real sense you will be working for me, my lord. You do comprehend that, do you not?"
"I am starting to grasp your notion of how this partnership is supposed to work. But I don't think you
have got a proper concept of how a knight-errant functions."
She peered at him in surprise. "What do you mean, my lord?"
"Knights-errant are notorious for going about their quests in their own fashions." Gabriel slowly stripped
off his gloves. His eyes gleamed in the shadows as he leaned over her. "Do not misunderstand me. They
are happy to serve their ladies, but they do so as they see fit."
She frowned. "Be that as it may, you will find my guidance quite necessary, my lord. Not only can I
supply information, I can also secure the invitations you will need."
"Hmm. I cannot argue with you on that score," Gabriel conceded. "With your contacts, you can get me
invited to the same parties and soirees that you will be attending."
"Precisely." She gave him an approving smile. "And you will find me very useful in other ways, too. You
see, my lord, we must work closely together on this. I don't mean to put too fine a point on it, but the fact
is the quest to find my book is my idea. Therefore, it stands to reason that I should be in charge."
Gabriel caught her face between his bare hands. "Something tells me that reason does not have a lot to
do with this entire affair." He bent his head.
Phoebe's eyes widened. "My lord, what are you doing?"
"I am going to kiss you."
"I am not at all certain that is a sound notion." Phoebe was violently aware of her racing pulse. Visions of
his last unnerving kiss flashed in her head. "I believe knights-errant are supposed to admire their ladies
from afar."
"Now, that is where you are quite wrong." Gabriel's mouth brushed across hers with tantalizing
slowness. "Knights-errant did everything in their power to get as close as possible to their ladies."
"Nevertheless, it might be best if we—"
The rest of Phoebe's half-strangled protest was lost as Gabriel's mouth came down on hers. She
clutched at his shoulders, riveted by the intensity of feeling that was washing through her.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The first time he had kissed her, he had been wearing gloves. Tonight the unexpected roughness of his
palms against her skin startled her. Not the hands of a gentleman, she thought. Dear heaven, these are the
hands of a warrior.
Gabriel deepened the kiss swiftly, his mouth fierce and demanding. Phoebe felt herself respond with a
sudden urgency that took her by surprise. She moaned softly. Her fan fell from her hand as she moved
her arms up to circle his neck.
She was even more dazed and breathless now than she had been when he had danced with her. Gabriel
was consuming her and at the same time creating a shattering hunger within her. His lips moved on hers,
seeking a response that matched his own. Phoebe hesitated, uncertain how to handle the still unfamiliar
and utterly devastating sensuality he ignited within her.
Then she felt Gabriel's callused thumb at the corner of her mouth. She realized he was coaxing her lips
apart. Uncomprehending, she obeyed. In an instant he was inside, groaning heavily as he plundered her
softness.
Phoebe had been kissed before by the occasional overly bold suitor. Such embraces, frequently
snatched in gardens outside a crowded ballroom such as this, had been
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