Contents Prologue “I need you to go back to a time many… 1 Chapter 1 Sebastian settled himself more comfortably upon his hired hack. In… 10 Chapter 2 Francesca felt her heart give a painful jolt. He was… 20 Chapter 3 The woman of his dreams was watching him as if… 34 Chapter 4 Francesca wriggled as much of herself as possible down into… 43 Chapter 5 Francesca hurried down the stairs. No doubt everyone else was… 54 Chapter 6 Somewhere in Greentree Manor a clock was chiming midnight. Sebastian… 67 Chapter 7 Upstairs, Sebastian stood over Hal, breathing quickly and looking as… 77 Chapter 8 He was dreaming again, and a very nice dream it… 88 Chapter 9 As they passed through the newly completed Euston Square Railway… 103 Chapter 10 William arrived home exactly when Mrs. March had said he… 120 Chapter 11 Francesca huddled deeper into her cloak. Lil had told her… 131 Chapter 12 “What happened last night then?” The voice strained and slurred… 145 Chapter 13 Francesca had never been to Aphrodite’s Club. She’d never seen… 157 Chapter 14 Francesca screamed. 168 Chapter 15 Sebastian strode along briskly, barely registering his surroundings. His heart… 178 Chapter 16 As soon as Amy had gone upstairs to rest, Francesca… 192 Chapter 17 “Miss Francesca,” Lil began, her eyes suspicious. She’d been waiting… 207 Chapter 18 “You see that man over there?” 218 Chapter 19 “Francesca…” he began, as the door to his rooms closed… 230 Chapter 20 Lil’s elfin face was so serious. As soon as Francesca… 246 Chapter 21 She’d imagined the room as dark and empty, but it… 257 Chapter 22 “You lied to me.” It was the first thing she… 268 Chapter 23 “Uncle William.” 275 Chapter 24 It was the following day, and Aphrodite was dreaming again. 285 Chapter 25 “So she really can’t speak?” Lil asked, wide-eyed. 293 Chapter 26 Marietta sat down and put her feet up. “You have… 303 Chapter 27 Francesca’s heartbeat was gradually slowing beneath the palm of his… 318 Chapter 28 The door to Amy’s bedchamber was hardly closed when Francesca… 331 Chapter 29 Lil, her hand tucked around Martin’s arm, all but skipped… 339 Chapter 30 It was a very long time since the Tremaine house… 354 Epilogue Francesca sighed and picked out a book that looked as… 368 About the Author Other Romances Cover Copyright About the Publisher Prologue nm London Aphrodite’s Club 1849 “ I need you to go back to a time many years ago.” Madame Aphrodite sat forward in her Egyptian-style chair, her black silk gown rustling, her long fingers, heavy with rings, gripping the sphinx carvings on the armrests. Her beautiful, hag- gard face was intent, while her dark gaze was fixed upon Sebastian Thorne. “I need your help,” she said hoarsely. “Of course,” Sebastian murmured. He was used to overwrought clients—it was something he had seen a 1 2 SARA BENNETT lot of in the past eight years—but there was some- thing about this one that was different. “I will do what I can, Madame.” Aphrodite must have decided she was playing her hand too openly, exposing her raw feelings, because she leaned back, forcing her clenched fingers to relax, one by one. “So you will help me?” “Yes, if I can.” “You are the best . . . or so I have been told.” She gave a little smile. “I am flattered.” Sebastian bowed his head. “Don’t be, mon ami! I was also told that you are a dangerous opponent and give no quarter to those you hunt; that there are those who glance over their shoul- ders and look for you in the shadows and shiver. But I am not one of them, so that does not concern me. I want results, and I do not care how they are obtained. If you are ruthless, then so much the better.” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Then explain to me what it is you want, Madame, and I will tell you hon- estly whether or not I can obtain it for you.” “Very well.” She smoothed her skirts. “Let us be- gin.” Beyond the room Sebastian heard laughter— women’s voices. He knew that although Aphrodite’s Club offered many forms of entertainment to its pa- trons, it was actually a high-class brothel. Such things did not bother him; for the past eight years he had walked through the darkest streets in Lon- don and seen some nightmare sights, so he doubted he could be shocked. Besides, Aphrodite’s Club had a better reputation than most. The owner was the