There is nothing Matthias Deverell, illegitimate son of a marquis, wants more than to remove the murmurs of treason that haunt his father’s name. He is determined to do just that, even if it means completing the nearly impossible task of reassembling the globe his father used as a safe. With pieces spread all over London, it will take all of Matthias’ considerable skill at intimidation to retrieve them. Nicholas Rexford, young Viscount Leighton, wants only to be able to provide a comfortable life for himself and his three sisters. After being left in near-poverty thanks to their father’s spending and gambling, Nick is desperate to find a business venture he can invest in to turn their fortunes around. Sadly, he has no head for business, preferring to spend his time engrossed in horrid novels. When Matthias finds Nick in possession of a piece of the globe, he believes the handsome young man to be in on the scheme, and decides to keep a closer eye on him. But when Nick meets Matthias, he is enthralled by the “dark and dangerous bastard” who could have stepped out of one of his novels. Despite his suspicions, Matthias is drawn to Nick, but will his suspicions destroy what is developing between them and cost Matthias a chance at happiness?

The Bastard's World

Nick stared at the door after it closed behind Charlotte. Violet had been eager for her Season, and definitely seemed to be enjoying herself, but Nick wasn’t certain she fully comprehended what Charlotte expected of her. Knowing Violet was expected to do something that he wasn’t willing to do himself brought an almost painful guilt.


But it was different for Violet, Nick told himself, rising from his chair and beginning to pace. While he knew that he could never be truly happy in marriage, there was the chance that she genuinely could. Provided she was able to marry for love and not engage herself to a man simply for his fortune as Charlotte seemed to want her to do.


Nick strode to his desk and unlocked the drawer than contained his ledger. Sitting down and opening it, he glared at the numbers, willing them to change before his eyes. It would be an advantage if Violet had somesort of dowry. He just had to find the funds for it.


Chapter 13