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

Well, there was that, wasn’t there? Nick had been wearing the fob today and Matthias had been hard-pressed to not be caught staring at both the fob and Nick himself. It had been difficult, as he had not met with Nick since their conversation about Esmond. Matthias had thought that once Nick broke that invisible rule he was under and left his sisters to get themselves home, it would have been easier for him to do so a second time. Perhaps Nick was attempting to increase Matthias’ desire by making himself unavailable.


If that was the case, then the young Viscount Leighton had greatly overestimated his charms. Matthias’ only interest was in the fob. The handsome young man in possession of it was just a convenient—albeit pleasant—addition.


And Matthias would remind himself of that as often as was necessary.18


Lady Marling was walking through the foyer when the butler opened the door for Nick and paused when she saw him. “Have you tired of fishing already, Lord Leighton?”


Chapter 52