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

So here he was, at another ball, still dodging various mammas who hadn’t caught on yet, but without the prospect of seeing Matthias to look forward to.


Even as the thought crossed his mind, Nick saw a familiar, broad-shouldered figure at the other end of the ballroom. Nick wanted nothing more than to greet him warmly—as warmly as two gentlemen were allowed to greet one another in public, in any case. But after their last encounter, he had no idea how Matthias would react. After several moments’ indecision, Nick began making his way through the crowd; he had never known Matthias to make a scene and he couldn’t imagine the man beginning at Lady Ferrand’s ball.


He’d managed to work his way halfway through the ballroom when their eyes met. Nick stood caught in that icy, grey gaze, then Matthias inclined his head slightly toward the French doors that led out to the garden. Nick nodded and changed direction as he redoubled his efforts to get through the crush.


Chapter 71