Isabella Lei Hennessey is the Governor�s daughter, a marriageable debutante�and the most notorious thief of Hong Kong. She has good reason to resort to robbery, though her activities would cause untold scandal if they were ever exposed. A chance encounter with a handsome stranger saves Isabella from discovery�except this notorious rake doesn�t like to play by the rules! A tantalizing game of cat and mouse ensues until Isabella decides she would quite like to be caught�

Author�s Note

When I was five years old, I spent a night in Hong Kong with relatives on the way to the Philippines. I might have been young, but I still remember the towering skyscrapers, the bustling crowds, the overwhelming humidity, and the tantalising smells wafting my way from food stalls. Ever since then, I have been intrigued by the interaction between the East and the West, the struggle between modernity and tradition, and the clash of cultures. This novella is a product of this ongoing interest.

After the Qing Dynasty of China lost the First Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong became a Crown Colony of the British Empire (and remained as such until 1997). Because Hong Kong�s harbour was an ideal trading base, the island quickly attracted many European and Chinese businessmen. But due to colonial attitudes of racial segregation, British merchants mainly occupied the eastern area of Hong Kong (including the elite region of Victoria Peak), while the Chinese were restricted to the western portion (which included Wan Chai and its notorious red light district).

While Isabella Lei Hennessey and Lord Henry James are fictional characters, the world in which they lived was real. Their struggle to see each other past the prejudice and popular attitudes of the time run parallel to the conflicts we still face today in most�if not all�societies. Just as our hero and heroine find love despite their differences, I hope that we too can all look past colour and creed to find joy and friendship.

Linda Skye

The Debutante�s Ruse

Linda Skye

Contents

Author's Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

About the Author

Chapter One

Isabella Lei Hennessey was tensely coiled, keenly alert and very, very uncomfortable.

She waited with bated breath as she crouched beneath the sill of a large window. Though it was nearly sundown, sunlight still lingered on the walls and in the narrow streets, so she carefully hid herself in the shadows cast by tall ornamental shrubbery. She was clad in black�a skintight outfit made of elastic silk that hugged her every curve and allowed her a maximum range of motion without making the slightest sound. If she were seen, she would scandalize all of Victorian Hong Kong�although she suspected that if anyone knew her reason for donning the sensually cut garment, she�d have much more than a simple scandal to deal with.

But, as practical as her immodest clothing was, it did nothing to ease the cramp developing in her leg.

Of course they�re late, she griped inwardly, on today of all days!

And then, finally, she heard the telltale shuffle of feet that marked the arrival of hired porters carrying sedan chairs. She sank deeper into her hiding spot and watched as the Wilkinson family emerged from their expensive bungalow. Mrs. Wilkinson was a slight, bird-like woman, but Mr. Wilkinson was as round as a man could possibly get. Bemused, Isabella watched the sedan chair sag and creak as he clumsily clambered on, causing the Chinese porters to shift uncomfortably under the unexpected weight.

�Oh, but this simply will not do!�

Isabella slanted her eyes toward the young Miss Wilkinson, whose face was quickly puckering in sour anger. The unattractive twist to her pouting lips was a sharp contrast to the elegant finery of her beautiful evening gown. She�s probably aiming to snag a newly-arrived, rich young bachelor today, Isabella thought.

�What ever is the matter, dear?� Mrs. Wilkinson asked, already comfortably settled into the palanquin with her husband.

With gloved fists perched on her hips, Miss Wilkinson was all but throwing a childish tantrum. She pointed to the sedan chair.

�These stupid coolies have brought up a bamboo chair,� she declared, stamping a booted foot, �A bamboo chair. I can�t be seen arriving in this! Where is the black lacquer chair we normally use?� She paused to cover her breast with her hands. �What if he sees me in this?�

�He, dear?� Her mother looked heavenward. �Oh never mind,� she said sharply, �Just get in the chair, and let�s be off. We�re already late for the governor�s summer ball.�

With a huff and a sulk, Miss Wilkinson climbed into the chair and crossed her arms. And finally�oh, finally�the porters were carrying them up the narrow, winding paths to the Mountain Lodge at the summit of Victoria Peak. Isabella breathed a sigh of relief, and then pivoted to inspect the window above her. With a deft flick of her wrist, she produced a short, sharp knife. Carefully sliding the blade in between the wooden window frame and its stone casing, she began to whittle away at the rotting wood. It was a minor miracle in her favor that the Wilkinsons did not know to keep up with the effects of tropical humidity on Victorian houses. Within minutes, she had carved out just enough to begin levering it open. With the barest of creaks, the window turned on its hinges and swung open. Quick and silent as a shadow, Isabella slipped into the house.

With all the stealth and grace of a cat, she padded across the dimly lit room to the door, where she paused to listen. The house servants were chatting in the kitchens, obviously relaxed since their masters had left for the evening. Wary of creaky floorboards, Isabella eased into the hall, crept up the stairs and tiptoed into Miss Wilkinson�s rooms.

She saw what she was after immediately.

The rich, golden silk robe had been slung casually over the back of a chair, its hand-embroidered edges trailing on the tatty carpet. Isabella greeted it as an old friend, and gathered the silk into her arms. The luxurious cloth was heavy and thick with an unmistakable luster; it had obviously been the garment of an ancient emperor. As she let the silk slide over her skin, Isabella imagined that it was the caress of a lover�for surely a lover�s hands would feel as splendidly smooth.

And then, with the slightest whisper of silk, Isabella�the most notorious thief of Hong Kong�slipped away, vanishing into the shadows.

Chapter Two

The summer ball was already in full swing when Isabella reached the grounds of Mountain Lodge, the British Governor of Hong Kong�s summer residence. Light from the ballroom spilled from tall sash windows, casting rectangles of light onto manicured lawns. Isabella picked her way up the hill, darting from shadow to shadow, until she reached the edge of the manor house. Pressed up against the stone outer wall, she tugged carefully at the silky gauze that concealed the lower half of her face, gently checking that the knots were tight. It simply would not do to be caught so close to the end of her mission.

Choosing the dark window of a guest room she knew to be unoccupied, she slipped into the great house silently. She carefully adjusted the precious bundle at her side and crept stealthily toward the corridor. But when she pushed the heavy oak door open, sudden and unexpected light from the corridor spilled across her face, and her eyes squinted immediately in response. Silently cursing her luck, she slid out of the guest room and into the guest-wing hallway, quietly padding toward the family wing. Just as she was about the turn the corner, the sound of voices reached her ears. They were yet far off, but she still crouched and tensed, straining to hear.

�They say the Lord Henry James is a wild and unapologetic womanizer.� It was a deep bass voice, easily recognized as the voice of the governor.

�Yes, that is the rumor,� his son, Arthur, answered with a chuckle, �But his father, the good duke, has threatened to disinherit him if he catches word of one more scandal. In fact, I have it on good authority that Lord James has been tasked to find a suitably marriageable debutante while here in Hong Kong.�

�And you think he would be interested in our family?� The governor asked doubtfully.

�Why not? We�re of decent lineage, and securing ties with us would give the duke a foothold in the East.� Arthur rejoined, �And let�s not forget; my sister is an uncommon beauty.�

�A profitable match for both parties, no doubt,� the governor agreed. �Shall we see if the young Lord James can be roused from his sleep to join our ball?�

Their voices grew louder as their footfalls approached, and Isabella could hesitate no longer. Heart hammering at the grave possibility of being discovered, she took off at a run in the opposite direction, going deeper into the guest wing of the manor. Her feet slid on the plush carpet as she rounded another corner�and into the chest of a man. Isabella staggered backward, thoughts of the men behind her completely forgotten as she took in the unexpected sight of the man in front of her.

He stared at her in open shock, his moist lips parted in surprise and his fingers still lingering on the lower buttons of his open shirt. Dark hair mussed and breathing heavy, he seemed to have just finished some strenuous�and perhaps, lewd�activity. Involuntarily, Isabella�s eyes dropped from his strong jaw to the bared plane of his chest, where his taut muscles were chiselled in sharp relief. Frozen, the two stared at each other until the startling creak of a floorboard forced them back to the present.

Hemmed in on both sides, Isabella felt her chest tighten in panic. And when her unsuspecting pursuers showed no sign of slowing their approach, she decided to make a mad dash past the stranger. Before she could even tense to spring forward, she felt strong fingers wrap around her upper arm. A firm tug pulled her off balance and she tumbled to the side, quickly finding herself ensconced in the heavy damask curtains adorning a window�and encircled tightly by the stranger�s strong arms. Isabella furtively glanced up into the stranger�s face and met slate-gray eyes which clearly communicated his intentions. To further impress the warning upon her, he leaned in and lightly placed two fingers against her lips. She nodded slightly, bowed her head and fought to quell her slight trembling at being so suddenly pressed to a man.

Isabella had never been so near a man in her life, and she felt her cheeks burn at the proximity. With every short breath that she took, she inhaled the scent of his sweat and cedar musk. She could feel every line of his hard body against her own: thigh against thigh and chest to chest. She could even feel the pounding of his heart under her open palms.

Isabella stilled. The men were about to pass, and the stranger�s shoulders still moved with heavy panting from his prior exertions, rustling the curtains with every exhale. Moving with painful slowness so as not to disturb the fabric concealing them, Isabella reached up to cup his cheek in one hand to draw his attention downward. His eyes widened fractionally as she pressed her bosom against his chest, her small fingers splayed across his collar bone. And then, she took one deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her green eyes, bright even in the dim light, begged him to understand as her breathing grew soft, still and silent. He followed her lead, mimicking her rhythm and following the rise and fall of her breast with his own.

The footsteps passed them but did not fade away into the corridor. Instead they paused. Three sharp raps on a door followed.

�Lord James?� The governor called, knocking again.

The stranger�s hands tightened around her waist as the governor called out again. Isabella twisted her fingers in the material of his loosened shirt, wordlessly urging him to stay silent.

�Maybe he�s already left for the ball?� Arthur muttered.

�Most likely,� The governor replied, �Shall we meet him there?�

�I shall join you presently,� Arthur said, �Allow me to fetch my sister from her rooms. I did not see her at the beginning of the ball, and it would not do for her to miss his lordship�s eye.�

Their footfalls faded from earshot as they went back the way they came, and Isabella breathed a sigh of relief. She tried to step away, only to find the stranger�s arms as bands of steel around her, his gray eyes alight with interest. His hand went for the thin cloth covering her face, but she caught his wrist with nimble fingers. To her surprise, he did not seem perturbed at her scandalous disguise, nor by the fact that he had a possible criminal locked in his arms. Instead, his expression was only curious. How strange, Isabella thought as her eyes traced the outline of his attractive lips, how intriguing.

�Who are you?� He asked, searching her gaze.

�Do not ask questions you do not wish to answer yourself,� she hissed, twisting in his grip, remembering her mission.

�Come now,� the man whispered, drawing her even closer, �Surely I am entitled to some morsel of information for hiding you from the lord of this manor?�

�Must I remind you that you were hiding as well?� Isabella murmured against his ear, letting her hands slide down his arms.

�True,� he acquiesced, �But I simply must know who you are.�

The stranger�s arms tightened as he spun her around, pressing her back against the cool window pane. He gently pushed his hips into hers, pinning her in place with his weight. Isabella gasped at the new sensation and pressed her palms against his bare chest. The man pressed his face into her neck and inhaled deeply, his hands skimming the shapely contours of her sides. As his fingers trailed from her ribs to her hips, Isabella lost the ability to think. A slow-burning heat began in the pit of her stomach, spreading like syrup through her limbs. When he tugged at her earlobe with his teeth, she almost forgot herself. Almost.

�That will have to wait until another time, good sir.�

The words had barely left her mouth when she twisted from his grasp, dropped to the floor and pushed his arms away. She spun out her leg as forcefully as she could, knocking his shins. As he fumbled for balance in the heavy fabric, she slipped from the curtains and raced away, ducking into the servants� stairwell. She took the narrow steps two at a time, only skidding to a stop when she saw a slightly off-color wall panel. She pushed, and the secret door swung inward. She crawled through the passageway as quickly as she could, emerging into a lavishly appointed boudoir just in time to see a Chinese maid wringing her hands in worry�and to hear impatient knocking at her door.

�Isabella, dear sister,� Arthur called through the ornate doors to her rooms, �Aren�t you ready yet?�

Isabella fought to school her ragged breathing. �Brother, please. One mustn�t rush a lady. Give me but a moment.�

�A moment, then.� There was a dull thud as he leaned against the closed doors. �I shall escort you to the ball. Do not make me stand here overly long, sister.�

�Miss Isabella,� the maid whispered in heavily accented English, �Your honored father and brother are not pleased by your absence at the ball.�

�And I am even less pleased with them, Jia Li,� she huffed, �They plan to sell me off through marriage.�

At her maid�s horrified expression, Isabella dropped her eyes and began to carefully unroll her precious cargo. The silk robe spilled out in a gleaming cascade of gold, and she held it up for her maid to see. Jia-Li approached slowly with upturned palms that fluttered just inches from the lustrous fabric. She sighed.

�The robe of the ancient Emperor of the Sun is as beautiful as they say,� she breathed in awe.

�And it would have been completely wasted on the likes of our dear Miss Wilkinson, don�t you think, Jia-Li?�

Isabella handed the robe to her maid, who reverently folded it and tucked it out of sight.

�What will you do with it?� Jia-Li asked as she began to pull other fabrics from drawers.

�I will go into Wan Chai tomorrow to sell it,� Isabella replied with a shrug. �Now, what have you picked for tonight�s ball?�

Jia-Li pulled a dress from its resting place in her boudoir and held it up for Isabella�s approval. The scarlet dress was made of Chinese silk, and there was a depth to the shine that could not be imitated by western fabrics. Isabella nodded approvingly; it was a bold choice, just barely conforming to the fashionable silhouette of the day while completely rejecting the traditional assortment of pastel tulle ruffles that usually adorned the sleeves and bustles of summer evening gowns.

She smiled as she shrugged off her clingy silk jumpsuit and tugged her long, black curls free. If they had all been waiting on her arrival at the party, she had better make it a spectacular sight.

Chapter Three

Lord Henry James was restless, and the lingering memory of the strange encounter in the corridor wasn�t helping. Who was she? The question plagued his mind as he scanned the crowded ballroom.

Earlier, he had instinctively pulled the mysterious woman behind the curtains to hide the evidence of his latest indiscretion from prying eyes�but the mere memory of her jasmine perfume was more intoxicating than any fleeting pleasure he�d ever known. If he closed his eyes, he swore he could still feel the curve of her waist under his hands and the swell of her breast against his. And those green eyes�

A soft, feminine giggle reminded him that he was already in the midst of a conversation.

Henry looked down and smiled indulgently at the small group of blushing debutantes fluttering around him like naive butterflies. This first set of hopeful husband-hunters had been the bravest at the governor�s summer ball, flocking to his side immediately. A cursory glance around the crowded ballroom had revealed the thoughts of every aspiring colonial socialite: that the fourth son of the Duke of Exeter would be an excellent catch indeed.

The bitter thought tightened his throat as his father�s stern warning echoed through his mind. Find a wife,he tells me. Henry almost sighed, and glanced in the direction of his host, the Governor of Hong Kong. He was rumored to have a daughter�and Henry knew nothing would please his father more than having connections to eastern trade.

A featherlight touch to his arm surprised him, and he turned to see a beautiful woman standing at his elbow. There was a coy lilt to her pink lips, and she rested the tip of her folded fan on her chin. With blond ringlets and blue eyes, she was beautiful�though in a typical, traditional sort of way.

It mattered little. Hers had been a bold move, one that stretched the limits of protocol even by colonial standards, and he welcomed the break from strict politesse.

�Fancy another drink, my lord?� She invited with a sly smile.

�Offering drinks to strange men, are we?� He rejoined, his tone teasing.

�My good sir,� she replied, flicking her fan open with a quick snap of her wrist, �I�m sure the Lord Henry James is no strange man.�

�I�m touched by your faith in me.� Henry turned on his charm and reached for her gloved hand, pressing it lightly to his lips. �And what is your name, pray tell?�

�Miss Caroline Wilkinson,� she said with a barely decent curtsey, �It�s my pleasure to meet you, Lord James.�

He offered her his arm. As she lightly placed her hand on his forearm, he turned to the young women who were casting baleful glances at Caroline�s smug expression.

�Begging your leave, my ladies,� Henry said with a disarmingly kind smile, �But I must take this opportunity to quench my thirst.� And curiosity, he mentally added.

�Miss Wilkinson,� Henry asked lightly, �Do you happen to know anything about the governor�s young daughter? I�ve heard such rumors.�

�Oh, her,� she snorted disdainfully. �That would be Miss Isabella Hennessey. And that is not even her full name.� She continued, her saccharine voice spiteful. �Her father gave her the most dreadful Chinese name as well: Isabella Lee or Lap or something equally atrocious. And do you know why?� She covered her mouth with her fan and leaned in close, her voice an exaggerated whisper of horror. �They say she is of mixed blood�the result of Governor Hennessey�s indecent marriage to a Chinese woman. Isn�t that simply scandalous? Of course, the woman�s been dead now for a decade. Poor man,� she added with a sympathetic shake of her head.

�My Lord James!�

Henry turned to see the governor�s son striding toward him, a strikingly beautiful woman on his arm. Henry paused, his eyes glued to her mesmerizing form. There was an almost regal tilt to her chin, and her posture proclaimed her confidence. Even her daringly cut evening gown added to her mystique. Unlike any other dress, her gown was made of bright red exotic silk�from bodice to train. The bold color served to highlight the pale luster of her skin, the fullness of her scarlet lips and the midnight sheen of her dark curls.

�Lord James, my father is honored that you have graced us with your presence.� Arthur greeted him with a wide smile. �I thought you might have been too tired from your long journey at sea to join us.�

�I wouldn�t miss this opportunity, and I assure you, Mr. Hennessey,� Henry replied graciously, �The pleasure is all mine.�

�I do not believe you have met my sister,� Arthur said, his hand lightly skimming his sister�s bare shoulder. �Miss Isabella Lei Hennessey.�

Isabella inclined her head, looking up at him through thick, dark lashes. He discreetly scrutinized the smoothness of Isabella�s pale skin and the doe-like slant of her eyes. It was indeed possible, he thought, that she was of mixed parentage. But in his eyes, it lent an even more exotic flair to her already elegant appearance.

Henry slipped his arm away from Caroline�s to lift Isabella�s dainty hand for a light kiss. As he pressed his lips against her gloved knuckles, he caught a glimpse of her expressive emerald eyes and the mystifying play of emotions that skated through them.

As for Isabella, she was reeling from a sudden wave of dizzying recognition. Though he wore a dashing dinner suit, there could be no doubt: the Lord Henry James was her mystery rescuer. When he took her hand, her head felt light; when he bent to kiss her hand and looked up into her face, she thought her knees would buckle. She felt the same pressure as before building in her lower abdomen and thighs, and she was certain that she could feel an electric tingle humming in the air between them. This is madness, she thought as she battled the urge to swoon.

�The rumors about your loveliness were not exaggerated, Miss Hennessey,� Henry said as he reluctantly relinquished her hand.

She arched a thin, aristocratic brow. �Do tell,� she said in a rich, melodious voice, �Where have you managed to hear rumors about me?�

�My dear,� he answered with a light chuckle, �You can�t keep such beauty hidden in your own home.�

�Isabella,� Arthur explained, �Lord James has been staying in the guest wing of Mountain Lodge for several days now. He only just arrived.�

�Is that so?�

�Such a unique name you have, Miss Hennessey,� Henry remarked, �Does it have some meaning in the local tongue?�

The young debutante glanced away modestly, a fetching blush dusting her porcelain cheeks.

�The name Lei means �little flower� in her mother�s language,� Arthur supplied when Isabella didn�t answer. �We tease her often.�

�Now, now,� Henry corrected, �It is an appropriate name for such a blossoming young woman.�

Caroline sniffed delicately and hid a scowl behind her fan, catching everyone�s attention.

�Why, Miss Wilkinson,� Arthur turned to kiss Caroline�s hand, �You look absolutely lovely, tonight�wouldn�t you agree, Lord James?�

Caroline Wilkinson preened, and Henry nodded his agreement�but her smile soon turned to slight sputtering as Arthur continued speaking.

�Surely, you wouldn�t mind if I claimed Miss Wilkinson for the next waltz, Lord James?� Arthur said with a sharp smile. �And of course, you wouldn�t mind accompanying my sister, would you?�

Not waiting for a response, Arthur skillfully pulled Caroline away, steering her toward the dance floor.

�My brother is a shameless matchmaker.� Isabella sighed and turned guarded eyes to her companion. �Do forgive him.�

�Not at all,� Henry replied with a light smile. �For once this type of maneuvering seems pleasant.�

�Oh? And why is that?�

�A dance with a beautiful woman who isn�t obviously jostling for social position is unusual�and refreshing,� Henry said casually as he led her onto the dance floor.

When the first strains of the waltz began, Henry dipped into a bow and Isabella sank into a curtsey. Then, they began to sweep across the polished floors with practiced grace. Henry felt his interest flare as Isabella brazenly met his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, and he could feel her pulse quicken as he held her hand.

�You seem quite taken with me,� he commented playfully.

�You assume too much,� she huffed softly, pink darkening her cheeks even more.

Henry chuckled as he lifted her hand to allow her to twirl effortlessly. When she stepped back into his arms, he put his hand at the small of her back and guided her across the ballroom. A line creased his brow as he molded his palm to the curve of her waist. Not only was he struck by a sudden and inexplicable familiarity, he was also surprised by the spark of desire ignited by the simplest of touches. His fingers tightened against the gentle swell of her hip, and he leaned in slightly to inhale deeply. Jasmine, he thought with a jolt of recognition.

The sights and sounds of the ongoing ball faded as Henry studied his dance partner. Curling the fingers at her lower back, he gently drew a line up her spine. Her fingers flexed against his shoulder, and she could not repress a shiver of delight. He let his fingertips skirt the border of her bodice, barely skimming her bare skin. Then he dragged a blunt fingernail over the sensitive skin of her shoulder blade, and she let out a soft, feminine gasp. Pleased gray eyes slanted downward in time to catch sight of the panicked embarrassment flooding Isabella�s face. He smiled.

�I see that you are unusual in more ways than one, Miss Hennessey.� He said as his hand slipped down her back, stopping to rest at the top of her pert bottom.

�Oh?� She feigned disinterest and glanced over his shoulder, her face tightening.

�You wouldn�t happen to have an affinity for skintight black silk, would you, my dear?�

Isabella nearly tripped on the hem of her skirt, but he held her fast as they spun in time with the music. Her stomach fluttered at the realization that he�d recognized her�and she had no idea what he planned to do.

�I�m sure I don�t know what you mean,� she said with a pointed glare.

�And I�m sure you do,� he quipped teasingly.

Isabella narrowed her eyes and studied his face, probing for a sign of his purposes. To her frustration, all she saw was an expression of mirthful amusement.

�Surely,� she sniffed, �You are only joking.�

�Yes,� Henry agreed, before dipping his head to murmur at her ear, �And no. Or must I remind you that you were hiding as well?�

When his lips grazed her earlobe, her breath grew shallow and her mouth dry�not only because she had been found out. The mere touch of his lips and the whisper of his breath against her bare skin made her skin tingle with goose bumps. He brushed the rough pad of his thumb over her wrist, grinning at her hammering pulse. Tearing her eyes away from his lips, she met his smoldering gaze. Her chest tightened and her limbs felt loose; she was sure she would melt if he were not holding her up.

Just then, the music ended. Isabella mustered all her poise and extricated herself from his grasp as quickly as decorum allowed. He followed her at a sedate pace, a smug smile painted on his handsome lips.

Isabella Lei Hennessey, he thought with a smile, the governor�s daughter, marriageable debutante, prospective wife�and mysterious, secretive vixen. His eyes dropped to her subtly seductive gait. Was she a secretly licentious lover? Did she sneak out to frequent the infamous opium dens? He relished the idea of stripping back her demure fa�ade to reveal her intriguing secrets.

�Daughter, you looked lovely in his lordship�s arms!� The governor approached with open arms and a wide smile.

�Father,� Isabella acknowledged in clipped tones, �May I please retire for the evening?�

�Nonsense!� Henry exclaimed, clapping his hand onto the governor�s shoulder, �The night is yet young.�

�Yes,� her father agreed, �And you two seem to be getting along wonderfully.�

�Well,� Henry replied, sending Isabella an enigmatic smile, �We do have at least one thing in common.�

Boisterous laughter interrupted Isabella�s sharp retort as Arthur drew near, Caroline and a pudgy man in tow.

�Well, Sir Edward. Miss Wilkinson?� Arthur was saying to his two companions, �Didn�t they suit each other perfectly?

Isabella resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her brother and father�s painfully obvious tactics. She sneaked a brief glance at Lord James, who seemed more amused than annoyed. He winked back. Caroline snorted behind her fan, and Sir Edward looked longingly at Isabella.

�And how are you enjoying your visit to Hong Kong so far, Lord James?� Arthur asked.

�It�s by far one of the loveliest places I�ve known,� Henry admitted, �So civilized compared to other colonies I�ve visited. And yet, I can�t shake the feeling that I�ve simply landed in another part of England.�

�Why, yes,� Caroline interjected, anxious to participate in the conversation, �If it weren�t for the heat and those dreadful Cantonese coolies, we could very well be in London!�

�I have heard it said that Hong Kong is Britain in miniature�with the comforts and entertainment that only the English could enjoy fully,� Isabella said quietly, her voice laced with ice, �But should you want a more authentic cultural experience, you have but to descend from Victoria Peak and into Wan Chai.�

�What a preposterous notion!� Caroline exclaimed suddenly, �Why go down into that dirty, savage village?�

�Now, now,� Henry said with a warm smile, �I would love to see the local scenery�especially if I had a knowledgeable guide.� He met Isabella�s vibrant green eyes. �You seem interested in the local culture as well, Miss Hennessey. I would be most glad of your company.�

�Do try to be hospitable, Isabella,� Arthur prompted, �Surely we can arrange for an afternoon stroll for the two of you.�

Isabella looked from her brother to Henry. They wore twin smiles, each eager for completely different reasons. Heat rose from her chest to her cheeks as she realized Lord Henry James was intent on toying with her and her secret�though he showed no interest in exposing her just yet. She calmly forced herself to breathe evenly and hold his eyes as a plan took root and grew. Fine, she thought with conviction, two can play at this game. She lifted her chin and met his infuriatingly pleased smirk with a pointed smile of her own.

�Why, of course,� Isabella replied with a gracious nod, �That sounds like a wonderful idea.�

�Marvellous!� Henry smiled triumphantly at Isabella. �It will give us time to speak about our shared experiences.�

When the corners of her lush lips lifted with a wicked slant, his eyes only seemed to brighten expectantly.

Sir Edward cut in abruptly, his voice laced with a light stutter. �Miss Hennessey,� he volunteered, red splotches blossoming on his round face, �You look absolutely beautiful tonight.�

Isabella turned away from Henry and inclined her head in thanks. �Thank you, Sir Edward.� She turned to Caroline, who was fuming at being ignored. �You look lovely tonight as well, Miss Wilkinson. Your dress is very fashionable.�

�And yours is so very�� She paused, and then continued with a sharp smile, �So very Chinese.�

�Why, thank you, Miss Wilkinson,� Isabella replied, canting her head slightly. �I do favor silk.�

If Isabella was offended, she hid it well. But Caroline huffed and fiddled with her fan, obviously ruffled that her thinly veiled insults had gone unnoticed.

�I heard that your father has acquired an expensive cultural artefact.� Isabella�s remark was casual, but her rival seized upon the opportunity to expound.

�Oh?� The governor leaned in, obviously fascinated with the topic. �Do tell of this latest acquisition!�

�Why, yes,� Caroline effused, �It�s priceless, they say.� She paused to sigh dramatically. �It�s a shame it�s just a tatty old Chinese robe�just a tasteless, gaudy waste of silk.�

�On the contrary, Miss Wilkinson,� Henry interrupted, �Silk is possibly the most sensuous of all fabrics�like a lover�s touch.� He stole a covert glance at Isabella. �Would you agree, Miss Hennessey?�

�Oh my!� Caroline blushed and hid her face behind her fan.

�An interesting comparison, Lord James.� Isabella tilted her head to the side, a stray lock of black hair falling over her cheek. �Are we to understand you to be quite the naughty gentleman?�

He answered with a suave smile that made her palms sweat. �Only when I need to be, I assure you. As I�m sure you understand.�

�Oh, I do, Lord James.� She turned away with a swish of silk and looked at him through thick lashes from over her shoulder. �As I�m sure you�ll discover tomorrow afternoon.�

Chapter Four

She had been absolutely right. The crowded, bustling neighborhood of Wan Chai was worlds apart from the cool mountain climate and British atmosphere of Victoria Peak. Crudely built shops were crammed tightly together in twisted blocks linked by narrow, dusty roads. Street vendors were engaged in a constant shouting battle to attract attention while barefoot children played out mischievous pranks in the gutters and alleyways.

Henry cast a quick glance at Isabella, who was walking beside him with her maid and chaperone, Jia Li, a few paces behind. He was utterly bewildered by the fact that she seemed completely unaffected by the stifling heat. Even more amazing was that she moved gracefully through the unruly hustle of the village, seemingly unperturbed and unmolested. He followed her into seedier and seedier areas of Wan Chai, and it soon became apparent that they were taking a leisurely stroll through the red-light district.

�So, Lord James,� she said, tilting her head to look at him from the corner of an eye, �What do you think of Hong Kong now?�

Henry hummed noncommittally and tried to ignore his damp shirt collar. �It�s hot,� he said simply.

�I daresay you are one of the only Englishmen I know who would deign to grace these streets.� She laughed. �I was surprised you even accepted my challenge to leave the manor gardens.�

�I would accept any challenge you gave me, Miss Hennessey.�

�Oh?� Isabella smiled sweetly up at him. �Any challenge?�

Henry was about to reply when Isabella suddenly stopped and spun on her heel. She shouted a sharp phrase in Cantonese, and Henry turned in time to see a small boy stop in his tracks. Isabella softened her tone and called out again, but the foreign words were unquestionably a command. The boy, clothed in rags and covered in grime, paused only a moment before turning. Isabella beckoned with a gloved hand and the boy guiltily shuffled up to her. A stern expression on her face, she sank to his eye level and held out her hand expectantly. Reluctantly, the boy produced an ornate pocket watch�his pocket watch, he realized�and dropped it into her waiting fingers.

She looked up to Henry and held out the silver piece.

�Yours, I believe?�

�When did he�?� Henry tucked the piece away and turned stormy eyes on the trembling boy.

�Forgive him,� Isabella murmured, turning back to the boy, �He�s but a child.� She pulled off a glove and gently swiped at the boy�s dirt-crusted face with her bare fingers. She cupped the boy�s round cheek in her hand and began to speak in rapid Cantonese, obviously admonishing the lad, who looked at the ground and nodded shamefacedly. Finally, she plucked a few shillings from her purse and pressed them into the boy�s hands. Rising, she watched him disappear into the crowd.

His grievance forgotten, Henry stared dumbfounded as Isabella smoothed the dust from her fingers and replaced her glove. Then, she turned to address her maid. As she spoke in fluent Cantonese, she gestured towards the large bundle her maid had been carrying. Though he could not understand what they were saying, Henry could not help but step closer and lean in to listen, fascinated by the tones and nuances of the foreign language.

Then, much to Henry�s shock, Isabella dismissed her maid and chaperone with a wave of her hand. As Jia Li nodded fervently and shuffled away, Henry caught a flash of gold silk. He leaned in to get a closer look over her shoulder�and was immediately distracted by the wafting scent of her jasmine perfume. His eyes dropped to the pale arch of her slender neck. Her skin was smooth and shone with a faint sheen of sweat. His gaze grew heavy-lidded with desire as he traced the delicate line of her jaw, the smooth plane of her cheek and the thickness of her dark lashes. She turned slightly to meet his eyes over her shoulder, and he felt as though his skin had been set ablaze. He felt a deep, feverish hunger building in the pit of his belly. He wanted to touch her, to pull at her clothing until she and her secrets were completely bare, and to smooth his hands over every inch of her pale flesh.

The heat in his eyes must have been apparent because Isabella dropped her eyes suddenly, a flush spreading up her neck. Reacting on impulse, Henry lifted a hand and cupped the column of her neck with curled fingers and pulled her back into his chest.

�This is most improper, Lord James.�

Isabella�s voice was steady, but Henry could feel the wild fluttering under his fingertips. His other arm snaked out to wrap around her waist, securing her tightly to his burning body.

�Yes,� He said, nuzzling her hair with his nose, �But then, you are a most improper debutante, Miss Hennessey. I simply must know your secrets.�

Isabella�s breathing hitched as he dragged the pad of his thumb across her jawline. His heated touch sent frissons of excitement dancing across her skin. Her nervous energy evaporated and distilled into something deeper, more passionate and all the more thrilling.

�You misunderstand,� She breathed, shuddering as he exhaled at her ear.

�What could I have misunderstood?� His voice was a deep purr. �You sneak around in the evening in scandalous clothing, and you have brought me to a street of brothels.�

�I have business here.�

�Of course you do.�

�Again, you misunderstand, Lord James,� Isabella said evenly despite her racing heartbeat, �It seems that I am obliged to correct you.�

Henry smiled into her hair. Taking her elbow, he spun her around to face him.

�Will I enjoy this correction?�

Isabella shrugged one shoulder, a slow, sly smile spreading her full lips. The mischievous gleam that filled her eyes set Henry�s pulse racing.

�Perhaps.�

She crooked a finger and sashayed out of the busy street into the shadow of a narrow lane. Henry cocked a brow and followed her into the cool dark of the alley. Once he�d stepped into the shade, Isabella grabbed him by the lapels and pulled him close. Steeling her resolve, she cast her shyness away.

�I am not what you think I am, Lord James.�

�Oh?� Henry grinned. �Then what are you?�

She rose on her tiptoes, her lips at the corner of his mouth.

�I am a thief.�

He pulled away and lifted incredulous brows.

�A thief?�

�Did you not catch a glimpse of our dear Miss Wilkinson�s golden robe just now?� She asked with her small hands on his broad shoulders. �My business here is to sell what I steal.�

Henry stared at her, dumbfounded. It was not the secret he was expecting�but she was still exceptionally intriguing.

�And why would you share this secret with me?�

She shrugged again, her eyes still fixed to his. �Better you know the full truth than have half-formed, ridiculous notions.�

�I could ruin you,� He said teasingly.

�You forget that I also saw you hiding,� Isabella countered. �I wonder what scandalous activities had your attention that evening.�

Henry chuckled deeply. �You can�t be suggesting that further tarnishing my reputation is equal to the threat of revealing your hobby of thieving to all of Hong Kong.�

�Indeed,� Isabella said calmly with a sultry smile, �I do stand to lose much more than you. But, then again, I also have so much more to offer.�

She stepped closer, her eyes bright. The pull between them was magnetic, and she was tempted to press herself fully against his large frame to soothe the hollow ache in her stomach. But she forced herself to stay a mere inch away, determined to carry out her plan.

�You did say that you�d accept any challenge I gave you, did you not?� She began sweetly, smoothing her palms down the front of his suit jacket.

�That I did,� Henry agreed as excitement bubbled hot in his abdomen.

He placed his large hands on her slight hips and walked her backward until he had her lightly pressed against the wall. Isabella fixed him with a shrewd stare and lightly moistened her full lips with the tip of her tongue. I almost have him, she told herself as she carefully set her trap.

�I am willing to wager that you will not be able to catch me again in the act of stealing while you are in Hong Kong.� Her words were as smooth as honeyed cream, her tone enticing.

�A bold bet.� Henry trailed his fingers up her arm, his eyes alight with interest. �What is your prize if I fail to catch you?�

�Your silence.�

�Acceptable.� Henry slid his hands up to her shoulders and then tenderly wrapped his fingers round the nape of her slender neck, lightly brushing his thumb across her collarbone. �And what is my reward if I do catch you?�

She rose to her toes, her fair cheek almost touching his.

�Anything you want,� She whispered, the heat of her breath moistening the shell of his ear.

Henry�s brows shot upward as heat spiked up his thighs.

�Anything?�

�Anything,� She murmured, a victorious smirk lifting her lips.

�I�ll accept your wager, if you�ll answer one question.�

�Of course.�

�You want for nothing. Why do you resort to thievery?�

Isabella canted her head and assessed the look on his face. There was no scorn in his expression, no malice in his tone. It appeared that he was truly fascinated.

�Perhaps it is better that I show you.�

She turned and beckoned to him, leaving the alley to head deeper into Wan Chai. When Isabella ducked into the door of a brothel, Henry could hardly believe his eyes. Once inside, he was instantly surrounded by a crowd of scantily clad whores, each sliding hands over his coat and cooing over him. Isabella was greeted by the madam, who dipped low in a bow. After a quick conversation in the local tongue, the madam marched over and shooed the girls away with a flick of her wrist and a sharp word, all the while puffing lightly on an opium pipe. She calmly looked Henry up and down and then laughed; a dry, hacking laugh that set his nerves on edge.

Muttering to herself, she led them up a set of rickety wooden steps and down a long corridor. From behind many shabby doors came the sounds of pleasure and sex, a strange cacophony of English and Cantonese voices. They continued to the very end of the hall, where the madam quietly pointed to an open door. Isabella�s maid, Jia Li, was kneeling in the corner with the precious golden robe laid out over her lap. A small group of poverty-stricken women were seated in a semicircle around her, smoothing bony fingers over the fine fabric.

Isabella swept past both Henry and the madam. Without missing a beat, she sank gracefully to the musty floorboards of the dingy room, heedless of the dust coating her skirts. Within moments, Isabella Lei Hennessey, daughter of the Governor of Hong Kong and the most marriageable debutante of the season, was serving tea to a small group of impoverished women. She poured the tea with grace and elegance, the stream of pale green liquid almost an extension of her arm. The women took their cups gratefully. And as they did, Isabella laid out money for each of them. Taking the golden robe, she reverently set it in the arms of the youngest of the women. Finally, she knelt before an elderly woman sitting in a corner, pressing her forehead to the floor before rising again. The woman placed her hand on Isabella�s head, her croaking voice uttering words unintelligible to Henry.

�She says her mother blesses her from heaven,� the madam supplied for him.

�Her mother?� Henry asked without looking away from Isabella�s bowed frame.

�Mei Hua,� the madam clarified in her gravelly voice, �It means the �beautiful flower.� She was the most beautiful courtesan in the city until the governor took her as his wife.� She spat on the floorboards. �Then he abandoned her family when she died.�

�And Isabella��

�Lei. Isabella Lei,� the madam said, fondness softening the harsh lines of her face. �Our little flower.� She turned to Henry and flicked her pipe at him with a sneer. �You are not good enough. You know nothing, see nothing.�

�I see enough,� Henry said thoughtfully, watching as Isabella rose and bade goodbye to the women. Then, her eyes bright with unshed tears, she turned and headed toward the open door where he and the madam waited.

Henry threaded Isabella�s arm through his. Ignoring the madam�s sharp protest, he quickly steered Isabella into a vacant room, snapping the sliding door shut behind them. The door rattled, but Henry easily held it shut with one hand.

�Give us a moment alone, madam,� He called through the thin wooden door. He looked over his shoulder at Isabella.

She frowned at him but called out, �It�s all right. I�m fine.�

The rattling stopped. They heard the madam stomp away, muttering obscenities as she did. Henry sighed lightly and when he turned, his gray gaze was so intense that Isabella nearly took a step backward. He crossed the dingy room in three long strides, and Isabella turned to watch him warily. He sat on the edge of the shabby bed and leaned forward. Resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on laced fingers, he studied her as if she were on display.

�What?� She challenged.

�You are not at all the prim and proper debutante I thought you to be, Miss Hennessey.�

�Does that disappoint you, Lord James?� She asked loftily.

�Not at all.� He beckoned to her with a finger. �Now, come here,� He said, his tone demanding.

�Why?� She asked with an obstinate snort.

The raw craving in his answering grin made her swallow, and she paced towards him slowly. She hesitated when she was within a foot of him, but he caught her by the elbow and pulled so that she stood between his knees. Isabella�s heart began to race when his eyes scanned her body from head to toe.

�I am looking forward to our game, Miss Hennessey,� He said, his eyes sharp with delight.

Isabella�s razor-edged retort died as Henry slid his hands up her sides, stopping to cup her face. He swept a thumb over her parted lips, and her eyes drifted closed. His touch sent tingles of sparking pleasure to her very core, and she wondered at the hypersensitivity he seemed to cause in her. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, tempting her with unknown delights. What would happen, she wondered, if I were to give in�to seal his silence by succumbing to the irresistible attraction that is taut between us? The idea was tempting, alluring even.

Her thoughts halted abruptly and jumbled together as she felt him slide his hands down her arms. He tugged insistently at her fingertips, pulling away her gloves and draping them over his knee.

�I can�t wait.� The deep timbre of his voice was gruff with want.

He brought her bare hand to his lips. Isabella�s lashes lifted, and she watched through slitted eyes as he began to press featherlight kisses on her open palm. When he gently laved her wrist with his tongue, her whole body stiffened in pleasure. A sweet ache pooled in her upper thighs, and he looked up with knowing, lusty eyes. He dragged the tip of tongue down the lines of her palm and took her index finger in his mouth, lightly nipping its tip with his teeth before suckling at it tenderly.

No, she thought, her eyes widening, I cannot give in. If she let him take what he wanted from her, she would have no leverage with which to ensure his silence. The risks were too great. He must never catch her. Isabella eased her hand away, regret coloring her eyes.

�I will catch you, Miss Hennessey,� he promised.

Henry leaned back and gave her room to replace her gloves and smooth her trembling hands over her clothing. Isabella swallowed nervously and disguised the tremor that raced up her spine with a haughty toss of her head.

�You can try,� She challenged as she turned to stride away. But you must fail, she added to herself silently.

They left the brothel quickly, pausing only to bow deferentially to the madam. And when they reached the edge of Wan Chai, Jia Li hailed porters. Henry graciously offered her his hand as she stepped into her palanquin before seating himself in his. Isabella gratefully took the moist towel that Jia-Li offered her. She carefully dabbed at her face, removing as much of the dust and grime as she could. A day in Wan Chai could be harsh; a day in the market and red-light district was downright dirty.

But it was a tradition she had sworn to uphold since her mother�s death. Though she had been told that her father had loved her mother despite her humble origins, he had not found it in his conscience to provide for her family after her death. So, honor-bound, Isabella descended into the village below to offer money to her mother�s impoverished relatives.

And after her mother�s small, secret stash of funds had run out, Isabella had resorted to thievery. It had been the only way to collect money, and Isabella had no qualms about stealing from corrupt English socialites. But her grandmother�s health was continuing to deteriorate, and there were only so many risks she could take without getting caught. She hoped that Jia-Li had been able to acquire information about potential marks that would be easy and relatively risk-free.

The porters lifted her chair and began to weave their way up the steep track back to her home in Victoria Peak. Isabella sighed and perched her dainty chin on her fist. She loved and hated Hong Kong; it represented the two halves of herself that were at constant war�her English sensibilities and her fierce Chinese heritage.

When they reached the steps of Mountain Lodge, Henry took her hand as she stepped from her sedan chair. But, as she turned to leave, he did not relinquish his hold on her fingers. She turned to shoot him a warning glare.

�You overstep your bounds,� She cautioned, arching a brow.

He lifted her hand to his lips. �I only wish to ask for the favor of your presence at tomorrow�s piano recital at the Austin Arms.�

�You have not earned a favor.� She pulled her hand away, offering him a coy smile. �Catch me, and you can have whatever pleases you.�

Chapter Five

Isabella sat in the recital hall at the Austin Arms, her spine straight and her eyes fixed on the pianist. Her fingers were tightly woven together in her lap, and the anger thrumming through her veins stiffened her muscles.

The room was abuzz with gossip; someone, somewhere, had let it slip that she may have captured the young Lord James�s attentions as a candidate for marriage. She suspected that her ambitious brother had instigated the rumors, and she mentally cursed him for causing her to become the absolute center of attention. Since the moment she had arrived, she had been on the receiving end of many a stare and whisper�some curious, others envious and one or two even downright hostile.

But only one person stirred her blood to furious fire�and unlike the others, he had been quietly smug the entire time. She fumed inwardly that the insufferable Lord Henry James had managed to coerce her brother into dragging her to the recital and afternoon tea, ruining her day�s plans. She�d refused him the day before not only because she found teasing him irresistible, but also because she�d already had plans to come to the Austin Arms�except that she�d originally wanted to slip in unnoticed through the study window and leave with Sir Edward�s collection of jade jewelry.

She could feel Henry�s amused gaze on her back, and she refused to turn around to give him the satisfaction of her notice.

Engrossed in her irate musings, Isabella barely registered that the recital had ended and that the other members of the audience were clapping enthusiastically. Recovering, she quickly lifted her dainty hands to add to the applause before it petered out. Her brother rose quickly, pulling her up with him as he tucked her arm into his.

�That was a lovely recital,� Arthur turned and said to their host, Sir Edward. �A brilliant performance.�

�I am most delighted that you enjoyed it.� Sir Edward nodded heartily, beads of sweat forming at his brow. He turned to Isabella and grazed her forearm with pudgy fingertips. �And I am so glad you decided to come, Miss Isabella. I had thought you were not planning to attend.�

�Women change their minds at a drop of a hat, don�t they?� Arthur chuckled.

�Yes, don�t they?� Isabella parroted blandly. �I am glad I came.�

Arthur steered her toward the tea table with Sir Edward trotting along to keep up with their brisk pace. She smiled almost pityingly at Sir Edward and sighed slightly. The poor man. She knew that Arthur had set his sights higher than Sir Edward, the son of a mere baron. It was uncomfortably obvious to all�except the poor Sir Edward�that Arthur was keen to secure marital ties for her with the son of a duke.

Her mind having wandered back to the duke�s son, Isabella glanced around the room to look for him. She had expected him to accost her immediately with his flirtatious antics and maddening double entendres as soon as the concert ended. But instead, he seemed content to meet her eyes from across the room. Isabella suppressed the shiver that threatened at the base of her spine as she realized that he was circling her, much like a cunning beast of prey. And though she silently snarled at him with her glittering green eyes, she was met with nothing but his pleased predatory gaze as he moved easily through the room.

And now that she saw him from afar, she could not deny his masculinity: long-and lean-limbed, broad-shouldered and possessed of a devastatingly handsome smile. Catching her eyes upon him, he winked and offered her a flash of perfect white teeth. Heat blossomed in her lower abdomen as she began to wonder if she had perhaps underestimated her opponent. A traitorous corner of her mind began to wonder what he might demand from her should she lose their bet. She doubted that he would expose her to the authorities; no, he would likely submit her to more pleasurable punishments. She paused and let her lids flutter shut as she reached the tea table, unwittingly allowing herself to imagine long fingers pulling at the laces of her corset, large hands skimming her bare flesh, muscled limbs parting, pushing�

�Isabella?�

Arthur�s voice startled her from her indecent reverie.

�Yes?� She tried to keep the irritated snap from her voice.

�You seem flushed,� He commented, concerned. �Shall I fetch water for you instead of tea?�

�No, thank you,� Isabella answered with faint smile, �I�m fine, Arthur. But I do think I will have a sweet before getting tea.� She nodded amiably at Sir Edward. �It is a lovely spread.�

�As you wish, of course,� Arthur shrugged. �You do have an incorrigible sweet tooth.�

Isabella threaded her way through the crowd, offering demure smiles and polite comments when addressed. When she finally reached the dessert table, she pretended to peruse the many decadent cakes and pastries while taking a few moments to still her rapidly beating heart and wild imagination. When her brother finally turned his back, she seized her chance. Steeling her resolve, she slipped away.

* * *

Henry watched as Isabella disappeared around the corner. Clever girl, he thought to himself as he slowly sipped his drink. Vanishing at a party where he was in attendance was practically a blatant invitation for him to chase her, and he considered his options. Where to look first�a closet, a study or perhaps a guest room? Henry hid a sultry grin behind another sip of liquor. He would give her a few moments to begin stealing, and then he would also slip away to catch her in the act. He swirled his drink as he imagined what would happen next. He would take his time, slowly building the same burning ache in her that she had inflicted upon him until she begged him for release. He hoped she�d chosen a target that was far removed from the main reception hall or he�d have to help her mute her cries of pleasure.

Movement at the edges of the party caught Henry�s attention. Sir Edward loitered near the corridor that Isabella had taken, his beady eyes shifting nervously. Henry frowned and narrowed his eyes, muscles tensing, as the short man crept away.

Meanwhile, Isabella was hurriedly digging through drawers in the study, her mind racing. The jade jewelry had not been in its glass display case, nor was it hidden in the large mahogany bureau. The locks on the desk drawers had barely been a challenge, and she had soon rifled through their contents. But after checking, rechecking and even knocking on panels to check for secret compartments, she�d still come up empty-handed. She stifled a frustrated growl.

Isabella stood suddenly as she heard the doorknob turn. She spun around to face the grand window overlooking the gardens just as the heavy oak door whispered against the plush carpet as it slid open.

�Why, Miss Hennessey,� Sir Edward called out thickly, �I did not expect to find you here.�

Isabella swallowed nervously and turned, gently nudging the last desk drawer shut with her hip. She painted her face with a guileless smile.

�Sir Edward,� She said, tucking a curl behind an ear, �I�m sorry if I am not meant to be here. I was feeling a bit hot in the crowds and needed a moment alone. I do apologize if I have intruded.�

�Not at all, my dear,� Edward replied, pushing the door behind him closed with a definitive click. �I�m glad I found you.�

Isabella�s eyes went from the closed door and back to Edward, who was slowly pacing toward her. She spun around to look out the window.

�The view from your study certainly is captivating, Sir Edward,� she said, a knot forming in her stomach.

�It is, indeed.�

Edward reached her side and placed a hand on the desk behind her. She pushed away and stepped toward the empty glass display case, peering down as if curious.

�And what is this for?� She asked, running fingertips over the smooth pane.

�That was for my collection of jade. I acquired a particularly beautiful jade necklace, you know.�

Edward walked toward her, his eyes greedy.

�And where is it now?� She asked innocently.

�At the Hong Kong Club, as part of a temporary exhibit.�

He was suddenly very close, so close that she could feel his hot breath on her shoulder. Blinking, she flitted away toward another cabinet.

�What an honor for the gentlemen of the Hong Kong Club,� she said with a nervous smile, backing toward the door. �Well then, I seem to have recovered, so��

�A moment, Miss Hennessey,� Edward raised his voice slightly and beckoned to her with an open hand. �There is something else I would like to show you.�

Isabella�s mind whirred as she watched the stout man turn to reach into a cabinet. Her stomach roiled at the thought of spending another moment in the room alone with him. But he was her host, and surely he would do nothing untoward. Reluctantly, she inched her way to where he waited expectantly, some treasure clasped behind his back.

�Closer, my dear girl,� He said with a chuckle when she hesitated, �I won�t bite.�

When she was finally close enough for his liking, he produced his treasure, holding it between them so she could admire it. And indeed, it was a fine piece. Isabella remembered to coo over his prize as she assessed its worth.

In Edward�s open palms lay a black lacquer fan inlaid with gold and mother of pearl. It had been carefully polished, and she guessed it would fetch a pretty penny. She took it and held it up to the light, admiring the way the pearl caught the light.

�It�s beautiful,� She agreed with a smile, holding it out for Edward to take back.

A cloud passed over his round face, and suddenly his sweaty hand closed around her wrist. Surprised, she dropped the fan. She tried to wrest her hand away, but found that under all his fat, Edward had a grip of steel. She twisted, but Edward, heavy as an anchor, pivoted on his heel and swung her into the cabinet so hard that her teeth rattled. He pushed in close, his face red and angry.

�Why do you scorn my gifts but shower him with favor?� He hissed, spittle flying onto her cheeks.

�Sir Edward,� Isabella protested, vainly pushing against his heavy mass, �Please, I don�t understand.�

�Little hussy,� He snarled, �Your virtue would be wasted on a brute such as that pampered little lord. I would give you so much more; I would adore you as a priceless diamond, a beautiful gem.�

�Please,� Isabella begged as she struggled in vain to gain leverage with which to push him off, �This is terribly indecent. If my brother��

�Yes, indecent.� Edward pushed her further into the cabinet wall and pressed his forearm against her throat. �What would your brother do if he discovered this indecency between us? Surely then, he would see what needed to be done.�

Edward began to fumble with his clothing, and Isabella began to thrash anew, her heart filling with panic.

�Sir Edward, is that any way to handle another man�s fianc�e?�

She recognized the imperious voice immediately, and when she turned to see Henry�s silhouette in the doorway, she breathed a sigh of relief. Edward stepped away from her to straighten his clothing.

�Fianc�e?� He panted heavily. �I was not aware such arrangements had been made.�

Henry took a few slow steps into the room, and Isabella�s eyes widened at the cold fury that simmered just below the surface of his calm fa�ade.

�And why would you be privy to the betrothal negotiations that I make with her father?� Henry�s deep voice was faintly mocking, his eyes hard. �You forget your place, Sir Edward.�

�And you forget yours,� Edward snapped, �This is my home.�

�You may fancy yourself a lord in this little colony, but may I remind you that you are not.� Henry stalked forward, his voice unflinchingly severe. �Do not forget who I am, lest I decide to inform the governor about this incident.� He stopped only to look down his nose at the snivelling man. �Now leave,� he barked, �So that I may attend to my fianc�e�s well-being.�

Edward cast them both a spiteful glare before grudgingly trudging out. Henry followed to slam the door after him. He paused, his hand upon the door, and sighed deeply.

�My lord��

�Call me by my given name,� Henry interrupted softly as he turned to look at her. �I would be more than a title to you.�

�Henry,� Isabella began again, weighing the name on her lips as she dipped her head in acknowledgement, �Thank you.� Her breathing hitched slightly when she thought of what might have happened. �Thank you,� She repeated in earnest.

Henry sighed again and leaned his back against the door, sliding his hands into his trouser pockets. He shook his head, affection warming his eyes.

�You�re a foolish girl, Isabella.�

She stiffened and strode over to the mahogany desk, her fingers lightly trailing over the smooth surface.

�Foolish?� She raised a brow. �And also betrothed?�

�A very slight exaggeration, I assure you,� Henry laughed. �So, did you find what you were looking for?�

�No,� Isabella said disgustedly, �It wasn�t here. He moved it to��

She stopped suddenly and treated him to a glare. Henry�s lips turned up into a smug smirk as the full-lipped pout she wore only made her all the more alluring. He pushed away from the door, walked toward her and planted his hands on the desk behind them, one on either side of her hips.

�I do believe I�m entitled to claim a prize, Isabella.� He said her name slowly, savoring each syllable.

�I think not,� Isabella scoffed, �You forget our terms. You have not caught me in the act of stealing.�

�True enough,� Henry conceded. He tugged at a tendril of her hair that had come free and wrapped it around his index finger. �May I claim some small token then�for almost catching you?�

He drew her lock of hair to his lips and then let it slide away across his fingers.

�What token?� Isabella asked, lifting her chin.

Henry leaned in to press his lips to the underside of her jaw and exhaled. His warm breath on her neck sent tingles of pleasure skittering across her skin.

�Just a taste,� he whispered, pulling away even as he cupped her face in his hands.

Isabella shyly lifted her eyes to his, and they were so close that she could see the blue flecks in his slate-gray irises. Her lashes fluttered as she examined the nuances of his masculine features: a strong chin, a square jaw and gray eyes that stole her breath. The air in the room was cool, but she felt a strange and sudden fire spread through her body at his touch. She was not frightened by his proximity�and now that she was pressed close enough to scent his masculine musk, she felt an electric thrill sing through the air.

�As you wish,� She said softly, �Just a small token of my favor.�

The sight of her upturned face, unguarded and fragile in her innocence, was his undoing. Raw hunger raced through his veins, and he could not help himself. Henry ran the pad of his thumb up her delicate cheekbone and then buried his fingers in the hair at her scalp. He leaned in close, dipping his head to press a chaste kiss to her cheek, trembling with the effort to remain in control. Her fingers went to his sleeves, and she clutched blindly at the thick fabric as he planted another kiss near the corner of her mouth.

�Don�t be afraid,� he murmured softly at her ear as he felt her breath catch. �I won�t hurt you.�

His fingers tightened in her hair as he pressed his other hand into the small of her back, drawing her in close. He pulled back only slightly to kiss her forehead, and then began to trace a line of kisses down the bridge of her nose. Isabella gasped, her heart aflutter and her hands inching their way up to his shoulders.

And then, wrapping an arm securely around her waist, Henry tilted his head ever so slightly and pressed forward. His soft mouth captured hers, and he suckled on her plump bottom lip before parting her lips with his tongue. She whimpered as he began to explore her mouth, helplessly lost in the sweet sensation. Instinctively, Isabella twined her arms around his neck, drawing him in as he filled her senses with the sensual glide of his tongue.

When he finally pulled away, the kiss had seemed both endless and much too brief. Her dark hair was a halo around her porcelain face, that was tinged with a fetching pink blush. She might be untested in carnal pleasures, yet Henry could see sweet yearning begin to swirl in her wide, luminous green eyes.

�Lord James, I��

�Have you forgotten my name?� He asked as he feathered kisses along her jawline.

His lips descended upon hers once more before she could answer, and he wound his arms tightly around her slender frame, molding her body to his. Her fingers twisted in his hair as he massaged her back in long strokes. As his caresses grew desperate in fervor, he lifted the hem of her voluminous skirts and slid a hand up her thigh. When his fingers grazed her bottom, a burning ache spread down her thighs and up her belly. She threw her head back, and he hooked an arm around her waist, anchoring her to him. Skilled fingers dipped lower, and she clung to him as he carefully stroked her moist folds with a knuckle.

�Henry,� She gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders, �Henry.�

�I like the sound of my name on your lips.� His voice was rough as he pulled away and tried to ignore his need straining against his trousers.

With a throaty moan, she ground herself lightly against his heated groin. Then teasingly, she pulled away.

�Then you will have to catch me to hear it again.�

The breathlessness in her sweet voice was entrancing.

�Yes, I will,� He vowed huskily, �But the next time my name is upon your lips, you will be screaming it.�

Chapter Six

Isabella waited until the city stilled and slowed under the heavy blanket of darkness, for stealing her prize in broad daylight was simply not an option. The Hong Kong Club was the most elite gentleman�s club in the eastern colonies, a veritable landmark. No women and no Chinese were allowed in. She was both. Worse still, it was in the center of the city, where slipping in unnoticed would be next to impossible�not to mention the fact that her father would likely be there for most of the evening.

So it was the dead of night when Isabella finally slipped away from Mountain Lodge clad in her black silk jumpsuit. She slid from shadow to shadow, swiftly making her way to the tall, imposing edifice. Kneeling by the servants� entrance, she skilfully picked the lock and crept inside. Once through, she closed the door behind her and crouched low, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. The room slowly came into focus. Kitchens, she thought as her eyes traced the outlines of hanging pots and pans.

The heavy silence was almost oppressive, and Isabella had to concentrate to hear over the rush of blood in her ears. This was unfamiliar territory, and she would have to be especially cautious as she had not the slightest knowledge of its interior layout.

Not a sound�save her light breathing�interrupted the veil of quiet in the building. Pulse racing, she stood and began to creep through the rooms on light feet. When she found her way out of the servants� areas, she entered the most luxurious hallway she had ever seen. A set of great double doors was open at the other end of the hall, and she could faintly see the silhouettes of settees in the distance. As she crept closer and peered in, she saw that the drapes on the tall windows had been pulled open, allowing moonlight to stream through the immense receiving hall. Everything was illuminated in a swath of cool light, and Isabella smiled to herself. Tasselled cushions, burnished leather and gleaming hardwood�everything in the lavishly appointed suite screamed power and prestige. She straightened and padded confidently into the room, sure that the jade jewelry would be displayed in this very room. A flash of light caught her eye, and she turned her attention to the tall display case at the centre of the room�the only jewelry display case in sight. She glided over and looked in.

It was empty.

Isabella stifled a curse as she clenched her fists over the glass. She lifted her gaze, letting her eyes rove the rest of the room. Breaking in had been too great a risk to leave empty-handed. Should she continue to search for the elusive jade necklace�or simply snatch a few other choice objects and call it a night?

�Is this what you�re looking for?�

The deep masculine voice made her snap to attention, her whole body tensing. Her eyes carefully searched out the dark corners of the room, trying to pinpoint the place from whence the words had come. A shadow moved in a dark corner. Isabella squinted, and the faint outline of a man seated in an ornate chair solidified. The man leaned forward casually, and a stream of moonlight fell over his unmistakable features. He extended a hand�and a beautiful necklace dangled from one fingertip.

�You�re after this fine piece, I assume?�

�Henry,� Isabella growled low, �What are you doing here?�

He huffed, clearly amused. �Why, the same thing as you,� he said, unfolding his legs and standing, �Claiming a prize.�

He strolled leisurely toward her, his face agleam with feral anticipation. He swung the necklace around one finger, and Isabella watched the green beads as they looped over and over again.

�That is mine,� She announced edgily.

�Not yet, it isn�t,� Henry teased, lifting the jewels so they were just out of her reach.

Isabella sprang without warning, leaping with the surefootedness of a cat. She stretched, reaching for the string of jade, but Henry twisted from her path and she clutched at nothing but air. With a soft snarl, she grabbed at his clothing and tried again, but he only chuckled and lifted the prize higher. Abandoning reserve, Isabella pounced and tackled him with all her strength. They tumbled to the carpet in a tangle of wrestling limbs. The jade necklace flew from Henry�s fingers and rolled across the floor, stopping to rest before a tall mirror. Isabella scrambled forward to seize the necklace�but just as her fingers grazed the surface of one huge bead, Henry hauled her back across the carpet. With one hand, he pinned her wrists to the floor above her head, and with the other, he hooked her knee over his hip. His breathing heavy, he leaned down over her.

�Caught you stealing,� He pronounced triumphantly.

She bucked wildly beneath him, eyes flashing.

�I do not admit defeat,� She hissed, teeth gritted as she strained against his iron hold.

Her constant writhing excited him, and he leaned in to press his open mouth to her neck. He dragged his lips down the black silk of her tight clothing, smiling as she arched under his touch.

�Come now, Isabella,� He whispered, his lips moving over her skin, �Do not be a poor sport. We both know I have won.�

Isabella stilled under his touch, her chest heaving and her heart racing. He had won, she realized. And then, as she became keenly aware of his muscled thighs between hers, she found she didn�t completely dislike the idea. He could demand anything from her now, she thought. Anything.

�Won?� Her voice was small, soft and almost plaintive.

He pulled back slightly to catch her questioning gaze and offer her a smile that gleamed in the moonlight.

�Yes, I�ve won our wager,� He said, sliding his hands down her outstretched arms, �I�ve won and earned the right to claim my prize.�

Isabella lifted herself onto her elbows, tilting her head to the side.

�And what would you claim of me, my lord?� Her breathless voice held a note of excited anticipation.

Henry pulled her up quickly, settling her over his thighs as he sat back on his heels.

�Everything,� He said as he anchored her hips to his with an arm, �I would take everything, Isabella.�

With a sensual twist, he ground himself against her, and the ensuing tingle that bubbled in the pit of her stomach was a surprise to Isabella. She gasped and threw her arms around his neck.

�I would know you in every way,� He murmured, �From every angle.�

His free hand began to delve into the folds of her garment, and he skimmed the bare skin of her side with his warm palm. She rocked against his hips, and he lightly nipped the peak of her breast through the fabric in response.

�You�ve caught me,� Isabella gasped in pleasure, �I�m yours.�

All at once his lips were on hers, greedily plundering her mouth with white-hot fervor. He slowly began to peel back the clingy silk that covered her, exposing a line of creamy flesh to his hungry eyes. He pulled the fabric away impatiently. It slid to the floor with a whisper, and he greedily devoured her naked skin with his hands. His hands seemed everywhere at once: running down her bare arms, smoothing over the swell of her breasts�and leaving pinpricks of pleasure in their wake.

He smoothed his palms down her back and under her naked bottom, and they both groaned as she pressed closer to him. Emboldened by his flushed expression, she put her nimble fingers to work and made short work of the buttons of his shirt. Keeping one hand on her curved backside, he shrugged off the garment as she pulled at his earlobe with her teeth. In response, he gently pushed a knuckle against her womanhood, eliciting a gasp of delight. As he slid his finger inside her, she whimpered in his ear. Grunting, he pulled himself free of his constricting trousers. His fingers stilled within her, and she rotated her hips pleadingly. He breathed darkly, and brought one of her hands down, guiding her fingers around him. Curious about the velvet stiffness in her fist, she looked down, and he groaned as she stroked experimentally.

�You little minx,� he growled against her mouth.

His large hand closed around hers as he showed her how to pump rapidly. When she mewled plaintively, he resumed his exploration of her innermost cavern with deft fingers. She bit down on his shoulder when her damp thighs trembled in a spasm of pleasure.

All of a sudden, she found herself lifted from his lap and gently laid out onto the plush carpet. Henry climbed over her, his eyes wild with passion and his chest heaving. The muscles of his arms rippled as he dragged her shapely thighs over his naked hips.

�I want to make you mine.� His voice was husky and rough, and his fingers trembled as they danced across her bare skin. He tentatively probed her entrance. �Are you ready?�

At her tremulous nod, he leaned in to whisper in her ear, �Hang on to me.�

She cried out and dug her blunt fingernails deep into his shoulder blades as he thrust deep within her, stretching her for the first time. Buried to the hilt, he paused and held himself painfully still. As he waited for her to adjust, he kissed away the stray tears that had collected at the corners of her eyes. He began to rock his body gently against hers, and she cried out in fevered pleasure. She twined her ankles around his waist as he drew her even closer, grunting his pleasure at her ear.

But then he pulled away, and she cried out at the loss. He stood and shed the remainder of his clothing, then bent to tenderly hoist her upward. Hands on her shoulders, he turned her so that she faced the tall mirror. Blushing, she looked away.

�This is yours.�

Henry planted a line of soft kisses from her shoulder to chin, and then he draped the forgotten jade necklace over her collarbones and fastened the clasp at the nape of her neck. Isabella looked up, surprised, as the cool beads touched her skin.

�Beautiful, isn�t it?�

�Yes, of course,� Isabella breathed, fingertips hovering over the jade prize.

�But not as beautiful as these.�

His hands glided down and he cupped her breasts, rolling the dark beads at their tips between his thumb and forefinger. Isabella fell back onto his chest and shuddered with pleasure as his hands continued their downward exploration of her body.

Spurred on by her soft moans of bliss, he splayed the fingers of one hand over her soft neck as his other hand explored the supple landscape of her body. He dropped to his knees behind her, leaving a ribbon of kisses down her spine. His questing hands cupped and pinched and kneaded until she was shivering with desire.

�Look at us.� His voice was thick with raw need. �Look at how beautiful you are.�

Isabella blinked her eyes open languorously. In the dim light, she saw her reflection in the mirror, naked but for the priceless necklace he had placed on her. His hands were dark against her creamy white skin, and they danced over her body and stoked a fire deep within her belly. When his fingers dipped into her heated core, she nearly wept in blissful agony. A lusty chuckle filled her ear, and he dragged his hands from her hips up to her hair. He shook the pins from her dark locks, watching hungrily as her thick hair fell in curls around her shoulders. With a sensuous glide of his hands, he pushed her down and forward onto her hands and knees, curving his heated body over hers and trapping her within the cage of his muscular limbs.

She is so small. Pushing her hair to the side, he kissed and nipped at the nape of her neck, and she arched her back in a fevered response. But so strong.

He entered her in one fluid thrust, filling her body and her heart to capacity. In the mirror, he saw her face contort in wanton pleasure and was filled with masculine pride. The jade beads swung in time to his thrusts, but their glorious shine paled in comparison to the swaying peaks of her breasts and the radiant glow in her impassioned eyes. Their eyes locked in the reflection, love and longing swirling in their depths.

�Henry,� She gasped as he increased his pace.

He grunted approvingly and began to thrust in earnest, bringing them closer and closer to explosive heights.

�Scream it,� he urged, his fingers digging into her hip.

And she did, crying his name heedlessly as she clenched around him. Unable to resist the delicious ache building in his body, he gripped her tightly and drove harder, plunged deeper as she cried his name in rapture again and again. With a strangled groan, he joined her in the crescendo of their union, emptying himself deep within her.

Spent, he collapsed against her. For once the woman was speechless, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Both trembling in the aftershocks of their passion, they clung desperately to one another, and the only sound in the room was their harsh and uneven breathing. He rolled to the side, taking her slight form with him as he did. She leaned into his warmth, her knees still weak and her thighs still quivering. Henry tucked her carefully into his side, his strong arms encircling her against the encroaching chill.

�Isabella,� he whispered softly.

�Yes?� She spoke lazily, her eyelids already heavy. Her limbs seemed heavy as lead, and she had never felt so tired before in her life.

He smiled and tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear. She was at sleep�s door, and she moved only to nestle deeper into his embrace.

�Sleep well, dearest one,� Henry said quietly as she drifted away into a deep, restful slumber. �A new life awaits you.�

Chapter Seven

It was almost dawn when Henry roused himself from a deep and satisfied sleep. Gray light filtered in through the windows, and daylight was only a few hours away. He stretched his arm out to the side to draw Isabella closer, only to find that she was no longer there. Propping himself up on his elbows, he scanned the parlor.

He saw her immediately.

She was standing by one of the tall windows, the sensuous curves of her nude form cast in pale shadows. One of her hands rested on the wooden frame, the other hung at her side, her fingers moving idly as she hummed softly to herself. She had apparently opened the window, as a briny sea breeze flitted through the curtains and lightly lifted the ends of her dark curls. Henry�s face softened; she was so lovely that his heart swelled with tender affection.

�I hadn�t realized you�d awoken,� He said, �How long have you been waiting?�

She turned to look at him, and he was spellbound by the silvery outline of her pert breasts. Her smile was just as brilliant.

�Only a little while.�

She padded silently over to where he lay. With a boldness that made his loins tighten with want, she casually straddled him, draping her long, shapely legs over his hips.

�Oh my,� He grunted, his hands sliding up her thighs to grip her hips. �I take it that you are pleased?�

She flashed her teeth in a devilish smile as she raked her fingernails down his chest. She leaned in close and traced a line from his chin to his ear with her tongue.

�I am,� She whispered, �Very much.�

With a sigh of pleasure, she began to rock against him. His hardness slipped slowly and seductively between them, and he groaned and dug his fingers into her pliant flesh. She threw her head back and rolled her body against his.

�Again already?� He grunted, tangling his fingers in her hair and pulling her down for a searing kiss.

�No,� She breathed against his lips, �Of course not.�

�What?� He gripped her hips and held her still, pulling back to stare up at her disbelievingly.

Isabella smirked and gently ground her core against him. Then, to his absolute frustration, she lifted herself up and stepped away. He sat up and watched as she nonchalantly slipped back into her black silk.

�Once,� She teased playfully, lifting one perfect finger, �You�ve caught me only once.�

�You little minx,� Henry growled, �Are you saying I�ll have to catch you again? I know you want this as much I do.�

�I don�t deny it,� Isabella said with a sweet smile. �But rules are rules, after all.�

He cocked a brow. �Just what are you suggesting?�

She strolled over to the open window and sat on its ledge. Tilting her head to gauge his reaction, she tugged gently at the jade necklace that still hung from her neck.

�This is mine now,� she said, �But I am still a thief.�

�So?�

�And I don�t plan to stop thieving. So catch me again,� she continued, crossing her legs. �And I promise�I�ll give you even more.�

Henry stood, and Isabella could not help but eye his lean, muscled frame. He grinned hungrily, his mind already racing to pinpoint the location of her next target�and their next adventure.

�I will catch you, Isabella,� He promised.

�I know you will.� Her lips lifted in an eager smile. �I can�t wait.�

With one last wicked smile, she swung her legs over the edge of the window and dropped down to the street below. Henry strode over to the window and watched as Isabella, the flower of Hong Kong, disappeared into the gray hours of dawn.

Their game had just begun.

* * * * *

Enjoy more passion through the ages with the sensual Harlequin Historical UNDONE titles on sale now:

For the Highlander�s Pleasure by Joanne Rock

About the Author

Linda is a travel addict and a self-proclaimed food critic with an insatiable appetite for the written word. She first developed her love for reading and writing by browsing her grandfather�s dictionaries and etymology books�a habit she has yet to abandon!

Born to Filipino parents in the United States and raised in Canada, Linda is a modern-day nomad, moving across country and ocean with her military husband. She currently lives in the United Kingdom and spends her free time writing, practicing digital photography, updating her food blog and dreaming of adventures at home and abroad. She has travelled throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Linda holds a Master of Education and specializes in teaching languages and literature. She has been teaching English as a Second Language, English literature and literacy courses since 2001. Though she is currently teaching part-time at a local technical college, Linda is a full-time daydreamer with a passion for the strange, mysterious and exotic.

ISBN: 978-14592-2672-2

The Debutante�s Ruse

Copyright � 2012 by Linda Skye

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