Page 11 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

R ose entered Lisbeth’s drawing room to find Sinclair already there.

He stood by a window, staring out at the street.

She took a moment to admire his broad shoulders, solid physique, and blasted blond hair curling at the nape of his neck.

He wasn’t boyishly handsome. It was more than that.

He had a sophisticated appeal. One that Rose would have thought she would never find attractive.

He turned as she stepped further into the room. Rose nodded hello, ignoring the fluttering of her stomach as his piercing blue eyes studied her.

“Good evening, Miss Calvert.”

She hated the formality of London. It was her least favorite thing about the city. Everyone was missed, mistered, lorded, and ladied to death. Still, it didn’t prevent her from ogling this very man who embodied all that. Stubbornly, she said, “Please call me Rose. We will be working together.”

His eyes widened. Rose thought he might argue with her for a moment, but he simply said, “As you wish.”

Lisbeth had said he was highly sought after by the ladies on the marriage mart.

He seemed so reserved. Rose wondered if his stuffy exterior ever cracked or if he would be this reserved even with his future wife.

She shook her head, horrified that she was thinking such things. He frowned. “Is there something amiss?”

“No,” she said somewhat forcefully, causing him to lift a brow.

She made her way to the sitting area, and he joined her. The quietness seemed overwhelming to Rose, so she asked, “When will we attend the first auction?”

His lips pressed together, clearly displeased she was still going. She sighed. “I’m the only one who can identify the tablets.”

He nodded. “I hadn’t thought of that. I apologize.”

Surprised by his agreement, she remained silent. His mouth curved into a smile. The sight made him more tempting. Blasted duke!

“I will pick you up tomorrow evening at nine. Will the Duchess of Lusby be joining us?” he asked.

She tilted her head. “Why would she?”

“As your chaperone?”

Laughter erupted from her. “Sinclair, I’m twenty-eight years old, part owner of a successful antiquities business, and travel regularly on my own,” she said.

He started to say something, but she raised her hand, stopping him.

“Please don’t tell me that isn’t how it is done in London.

I do not care. I doubt any of these criminals or buyers will out me, and if they do, I will not be in London long enough for it to become a scandal. ”

“I heard you were having a Season. There is a massive amount of interest in your arrival.”

She bet there was. “It is likely because of my obscene dowry.”

He chuckled. “Are you always so blunt, Rose?”

Something about her name on his lips disconcerted her. She had no one to blame but herself. “I learned it does me no good to be otherwise.”

He said nothing in return. The room descended into a tense silence. Thankfully, Lisbeth glided in. “Your Grace, I didn’t know you had arrived.”

He rose and bowed. “Please call me Sinclair.”

She took a seat next to Rose on the sofa. “Then I insist you call me Lisbeth. Lady Hawley, Lady Hensley, and Devons should join us shortly.”

The sound of the butler greeting someone at the front door filtered into the room. Lisbeth smiled. “Here they are.”

They stood as the trio entered the room. Once settled, Lisbeth said, “I think we can forgo formality as we will all be working together.”

Everyone nodded, and Devons said, “I doubt I’m witting of any auctions Sinclair wouldn’t be aware of. Addie did mention you wanted to find a solicitor.”

“It may be nothing, but I met with a man named Michael Abbas, who was cataloging any cuneiform tablets he could find in London. He was evasive about who his client was. I want to see if we can track him down,” Sinclair stated.

“I can have my investigators look into him,” Devons offered.

The duke nodded. “I had hoped that would be possible.”

“Of course, I want to see the Historical Society for Female Curators succeed.”

Diana smiled at him, and he grinned back at her.

“Oh…I can’t get over how smitten you both are,” Addie said, beaming. She turned to Rose. “You missed it all, but these two caused quite a swirl of gossip.”

“Really?” Rose said.

Diana laughed. “We had very different reputations. London was quite shocked when we became betrothed.”

“He was keen to get back to you when he was in Latakia,” Rose said.

A flush appeared on Devons’s cheeks. Diana smiled. “I was happy when he returned.”

“I will have to see if I can find some of the old papers,” Addie said, smiling mischievously.

“I’m getting off track with my musing about their courtship.

Regarding the stolen tablets, we will have Devons investigate Michael Abbas, and Sinclair and Rose will attend the auctions. Does anyone else want to go?”

“We shouldn’t go in a large group. We will stand out too much,” Sinclair stated.

They all agreed. Lisbeth glanced at Rose. “Do you want me to join you?”

“No. Sinclair and I should be fine.”

Her eyes met his. She assured herself they would be fine, ignoring the hum of something that bounced between them.

*

The next evening, Augustus sat across from Rose Calvert in the carriage as they headed to an auction in the London Docks. She stared out the window, bouncing one of her knees up and down. He wondered if she was always this fidgety.

“Are you nervous, Miss Calvert?”

“Rose,” she reminded him. “Why do you ask?”

He nodded towards her leg, which frantically tapped away.

She sighed. “No. I’m not nervous, just impatient.

Those tablets, you might say, are the culmination of my life’s work.

I know to most, they are just stones with markings, but to me, they are so much more.

It probably seems silly to someone like you. ”

A flash of annoyance shot through him, knowing she was referring to his title. He hated all the misconceptions people had about him, and it bothered him that she held them too.

“I don’t think it is silly at all, Rose. I find you quite remarkable.”

Her eyes widened, and he silently cursed his words.

“I meant to say I find your work rather remarkable. I do. I have great respect for your skills. One of the primary reasons I purchased the Alcyone and Ceyx statue was the inscription. Without your abilities, that would be lost. The text is what makes the sculpture beautiful.”

She said nothing for a moment and then smiled slightly. “Thank you, Your Grace. Those are kind words that I didn’t expect from you.”

“Sinclair or Augustus, please.”

She gasped mockingly. “So informal.”

“I think your perception of me is inaccurate.”

They stared at one another. Shockingly, a strong desire thrummed through him for Rose to see the real him, not the one he presented to society. She leaned forward, surprising Augustus. “Then tell me, duke, who are you?”

His gaze flicked down to her mouth and back to her inquisitive eyes.

He was tempted to pull her into his lap and tell her everything he had done that wasn’t related to his title.

Why did he want to impress her so much? But he didn’t.

Rose Calvert was not what he was looking for in a bride; whether she liked it or not, she was here to have a Season.

He wouldn’t ruin her, no matter how different she was from all the new, blushing debutantes.

In that regard, he was very much the gentleman.

He shrugged, “Why don’t you tell me about your Season? ”

Her mouth twisted in distaste. She was quiet for a moment.

Finally, Rose said, “I have no desire to find a husband in London. Still, my father was hopeful I could be swayed by meeting the right gentleman, so here I am with a ridiculous dowry. I know he meant to be helpful, but I would never consider someone who found that money important.”

“What are you looking for then?”

He shouldn’t be so intrigued, but Augustus was.

The carriage stopped, halting the conversation further, but his curiosity lingered as he assisted her out of the vehicle.

They walked into the large warehouse crowded with men and women from all walks of life perusing wares.

The London Docks’ nighttime market was a legitimate place to buy goods, but also operated as a front for illicit sales and auctions.

Items such as fabric, food, and tools could be found in any of the booths.

But interspersed among the booths were sectioned-off areas where thieves or smugglers sold their wares.

One of those areas hosted an antiquities auction.

No questions were asked about where the items were obtained.

Plenty of Augustus’s associates attended the events, and he had as well when he was starting out.

Still, he came to realize the majority of the artifacts were stolen or obtained in nefarious ways.

Augustus placed Rose’s hand on his arm as they walked deeper into the building.

He didn’t want to lose her as men and women streamed through the walkways around them.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away.

Leaning in, she said, “I’ve been to several markets, Sinclair.

I’m fine. Constantinople and Florence contain two of my favorites. You should visit them.”

“I will have to make do with London’s many shopping areas. My schedule doesn’t allow for me to leave England.”

She stopped, causing him to halt. Her face filled with a frown. “You’ve never left this country?”

He clenched his jaw. “No.”

“You should. Can’t you hire someone to look after your businesses?”

Augustus wasn’t sure why he was explaining himself to the lady, but responded, “How fair would it be to the people who rely on me to disappear for months on end?”

“You should consider it. I’ve never known travel not to be good for someone.”

“My dukedom prevents me from doing so,” he reiterated.