Page 28 of A Wicked Game

“I’ll help you.”

She didn’t even try to hide her shock. “You? Why?”

He gave a careless shrug. “Because I’m bored, I suppose. This sounds like it might be entertaining.”

“It sounds like it might bedangerous.”

“Same thing.”

She narrowed her eyes, deeply suspicious. “Davieses don’t help Montgomerys. They hold them to ransom or push them in ditches.”

“These are enlightened times,” he said beatifically. “We’re related by marriage now. You’re basically family.”

“Never!”

He chuckled at her fervent denial. “Oh, come on, let me help. What are you so afraid of?”

“Of being indebted to a Davies,” she said without a pause.

“You’re already indebted to me. You still owe me two kisses.”

She scowled at the reminder.

“I promise I won’t use violence. Not unless absolutely necessary. Usually thethreatof unpleasantness is enough to persuade a man to comply.”

Harriet bit her lip, clearly torn, and Morgan pressed his case. It was ridiculous how much he wanted to help her. She was usually so competent, so self-contained, but in this instance fate had provided him with the means to come to her aid, like some foolish knight in armor.

“I’m a man,” he said, slightly more forcefully than he intended.

She blinked in surprise. “I’m aware of that.”

“What I mean is, there are certain advantages to being a man, including brute physical strength. Plus, I have something you don’t have.”

Harriet’s gaze immediately dropped to the front of his breeches even as her cheeks reddened even more. “And what’s that?” she croaked.

He struggled not to laugh at the wicked path her mind had taken. The fact that she was thinking about what lay beneath his falls wasexcellentprogress. Instead of celebrating, however, he pasted an innocent expression on his face.

“A brother with a title, of course. Gryff’s the Earl of Powys. An aristocratic title is always extremely intimidating. Add in Rhys’s natural ability to fight with everyone he meets, and we have a winning combination.”

She shook her head. “You can’t ask your brothers to come halfway across London just to confront a crooked mapmaker on my behalf.”

“Why not? Rhys is bored out of his mind. He’ll welcome a diversion, especially if we tell him there’s the chance of fisticuffs.”

“But Gryff’s far too busy. And Maddie will never forgive you if you rope him into something dangerous.”

“Pfft. Gryff loves danger. In fact, the only problem you’ll have is if Maddie hears what we’re up to and decides she wants to come too. That woman is as attracted to intrigue as he is.”

Harriet’s brows lowered in confusion. She looked like she was about to argue, so Morgan did what he’d wanted to do all morning. He lifted his hand and cupped her face.

She froze in surprise.

“Let me help you, Harriet.”

“But—”

“Where does this Heron fellow have his shop?”

“On Hart Street in Covent Garden.”