DefeatedbyLove by Samantha Kane Page A

a white gown with embroidered
primroses along the neck and hem. Very demure and vestal virgin. The seamstress
Daniel had hired had done a remarkable job in a very short time. Perhaps she’d
had this one done up already and had merely needed to alter it. The gown did
amazing things for her hair and eyes, that were wasted on him. She must have
thought he’d brought Simon home, which is exactly why he’d refused to do so and
sent the would-be Romeo to his lonely lodgings.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
    “Nonsense,” Barnabas said with a polite smile. “I must be
the intruder.” He gave Daniel a blank look, his head tilted to the side. If he
already knew who Mrs. Ashbury was, he wasn’t going to give himself away.
    “Mrs. Christine Ashbury, may I introduce Sir Barnabas
James,” Daniel said. At the introduction it wasn’t Barnabas’ expression that
caught Daniel’s attention, it was Mrs. Ashbury’s. Recognition flashed across
her features and she looked dismayed for a moment. Then she visibly recovered
and bowed her head politely, hiding her reaction.
    “How do you do,” she murmured.
    “It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ashbury,” Barnabas
said without a single moment of surprise or shock ruining his perfectly
composed demeanor. “I knew your husband in Portugal.”
    “Yes,” she said in a voice so quiet it was hard to hear her.
“I know.” She turned to Daniel. “Will you be long, Mr. Steinberg? Mr. Matheson
sent me to inquire.”
    “Did he?” Daniel asked casually. He was going to have to
speak to Matheson. “I’m not sure exactly how long I’ll be, actually. Sir
Barnabas needed to speak with me about an important matter. Don’t hold dinner
on my account.”
    “Oh, it’s no trouble. Take your time. Sir Barnabas.” She
excused herself politely and left the room, closely the door firmly behind her.
    Daniel remained silent. Let Barnabas make the first move.
    “Well,” Barnabas finally said after an endless minute of
staring at one another. “This is cozy. She’s quite attractive too. It shouldn’t
be a hardship for you. I’d certainly like to sample a bite.”
    “Has all of London gone mad?” Daniel asked with a shake of
his head. “While I concede that she is indeed pretty, I have no interest in
sampling her at all. Which is, I think, why she came to me for help.”
    “Help with what? Where’s Ashbury?” Barnabas’ questions were
merely curious. As usual he was revealing nothing about what he was feeling.
    “Nothing that concerns you. And I’d like to point out that
your continued interest in women is the reason there is no future for us.” That
and several hundred other reasons, of course. “I’m well aware you’re no saint
when you leave me. I’ve heard of your legendary affairs with both women and
men.”
    “It passes the time between visits here,” Barnabas said
unrepentantly. He started meandering around the room again. “I’ve told you I’ll
give up women, and other men, for an exclusive arrangement with you.”
    “Let’s not start that again,” Daniel dismissed his comment.
They’d been round and round about it many times. “Neither of us is made for an
exclusive affair. I like men too much, and you’ll hump anyone, like or not.” He
eyed Barnabas askance for a second. “Actually I think you like it better when
there’s enmity between you and your bed partners more than affection.”
    “It makes for a clean break.”
    “That doesn’t explain us.” Daniel pinned him with a knowing
glance.
    “True,” Barnabas conceded, but he didn’t elaborate. Instead
he turned his steps toward Daniel, and Daniel’s heartbeat began to race. This
was the Barnabas he preferred, feral and on the prowl and randy as a goat. This
Barnabas he knew what to do with.
    “Perhaps we need a reminder of why we keep doing this,”
Barnabas mused in a low, hungry voice.
    “Do we?” Daniel teased. “I don’t know. I seem to recall why
we