Desire Never Dies

384 Pages·2006·1.6 MB·English

by  Jenna Petersen

All books are for Michael,
but especially this one.
Thank you for the past ten years
of loving me and laughing with me
and being my very best friend.
My unwavering belief in happily ever after
is all thanks to you.
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Contents

Prologue
“Your plan is progressing well, my lady.”
Charles Isley paced… 1
Chapter 1
The crash jolted Anastasia Whittig out of
her concentration. She… 5
Chapter 2
Lucas looked from Charles Isley to the woman.
He didn’t… 17
Chapter 3
“I cannot tell you how happy I am
that you’ve… 31
Chapter 4
A ball. How could she be going to a ball?… 45
Chapter 5
A discreet visit could do no harm.
Her driver could… 63
Chapter 6
Lucas winced. He couldn’t help it.
Although it had been… 75
Chapter 7
She was the only woman wearing black,
but that wasn’t… 87
Chapter 8
Ana’s head spun as she slipped into the
house. She… 101
Chapter 9
“Concentrate,” Ana ordered herself through
clenched teeth. “You can do… 117
Chapter 10
Lucas knew who the woman with Ana was.
Lady Carmichael,… 137
Chapter 11
Lucas watched Ana disappear into her home
and slam the… 153
Chapter 12
Lucas shifted his weight from one leg to
another, leaning… 169
Chapter 13
Lucas cleared his throat before he opened
the door to… 189
Chapter 14
Pain slashed through Lucas’s body, so hard
and harsh that… 203
Chapter 15
Lucas read the report in front of him a third… 223
Chapter 16
If he wouldn’t look at her, she certainly
didn’t have… 237
Chapter 17
Lucas cursed. How stupid was he to lose
track of… 253
Chapter 18
Lucas stepped on the overhanging branch
of the large beech… 269
Chapter 19
Ana glanced up from her lap as the
carriage they… 279
Chapter 20
Lucas opened the door to his bedchamber
and motioned for… 301
Chapter 21
Lucas had seen death before, but violent
death like this… 315
Chapter 22
Lucas hit the edge of the building with
enough force… 333
Chapter 23
Lucas stared at the evidence Ana had
collected against his… 347
Chapter 24
“Henry,” she repeated, still too shocked to
fully comprehend everything… 357
Chapter 25
“You’re certain this spray won’t have a
lasting effect?” Charlie… 369
About the Author
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher
Prologue
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London, 1808
“Y
our plan is progressing well, my lady.”
Charles Isley paced the perimeter of his com-
panion’s sitting room. Outside, he heard the strains of
music from the crowded ballroom, but was confi dent
that the two of them would not be interrupted. Her
ladyship had positioned two footmen outside the par-
lor as guards. No one would even know he had been
there.
No wonder she was forming a group of female spies.
“Very good, Charles.” The lady did not turn from
the window, but Charlie heard the smile in her voice.
“I’m very pleased to hear it.”
2 JENNA PETERSEN
“You have chosen one lady to approach for your
scheme and she has said yes,” he continued. “But you
said you wished for more than one spy to work for
you, for the ladies to work together. Who else did you
have in mind?”
Her ladyship did not hesitate. “I have thought very
long about that and have chosen a name that was not
on your list.”
He cocked his head with curiosity. She had asked he
compile a list of potential spies weeks ago, and he had
assumed all the women she picked for her clandestine
group would be selected from it. After all, he had re-
searched the women meticulously.
“I admit, you’ve taken me aback,” he said, sipping
the drink he’d been offered upon his arrival. “Who is
the lady?”
“Have you ever met Lady Whittig?”
Charlie searched his memory. “Perhaps. The name
seems familiar.” He started as a picture of a shy woman,
timid and in deep mourning, came to mind. “Wait, do
you mean Anastasia Whittig?”
His companion turned to face him with a little
smile. “Yes, the very one.”
“She is—is—” He searched for a word that would
not offend.
Her ladyship shrugged as if she understood the
cause for his hesitation. “Yes, Anastasia is very re-
served. But she possesses an uncommon intelligence.”