The Golden Leopard Read Online Free PDF

account, you are the only one who can provide me the information I require.”
    “Mr. Christie said that?” A thrill of pride tingled at her fingers and toes. For the briefest moment, she let herself enjoy it.
    “He added that I should expect no more from you than a list of names. In his opinion, you know everyone in Society and nothing whatever about the profession you aspire to enter. More to the point, you are a female and therefore not to be taken seriously. He only indulges your hobby because of your connections.”
    Trust Hugo Duran to slam her back to earth without mercy.
    At the least, he was consistent. The goodwill of others, he had always said, should never be taken into account when making important decisions. But at the time, she had thought he was referring to himself, warning her not to rely on him.
    She had since learned to rely only on herself, and credited him with teaching her to survive even the most crushing disappointments. In another thirty or forty years, she might be grateful for the lesson. Meantime, the ice at her spine had begun to melt. Her confidence was seeping away. He was still so beautiful, damn him, and she was still so weak.
    “I can certainly provide you a list,” she said, pleased to hear an assured voice emerge from her clogged throat. “Put in writing a description of what you are looking for and post it to my secretary. Mr. Herbert will provide you her name and direction.”
    “I shall call on you tomorrow,” he said, as if she hadn’t spoken. “Perhaps in time for breakfast. Do you remember how it used to be, Jessie? We could never have breakfast together.”
    “But that, I believe, is commonplace when engaging in a clandestine affair. And you needn’t bother dropping by, for I shall not be at home.”
    He closed the space between them, moving so near she felt his breath against her forehead when he spoke. “Don’t run away, Jessie. I promise you’ll not succeed.”
    When she tried to dodge around him, his hand grasped her forearm with just enough pressure to keep her in place. She looked down at the long, white-gloved fingers curled below her elbow, shocked that he was touching her and astonished at what she saw.
    His black coat sleeve had pulled back from his cuff, exposing a heavy gold bracelet coiled around his wrist. Not quite meeting at the center, the bracelet thickened on each side to form two knobs, each crowned with a large cabochon gem. An emerald and a ruby. Her gaze lifted to meet his eyes.
    He looked amused. “Do you like it?”
    “A charming bauble,” she replied, withdrawing her arm. He did not try to hold her. “But a most peculiar affectation, Duran, even for you. Unless you wish to be laughed at?”
    “Oh, I think no one will laugh at me, princess. Certainly not to my face. And I cannot remove it, you know. Not even when I bathe.”
    A flash of memory. Steam rising from the water. His lean body lounging in the copper tub while she rubbed lemony soap over his chest . . .
    She shook her head, willing the vision gone. “I wish to leave now, Duran. Please step out of my way.”
    He bowed and moved aside. “Don’t forget what I said, Jessie. When I call on you tomorrow, be there. Hear me out. And when you agree to help me, you may name your reward.”

Chapter 2
     
    “You’re very good at this,” Duran said as the nimble fingers unbuttoned his waistcoat and slipped it off his shoulders.
    “Yes.” The soft voice was without expression. “I have some experience in these matters.”
    “I’ll see to the rest.” Duran tore off the stiff, high-pointed collar that had been stabbing at his neck all evening and let it drop to the threadbare carpet. Then he stood for a moment looking down at it, wondering why it kept moving about.
    The whole room was moving. Shifting. Dividing itself.
    A hand wrapped around his arm and led him to a pair of wingback chairs that miraculously became one chair while he was considering which of them he preferred. He