When Tempting a Rogue Read Online Free PDF Page B

her.
    “How about a tour, Vienne?” Sadie suggested. “You can talk to us about how it will look and allow us to imagine it.”
    Trystan turned to her. “Will you be running the tearoom, Madame Moon?”
    Sadie looked at her and Vienne gave a small nod. She didn’t mind if Sadie told him. He was Sadie’s landlord, after all. “It will be another very much like the one I’m opening in your building on Bond Street, yes.”
    He nodded. “Having your name attached will definitely be a boon.”
    Sadie lit up under the praise. Vienne might have rolled her eyes were it anyone else, but her friend deserved every kind thing anyone had to say about her.
    “If the four of you would care to follow me, I would be happy to give you a tour of the premises such as they are,” she offered. Of course they all readily agreed, not that they would dream of being rude enough to refuse, not even if their feet had fallen off. It was a delightful little quirk she’d learned to love about this country, even though it had driven her to distraction when she’d first arrived in London.
    Vienne led them through the ground floor first, pointing out where the wall would be knocked out to provide entry into the neighboring building, and described the store section that would reside there. Then she led them up the stairs and repeated the process, showing them where the lift would be so ladies and, in particular, their help wouldn’t have to carry packages up and down flights of stairs. It would also be easier for elderly or infirm ladies to do their shopping.
    “You truly have thought of everything,” Lord Archer remarked as they walked. “I’m impressed, Madame La Rieux. If I weren’t a dedicated bachelor, I might have to marry you.”
    Vienne took the remark in the spirit it was meant. “Then let us be happy for such dedication, Lord Archer, for I would make a terrible wife.” They shared a chuckle even though Vienne noticed Trystan didn’t seem to join in the mirth. He merely smiled absently and peered out a window at the street below.
    After she had taken them through the entire building, they returned to the ground floor, where Sadie and Indara announced it was time for them to depart.
    “Madame La Rieux, if you have a moment, there is something I would like to discuss with you,” Trystan remarked as the ladies made ready to depart.
    Vienne blinked. She hadn’t expected him to make such a request. Still, it wasn’t an odd one. He was an investor, so perhaps he had questions he didn’t want to bore the others by asking in front of them.
    “Of course, Lord Trystan. I have a little time before I must return to Saint’s Row.”
    “I will accompany the ladies home,” Archer said, offering each an arm. Vienne thought Indara hesitated a moment before accepting.
    “You are too kind, Lord Archer,” Sadie demurred.
    “Nonsense,” the nobleman replied. “I simply cannot resist surrounding myself with beautiful women.”
    He said it so smoothly even Vienne almost believed it. Yes, she had known many men like Lord Archer. Why couldn’t his younger brother be more like him?
    When the trio had departed, she was left entirely alone with Trystan. She wasn’t concerned that he sought to renew their prior acquaintance, for she saw no amount of caring or emotion in his remarkable blue eyes. In fact, he was almost totally devoid of expression.
    “What did you wish to speak about with me?” There were times, when she was nervous that English still felt awkward on her tongue, and she wondered if she had spoken correctly. This was one of those times when the words seemed wrong.
    If she had spoken incorrectly, Trystan either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it. “This,” he replied, handing her a slip of paper.
    Vienne didn’t frown. Frowning gave a woman wrinkles, her mother used to say. Yet, more times than naught, she ended up with her brow furrowed, but she didn’t want to look any older than she was in front of him. The urge to