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    Lady in Pearls: Secrets of the Zodiac
    Lady in Pearls: Secrets of the Zodiac
    Lady in Pearls: Secrets of the Zodiac
    Ebook95 pages1 hour

    Lady in Pearls: Secrets of the Zodiac

    By Elizabeth Cole

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    About this ebook

    A savvy investigator seeks answers to a secretive woman's past, but the price is higher than they bargained for...

    The aristocratic Nathan Bancroft was once part of a secret organization of spies called the Zodiac. But after an assignment goes devastatingly wrong, he resigns, haunted by his mistakes. Now he uses his skills and social connections to solve little "problems" his clients can't admit they have. He has thwarted blackmail schemes and discovered lost secrets, all the time the soul of discretion.

    When he is hired to discover why Vanessa Phillips pays a hefty sum to a stranger every month, it's just another job. But Vanessa is not just another woman. Armed with a sharp wit and a skeptical mind, she defies Nathan's attempts to uncover her secret. One thing she cannot deny is his allure as a man, and soon she finds herself dreaming of his kiss. As both their secrets threaten to unravel around them, their new and fragile love looks doomed, unless Nathan can confront his own past in order to save Vanessa's present.

    Lady in Pearls is a stand-alone novella set in the Secrets of the Zodiac world.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSkySpark Books
    Release dateJul 8, 2013
    ISBN9780985331177
    Lady in Pearls: Secrets of the Zodiac

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      Book preview

      Lady in Pearls - Elizabeth Cole

      Lady in Pearls

      by Elizabeth Cole

      The aristocratic Nathan Bancroft was once part of a secret organization of spies called the Zodiac. But after an assignment goes devastatingly wrong, he resigns, haunted by his mistakes. Now he uses his skills and social connections to solve little problems his clients can't admit they have. He has thwarted blackmail schemes and discovered lost secrets, all the time the soul of discretion.

      When he is hired to discover why Vanessa Phillips pays a hefty sum to a stranger every month, it’s just another job. But Vanessa is not just another woman. Armed with a sharp wit and a skeptical mind, she defies Nathan’s attempts to uncover her secret. One thing she cannot deny is his allure as a man, and soon she finds herself dreaming of his kiss. As both their secrets threaten to unravel around them, their new and fragile love looks doomed, unless Nathan can confront his own past in order to save Vanessa’s present.

      SkySpark Books

      Copyright © 2013

      Wallflowers of Wildwood by Elizabeth Cole
      Get WALLFLOWERS OF WILDWOOD at elizabethcole.co/wallflowers-of-wildwood

      Also by Elizabeth Cole

      Secrets of the Zodiac Novels

      A Heartless Design

      A Reckless Soul

      A Shameless Angel

      The Lady Dauntless

      Beneath Sleepless Stars

      Swordcross Knights Novels

      Honor & Roses – A Medieval Romance

      Regency Rhapsody Novellas

      Regency Rhapsody – The Complete Collection

      Lady in Pearls

      London

      February, 1806

      Nathan Bancroft was hot. He hadn’t anticipated the roaring fire in the room, but he should have. Naturally, his elderly hostess would need the warmth. Unobtrusively loosening his cravat, he looked out the large sitting room window onto the snowy London streets below. A carriage had just rumbled past, the matched horses steaming in the freezing air of the morning. Frost still clung to the windowpane, despite the heat in the room.

      A voice said, I am told, sir, that you are a man who can solve problems…discreetly.

      He turned back to face the woman who had summoned him here. Mrs Beatrice Phillips was a matriarch in every sense, the utter ruler of the house and her small but influential family. Time had taken her once legendary beauty, but her light blue eyes remained clear and her voice steady. She was famous for her stubborn nature and her pride. Nevertheless, her cold voice now trembled with a certain amount of nervousness. Can I rely on your discretion?

      Nathan inclined his head, considering his reply. From time to time, he began, even the noblest and most honest people have problems to deal with. And yes, I’ve helped some of them. Things gone missing have been found. People with secrets have been persuaded to keep them, or forget them…or discredited to the point that no one would believe them. I do what I have to. I have helped many people, Mrs Phillips. For obvious reasons, I will not disclose exactly who.

      "I should hope not, Mrs Phillips agreed. We have a little problem in this house, sir. I…I…" She froze, terrified by the task of putting her scandal into words.

      He took pity on the older lady. He had seen this kind of panic before. Perhaps you could begin by simply telling me who is involved.

      My granddaughter Vanessa, she said, and then sagged an inch in her chair. It was as dramatic a gesture as she’d ever give, but Nathan understood exactly what it meant. Mrs Phillips dreaded the idea of anyone outside the family learning anything about the issue that plagued her. She had perhaps tried to solve it on her own first, but now she had no choice.

      Thus, through subtle hints and careful inquiries among her social circle, she found Sir Nathan Bancroft, a gentleman who could do some ungentlemanly things if necessary. His background—though a mystery to his clients—gave him all the skills needed to solve problems without involving the authorities. No one pressed Nathan about exactly how he learned to do what he did. They only wanted him in and out of their lives as quickly and as quietly as possible. Beatrice Phillips was no exception. Her expression indicated her extreme discomfort with his presence in the house at all. Nathan was used to this situation and tried to ignore it, knowing it had little to do with him personally. He usually saw such people at their most desperate and angry.

      Vanessa is the one with the problem, she said, her voice gaining confidence.

      And what precisely is the problem? Nathan asked gently.

      Mrs Phillips straightened up again, then said, Every month, for the last year, Vanessa has withdrawn twenty pounds from her own bank. Twenty pounds a month! My granddaughter is not an extravagant child, Sir Nathan. She does not purchase fripperies, nor does she spend wildly on entertainments. So where is that money going? She emphasized her point by tapping her cane against the floor on each word. "That is the problem."

      A reasonable question. How does she explain it? Nathan schooled himself to not react to the amount of money in question. For a single woman, twenty pounds a month was nothing to joke about. What could a young lady do with such a pile?

      Well. Mrs Phillips looked to the side. I have not brought it up with her directly. I only noticed the bank receipts by accident. Naturally, I have kept watch of her dealings, just as any guardian should, but I didn’t know this was going on until a few months ago.

      You snooping old biddy, he thought. But he kept his voice bland. I see your concern. That is certainly a significant sum. Is your granddaughter involved with anyone who might be encouraging her to spend such an amount? Has she acquired a new circle of friends, perhaps?

      She keeps only the best company, as determined by myself, sir. I would never countenance a friendship with someone who fritters money away like that! No, no. Something a good deal more sinister must be going on.

      She didn’t say the word, but she didn’t have to. Blackmail. If that was the case, he’d have to proceed carefully to avoid scaring the girl. A secret worth that much might make a young woman do something very rash if she thought he knew about it.

      It is possible she is being pressured to part with this money. Or she’s being tricked into doing it. Would you say that is more likely? You obviously would know her mind best. He was getting curious about the issue, and not because of the money. Why hadn’t the old woman asked her granddaughter anything directly?

      Mrs Phillips frowned, thinking over the idea. She is a clever child. Rather too clever, actually. I don’t think it likely that she could be fleeced in such a manner. Not month after month. No, someone must be forcing her to give over the money.

      And you can think of no reason why she should do so? No secrets you are aware of?

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