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the face. “There! That’ll teach you, you cheap, vulgar, painted harlot!”

Chapter 3
    Sir Lucas Tinsley leaned back in his chair, resting his leonine head on his chest. “Let us come straight to the point, my lord.”
    â€œPlease,” said Simon. He looked out over the theatre. The chandeliers had been lowered and attendants were trimming the candles.
    â€œYour royal master owes me money.”
    â€œOur position, Sir Lucas, is that the original amount of the loan has been repaid in full.”
    Sir Lucas grunted. “The regent signed an annuity. By rights, I am entitled to collect ten thousand pounds per annum. His Highness must pay. He is already a year behind in his payments.”
    â€œHe is your sovereign, Sir Lucas.”
    â€œHe is not above the law, Lord Simon.”
    â€œWe’ve been through all this before,” Simon said impatiently. “Why am I here?”
    Sir Lucas shrugged. “I am a rich man. Ten thousand pounds per annum is nothing to me, and as you say, the original amount has been repaid. Upon consideration, I see no real benefit in embarrassing His Royal Highness. I might be willing to cancel the annuity altogether . . . in exchange for . . .”
    â€œYes?” Simon prompted him. “In exchange for . . . ?”
    â€œIn exchange for your assistance, Lord Simon.”
    Simon raised his brows. “My assistance? I don’t understand. Why should you require my assistance?”
    â€œYou have had some experience, I believe, in dealing with such matters,” said Sir Lucas. “His Royal Highness is forever getting tangled up with some woman or other. Greedy, grasping females—out for all they can get!”
    â€œI may have had some dealings with women such as you describe.”
    Sir Lucas snorted. “More than that, from what I hear. It was not long ago that you had dealings with Mrs. Cleghorn, the opera singer. I understand your master gave her a bond for ten thousand pounds, but afterward he seemed to repent of his folly. He sent you to negotiate with the woman. You persuaded her to return the bond for less than a tenth of its value. Well done.”
    â€œI’m afraid I have no memory of that, Sir Lucas.”
    â€œOf course not. You are discreet. Your master, however, is not. He boasts of it.”
    â€œI see,” Simon said, after a moment. “And you want me to perform a similar service for you—and forget all about it afterward?”
    â€œPrecisely.”
    â€œAnd if I perform this service, you will cancel the annuity?”
    â€œYes, of course.”
    â€œAll right,” said Simon, gritting his teeth. “You’d better tell me.”
    â€œThere’s nothing much to tell,” said Sir Lucas. “About a month ago, I met a woman. I gave her a very valuable piece of jewelry, a diamond necklace—with the understanding that she would grant me her favors. However, she did not.”
    â€œI take it, you want this necklace returned.”
    â€œNaturally, I want it returned,” said Sir Lucas. “I will not be made a fool of by an actress . Miss St. Lys cannot have her cake and eat it, too.”
    Simon gave a violent start. “Miss St. Lys!” he exclaimed. “Oh, you poor fool.”
    Sir Lucas scowled. “I beg your pardon!”
    â€œYou are by no means her first victim, Sir Lucas,” Simon told him. “She is quite practiced in the art of deception, as cruel and cunning as she is beautiful. Mrs. Cleghorn is a model of virtue compared to her. I have crossed swords with St. Lys before,” he went on. “She is clever, but she is no match for me, as she will discover to her cost. I’ll get your necklace back for you, Sir Lucas. But first, you must tell me everything. Start at the beginning and leave nothing out. If I am to help you, I must know all. Where did you meet her?”
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    Celia at that moment was in her dressing room, blinking