Page 87 of For the Duke's Eyes Only

She’d listed four suspects: Le Triton; Beauchamp (crossed off and replaced with “other antiquities party?”); the Russians (Ambassador Petrov); and... he scrutinized the list again. “Why did you include Sir Charles?”

“You may be too blind to see it, but his wife is extremely unhappy with him right now and that leads me to believe he may be having an amour with a courtesan, which would open him to blackmail and to being influenced on behalf of the French.”

Remarkable.

She’d just handed him the exact same list that Sir Malcolm had given him in the confidential dossier.

“I agree. These are our primary suspects.” He strode to the fireplace and threw the list into the flame.

“What did you do that for?” she asked indignantly.

“One of the first rules of... sleuthing.” He’d been going to say espionage. He was losing his edge. She made him careless.She made him care.“One of the first rules is leave no evidence to be found. The list could have fallen into the wrong hands.”

“You never make lists when you’re hunting antiquities?”

“I keep everything here.” He tapped the side of his head.

She snorted. “Forgive me if I’m skeptical. I’ve seen how much brandy you consume. Do you even have a strategy... or are you just hoping for luck?”

“I don’t require a strategy. I use my intuition. I know when I’m on the right trail, I scent antiquities like a bloodhound.”

“Intuition,” she scoffed. “Sounds to me as though you just don’t like preparing or planning for anything. You hate anything that might mean forethought or responsibility.”

“My instincts and intuition have served me well. I found the Wish Diamond necklace in that rusted trunk in an abandoned farmhouse in Provence, remember?”

“You’ve been extraordinarily lucky, that’s all. But sooner or later, luck runs out. Then what will you fall back upon?”

“My good looks and charm.”

“I’ve had to rely on hard work and persistence.” She moved restlessly toward the window. “Why do you keep the diamond, anyway? Aren’t you afraid someone will try to steal it from your London townhouse?”

“I carry it with me.”

She stopped moving. “Right now? You have it with you, in Paris?”

He indicated the black velvet case sitting atop the escritoire. “It’s right there.”

“Are you serious? You keep a diamond that used to belong to Alexander the Great out in the open? I thought you would have it under lock and key and guard watch.”

“Sometimes hiding something in plain sight is the best way to ensure it’s overlooked. You didn’t notice it, did you?”

She opened the velvet box, lifted the sparkling necklace, and held it toward a lamp. She touched the enormous purple diamond at the center of the necklace. “It’s breathtaking. Such a true purple. This really should be displayed in a museum for the delight of the world.”

“It really should be displayed around your neck.” He said it without thinking. Probably because he’d pictured her so many times wearing the necklace.

Indy clad in the Wish Diamond and nothing more.

“I’ve never cared for jewels,” said Indy.

Despite her professed disinterest, she lifted the necklace and clasped it around her neck. The motion thrust her breasts toward him in an entirely distracting manner, even though she wore a modestly-cut gown of an olive-green hue.

She moved to the standing glass in the corner of the room and looked at her reflection.

She dangled the necklace against the base of her neck. The large purple diamond found a resting place over her breastbone. Not even a hint of curving bosom to be seen, but for some reason the innocent swath of skin was the most erotic sight he’d ever beheld.

Raven held his breath, attempting to prolong the moment. Indy watching herself in the glass, her eyes nearly the same color as the diamond.

He wanted to make her eyes spark with desire.

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