Sin With a Scoundrel (The Husband Hunters Club 4)

“I desire Lord H—that is, the gentleman I wish to marry, and I desire you to make me into the sort of woman he wishes to marry,” she corrected him primly.

He bowed his head, his fingers steepled once more under his chin. He seemed to be considering her proposal from all angles. After a time he lifted his head and again met her gaze. For the first time since she’d met him, the smile had gone from Mr. Eversham’s gray eyes.

“Before I agree you must be very certain of what you’re asking me, Miss Smythe,” he said quietly. “You wish me to teach you to be a woman of the world. You do not want to appear as an innocent. In short, you require that I teach you the art of seduction by, eh, seducing you, at least verbally if not physically? Is that correct? Is that what you want? Are you entirely certain?”

From his lips it sounded improper. Risqué.

But Tina had made up her mind this was what she must do if she ever wanted to marry her childhood sweetheart, so she said firmly, “Yes, that is what I want, Mr. Eversham.”

“May I inquire as to the name of your intended husband? It would help me if I understood his preferences.”

Tina thought a moment, but she knew the name must be spoken eventually. Better do it now. “Lord Horace Gilfoyle.”

There did not appear to be any change in his expression, and yet Tina had the odd sense that he tensed—like a dog on a scent. He nodded again, watching her. “You are a surprising young woman, Miss Smythe. I am inclined to take you up on your offer. I charge a set fee for my consultations and a bonus if you achieve the desired result. But because your case is rather unusual, I will only ask for payment if we succeed.”

He named the fee, and Tina managed not to flinch.

“Is it agreed?” he added softly.

“Of course,” she said briskly, as if she had that sum of money about her person right now, and stood up, holding out her hand to shake on the deal. Horace would pay him, she told herself. He would be glad to do so.

He took her hand, his smile back. “We will start on Friday morning at eleven o’clock. Tea and seduction, Miss Smythe.”

“Friday at eleven, Mr. Eversham. I shall be here.”

Richard watched her leave from his sitting-room window. He didn’t glance around when he heard Archie enter the room. In fact he watched Miss Smythe until she was no longer in sight, and that was a very rare thing for a man who found most respectable ladies dull indeed.

He resembled Miss Smythe’s intended in that regard. He preferred women who knew what they were about and didn’t pretend they must love a man before they could countenance him kissing and caressing them. But respectable as she undoubtedly was, this lady was different. She certainly knew her mind.

But even so Richard admitted he never would have taken on the job if she hadn’t named her intended as Lord Horace Gilfoyle.

And there lay another problem. How could he justify being party to marrying Miss Smythe, with her vivid green eyes, to a man like Gilfoyle?

“I know what you’re thinking, Archie.”

“Added mind reading to your skills now, sir?”

Richard chuckled.

“There was a message for you while Miss Smythe was here. You’re to go to headquarters as soon as possible.”

Back to work! Richard sighed and turned from the window, putting the lovely Miss Smythe from his mind.

Chapter 2

As she entered her home in Mallory Street, Tina breathed a sigh of relief. The subtle scent of lavender and lemon furniture polish hung in the air. Her mother’s longcase clock, with the delightful paintings on its face of the moon, sun, and the stars, was ticking the moments away. A bowl of blooms sat perfectly centered on an oval table. She felt relieved to be home. Safe.

Safe? she asked herself. Had her visit to Mr. Eversham really been so life-threatening? It had gone well, hadn’t it? Then why did she feel the need to find sanctuary as if she was under threat from some mysterious and unspecified danger?

“Master Charles has a visitor in the drawing room, Miss Tina.”

James, their butler, was hovering about her. As usual he sounded as if any visitor was a personal affront to him. Tina couldn’t help but contrast his manner to Mr. Eversham’s man, with his curly hair and twinkling eyes.

“Thank you, James.”

As she approached the drawing room she could hear two male voices, interspersed with chuckles.

Tina opened the door and peeped inside.