Sin With a Scoundrel (The Husband Hunters Club 4)

Tina noticed that Mr. Little was entranced by her mother. Was it the fact Lady Carol had decided upon a dinner party, just because she liked him, that had won him over? And to be fair, Lady Carol did like him—Sir Thomas certainly did—but her mother also liked the fact that John Little was a wealthy man, and he’d called promptly upon her daughter after one meeting.

Mr. Little

finally made his excuses and left, pressing a gallant kiss to Lady Carol’s hand and promising to be present at the dinner party. He’d stayed well over the allotted time for first calls, Tina noted, but no one but herself seemed to notice or care.

“Tina, we must have some more ladies,” her mother burbled. “We have too many men. Are there any young ladies you would like to invite?”

Tina had lost touch with her London acquaintances while she’d been away at finishing school. For a moment she wondered whether she could ask Olivia or Marissa or Averil or Eugenia, but of course they would be busy with their own husband-hunting plans. No, she would have to think of someone else. But the only name that came readily to mind was Anne Burgess. As soon as she said it she wished she hadn’t. Anne was far too attractive and would take Horace’s attention away from her. So she hastily added Margaret Allsop, who wasn’t quite so attractive and rather more dull than Anne.

This afternoon Richard Eversham must help her with her plans; she needed to know how to behave during the dinner. Surely, he would be able to practice a little dinner flirtation with her. At the thought of it she experienced a frisson of excitement. She was beginning to enjoy her meetings with Mr. Eversham. She smiled a secret smile and allowed her mother’s words to wash over her while she indulged in far more interesting thoughts.

Chapter 9

Tina was relieved to reach Jasmine Square only slightly late. She’d had great difficulty escaping Lady Carol, now deep into the particulars of planning the dinner party. It seemed no expense was to be spared. Sir Thomas, too, was completely caught up in it, especially on the subject of which drinks were to be available to their guests—“My dear, champagne and brandy are most important. We cannot have enough of either.”

It was as if they both didn’t have a care in the world.

Suspecting this was all in her honor, no matter how they tried to pretend otherwise, gave Tina a squirmy feeling in her stomach. Lady Carol might say that her daughter’s happiness was more important than the family debts, but Tina wondered what her decision must be if it came to a choice between her happiness and Mr. Little’s tempting fortune.

Although her parents seemed to like him very much, Mr. Little as a prospective husband did not fill her with joy. Horace was her first and only option. The pressure for him to propose was mounting with each passing moment.

By the time Tina entered Richard Eversham’s sitting room she could feel emotion roiling inside her, like a great whirlpool, and keeping it hidden was becoming more and more difficult. Practical, levelheaded Tina was feeling very shaky indeed, and as she removed her gloves she was shocked to see her normally steady hands trembling like leaves in the wind.

“Mr. Eversham.”

“Miss Smythe.” He was watching her with his usual warm and charming smile, and in a moment of madness she longed for him to put his arms about her and hold her close.

Tina took a deep, calming breath, but her voice was anything but calm. “I am so glad to see you, Mr. Eversham.”

The expression in his gray eyes appeared a little startled, but his smile remained. “Are you? Are you so in need of my guidance, Tina?”

She meant to give an insignificant answer but instead heard herself saying, “You are the only one I can speak to plainly. Without subterfuge.” She glanced up at him doubtfully. “At least I hope so.”

Richard waited for her to sit down before he followed suit. “Of course you can speak plainly to me. That is because I am of no consequence.”

Tina was startled into a laugh.

Richard leaned forward, still a hint of a smile in his eyes although his manner had become serious.

“No, don’t laugh. It is the truth. At the moment I am your teacher. A mentor. Once your object is attained you will no longer need my services. You can tell me all your secrets, and I promise not to betray your confidences. I have a good many secrets myself.”

Tina decided he probably did. Richard Eversham must be privy to all sorts of concealments by his clients, but if he told tales, then people would soon stop coming to him for help.

And yet she hesitated, her emotional whirlpool growing wilder and even threatening to capsize her.

He merely waited until the words came tumbling from her.

“My mother is planning a dinner party. It is very important that Horace notice me. More important than I can possibly explain, Mr. Eversham.”

“Didn’t he notice you at the theater?”

She considered. “Others certainly did.” And she smiled at the memory.

“Then things are progressing well, Clementina.”

She looked up, into his gray eyes, and knew he could read the confusion in her face. “Why is it so much fun not to obey the rules, Mr. Eversham?”

“What do you mean?”