Sin With a Scoundrel (The Husband Hunters Club 4)

“His servant. Butler. Valet.” Maria gave an uncharacteristically nervous laugh. “He’s all three.”

Tina blinked. “Archie Jones,” she said cautiously. What had Archie told Maria? Did she know about her visits to Richard Eversham? She must not tell Lady Carol.

Now it was Tina’s turn to be worried.

“We’re, eh, walking out, miss. In a way. Nothing serious, just friends.”

Tina turned to her reflection in the mirror and began to brush her own hair. “I don’t understand. How did you meet him, Maria?”

“We just sort of bumped into each other, miss,” Maria explained rather vaguely.

“He hasn’t mentioned me?”

Maria started. “Goodness no, miss, why should he?”

Tina shrugged as if it were unimportant. “I-I know Mr. Eversham. A little. You must say nothing to anyone, Maria, it is entirely a business matter, and my parents would be sure to think the worst. Please, promise me you will say nothing to anyone.”

“I promise, miss,” Maria spoke with passion, and Tina believed her.

“Thank you, Maria.”

The maid took the brush from Tina and began to resume her duties with more care. The sensation of the brush against Tina’s scalp was soothing.

“Why did you ask about Mr. Eversham, Maria?” Tina asked dreamily. “Was it because of Archie?”

Maria seemed to be in a dream of her own and took a moment to answer. “Yes, miss, that was it. I knew he wasn’t the sort of man to . . . well, from what Archie says, he’s not known to be much in polite society.”

Tina was satisfied with that, and soon she was tucked up in bed with the house silent about her. She was tired, and yet she couldn’t seem to fall asleep for longer than a few moments.

She kept remembering her blunder with Horace, which made her prickly with dismay and embarrassment, and then her thoughts would turn to Richard’s kissing her, and that made her feel warm and restless. She’d planned to visit him tomorrow. She wanted to. But she was beginning to wonder if that was a good idea.

Tina knew she was meant to be capturing Horace, to be concentrating solely on Horace, and here she was spending her time thinking about Richard. If she was going to succeed with her plan to marry Horace, then she really would have to stop allowing herself to be sidetracked into deliciously unknown territory.

Chapter 14

Richard opened the door of Sir Henry’s office in Whitehall, obeying his instruction to enter. As usual the room was full of cigar smoke, and Sir Henry was frownin

g over a stack of papers.

“Ah, Richard, here you are. Well, what did you think of our candidates for the Captain?”

“I favor Gilfoyle although Little is an interesting character. Have you found out any more about him?”

Sir Henry was thoughtful. “I have made some inquiries, but he’s a cagey fellow. It’s as if he arrived in the tobacco-importing business fully formed. I can’t find out very much about his early years, but he’s certainly done well for himself since then. Keeps to himself, too. Doesn’t seem to be much in the style of Gilfoyle, so their friendship, if that’s what it is, appears odd.”

Richard sat down, feeling his eyes begin to water from the smoke. He considered throwing open a window, but he knew that Sir Henry was particularly anxious about being overheard, and there were always listening ears in Whitehall.

“What do you think the state of play is with Miss Smythe and Gilfoyle?” Sir Henry asked curiously, glancing up at Richard from under his bushy eyebrows. “Can’t see much sign of an impending marriage. What was all that fuss last night about Miss Smythe’s vanishing into the garden after a tiff?”

“The man is a fool,” Richard said shortly.

Sir Henry grunted.

“You know the Smythes well, sir?”

“I knew the father in the army, but it was a long time ago. We have remained friends, but I wouldn’t say I knew him intimately. The wife was the one with the money—it was a love match. Lady Carol is rather fond of show, and she would be keen for her daughter to marry a man who could set her up in style, and Gilfoyle is that man.”

“I know I asked you to get me an invitation, but I was surprised you managed it.”