Sin With a Scoundrel (The Husband Hunters Club 4)

He could have kissed her then. He could have taken her right here on the sofa, and he was fairly sure she would have let him. But Richard knew he would only be slaking his lust for Tina on Evelyn, and he couldn’t do that. Whatever he felt about Evelyn, he was a gentleman at heart.

He set her away from him and handed her his handkerchief.

“I will come home when I have brought Anthony’s murderer to justice,” he said. “And if there is anything more you know about him, then you must tell me. Now.”

Evelyn mopped her face, sending him pitiful little glances. “I don’t know any more. When I heard about the gentleman and the riots I knew there might be a connection, and I came to tell you.”

“I will write to Gregor.”

“He will only confirm what I have said, Richard.”

He watched her twisting the handkerchief in her fingers. “Did you really come all the way to London to tell me about the Captain, Evelyn?”

She took a breath and steadied herself. Her gaze was cool and clear, no tears and redness. Had she been crying at all, or was it all pretence with her? “Of course I did,” she said. “I want Anthony’s murderer caught just as much as you do, Richard. I know you will never forgive me until he is. And I want you to be happy. I want us both to be happy.”

“Evelyn—”

“No, don’t say anything. I know we can’t speak of it, not yet. But when this man, the Captain, has been caught and hanged, then you must come to me at Eversham Manor, Richard. I will be waiting.”

After she’d gone, Richard told himself it would have been cruel to tell her she could wait until hell froze over, that he would never trust her again with his heart, let alone love her. But the information she’d brought was valuable, and he sent off a letter immediately to Gregor to confirm it and discover anything more the land agent might know.

“Medium height, fair hair, and handsome,” he murmured to himself. It could be Gilfoyle. It could be Little. It could be a hundred other men. But he felt as if he was getting closer to the end of his journey. “Nearly there, Anthony old chap,” he said gently to his dead brother. “Nearly there.”

“This had better be good,” Lord Montague growled, as he sat down at the table. “I had to break an appointment at my club.”

Sir Henry glanced about and nodded. “All present, the meeting will come to order,” he announced, and turned at once to Richard. “Well, my boy, what was so important it couldn’t wait?”

Richard began to tell them about Evelyn’s visit and what Gregor had told her.

“Hearsay,” Montague muttered. “And from a woman, by God.”

“I believe her,” Richard retorted, “and Gregor is a trustworthy fellow.”

“The description could fit ten thousand men north of Kent,” Sir Henry mused, “but it is interesting that it fits our latest two candidates for the Captain.”

Will Jackson made some suggestions about following up the information, and notes were taken. Richard knew he would have to go to Kent, but first there was Sir Henry’s country weekend. Interesting to see what Gilfoyle and Little got up to there. Interesting and dangerous.

“If the Captain finds out we are getting closer—”

“Closer!” Montague sneered.

“—he might take action. As he did last time with my brother.”

Sir Henry nodded solemnly. “We are in a dangerous occupation, Richard. We take risks. But if not for us, then there would be anarchy. This man must be stopped, and if risks need to be taken, then they shall be.”

A vote was taken to continue the course they were on, and the meeting broke up. Will Jackson followed Richard out. “Are you going to be at this weekend party, Eversham? Sir Henry has invited me. Perhaps we could travel down together?”

Richard agreed, and they made their arrangements.

As he walked away, Richard was remembering Gilfoyle’s unpleasant smirk at the Smythe’s dinner table and wondered again whether he was the Captain. It would give him great pleasure to see Gilfoyle dragged away by the authorities, but he admitted to himself it would give him even more pleasure to punch him square on the nose.

Archie had told him about Maria’s admission. The Smythes were bankrupt, and Tina was marrying to save the family fortune and the family honor. If he could prove Gilfoyle was the Captain, he would save her from that fate. Although how that would help her family’s financial woes wasn’t exactly clear. Probably not, was the answer.

Well surely with Gilfoyle out of the way there could be someone more suitable found? Tina was a stunning girl, beautiful and clever. Richard was quite sure it would be a simple matter to find her a husband who could solve all her problems.

Of course, it would have to be someone of whom he approved.

What of Will Jackson? He’d considered him before, and he was intelligent and honest, with a good family and with a reasonable fortune. Surely he was the perfect choice?