Ten Ways to Ruin

When did the whimsical Susan become the voice of reason? Susan always danced with the wrong sort of man, saying inappropriate things, and always unpredictable. But for once, she had thought of something Emma hadn’t.

“There must be ways to prevent it from happening. I suppose I will have to investigate those possibilities before I decide to take a man to bed.” She wondered who might have such information. No one of her acquaintance came to mind.

“Oh, Emma,” Susan whispered. “If you get with child, you will be forced to move to the country and live as a poor widow. Even your family will ostracize you. Please have a care.”

“I will.”

Why did Susan have to ruin her fun with thoughts of bastard children? Emma knew she would need to consider with care who to seduce as getting with child was not an option. Of course, if she took after her sister Tessa, it might not happen anyway. Tessa had been married for two years before she finally conceived. Emma scowled. Her luck, she would take after Louisa, who most likely was with child as she took her vows with the duke.

Susan glanced over at the clock. “I must take my leave now. I promised Mother I would be home by four such that I can be ready for Lady Leicester’s ball on time tonight.”

Emma nodded and slowly smiled as she grabbed her list back from Susan. “I might be able to cross one thing off my list tonight.”

Susan rose, straightening her skirts. “Just remember that the dowager countess is Raynerson’s grandmother. You wouldn’t want to embarrass your sister or her husband’s family.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t want to hurt Tessa,” she said to appease her friend. Her eldest sister was one of the reasons Emma’s reputation was on the verge of objectionable. It was Tessa who, with the help of their mother, had befriended the late Duke of Worthington. He took it upon himself to advance Tessa’s position in Society. Only his idea of advancement entailed poisoning three of her husbands so she could marry up until she reached an acceptable standing. The scandal of it all almost ruined them completely.

Until Louisa got it in her head to marry the late duke’s son. Once she’d married Harry, the family had once again been on the tongue of the gossipmongers. Everyone assumed Louisa married him for the position and title that Tessa had not obtained.

“I will see you tonight, then,” Susan said as she walked to the bedchamber door.

As Susan walked out, Emma scanned her list again and frowned. The blank space at number ten still bothered her. The order of things didn’t make sense, but she wondered if it mattered. They wouldn’t attend Almacks’s for another fortnight, and it certainly might be easy enough to get foxed before then. Besides, it would take some time to find a painting instructor.

Staring at the list, she reordered them.

Introduce yourself to a man at a ball

Learn to paint in oils

Get foxed

Kiss a man

Visit a gaming hell dressed as a man

Get banned from Almacks’s

Race a carriage

Break a law

Seduce a rake

That was a much better order, although, as time went by, she still might need to reorder them again. She supposed they didn’t have to be performed in any order. Number four might happen at any time if she could find the courage to ask for a kiss. Or perhaps, it might happen directly after number three because she might need to be completely in her cups to ask for a kiss.

But for tonight, she would set out to complete number one.

Chapter 2

“It’s a good deal, King. Accept it.”

Simon Kingsley stared at the paper in front of him and shook his head. For two years, Edwin Hardy had been attempting to buy the gaming hell, and Simon had to admit that this offer was by far his best yet. Hardy seemed far more resolved than with previous propositions.

“It’s not for sale, Hardy.”

Edwin Hardy smiled, exposing his crooked yellow teeth. “Everything has a price, King. You don’t need Hell any longer. You’re the son of a duke, and wealthy from your father.”

Simon closed his eyes. “I was wealthy before my inheritance, thanks to Hell.”