Vexing the Viscount

Emily stared at her hands as color blotched her cheeks. “He doesn’t want to see you yet.”

“What do you mean by yet?” Braden demanded.

“He said he can’t see you until he figures something out.” She looked up at him. “I swear I am telling you the truth. He wouldn’t tell me why.”

“Emily, my brother has a problem. He needs help. That is the only reason I am trying to find him.”

Emily pressed her lips together as if mulling that over. Finally, she said, “He told me about the opium. He also told me he hasn’t had any in months. But he believes you are trying to lock him in Bedlam.”

“No. I want to speak with him. If he needs help we will get it for him, but I would never lock him in Bedlam.”

“I will let him know that,” Emily said.

“How are you meeting him?” Braden asked softly so no servants would hear.

“He writes coded letters to me, claiming to be my ill aunt. Eldridge has even read them and believes they are from a woman.”

Braden sighed. If she were telling the truth, then once more they had clues to follow. “You are taking quite a risk to see him. If Eldridge discovers you are cuckolding him, you put my brother’s life in jeopardy.”

Emily stared at him with cold blue eyes. “My husband is not about to discover anything. Most of the time he is too busy with his latest mistress to care what I am about. And you will not tell him because if you do, Tia will find out about us. I’m assuming you haven’t told her, have you?”

Heat scorched his cheeks. “No, I have not.”

Hart shook his head. “What a mess you two have made.”

Braden still didn’t understand one thing. “Before we go, I have one question, Emily. Why did you send me the note regarding Lady Whitfield’s ball? You could only have meant for me to find Miss Featherstone.”

A slow smile lifted her lips. “Because I knew that while I was not the right woman for a man like you, Middleton, Tia certainly is that woman. I just never expected you to scandalize her by kissing her on the dance floor.”

“You did what?” Hart asked

“He ruined her,” Emily asserted. “He truly should marry the girl.”

“I have asked her!” Braden said with another shot of frustration. “She is the one who hasn’t agreed to marry me yet.”

“Perhaps she doesn’t believe that you love her,” Emily said with a tilt of her head.

Braden looked away from her prying gaze. The two women to whom he’d spoken words of love had rejected him. It was foolish to think Tia was any different, but a part of him wanted that more than anything in the world. Tia had told him that she loved him, but he had put that off to their lovemaking. Women always wanted to be in love when they let a man have them.

“My lady, Lady Bunworth and Miss Tavers are here,” the butler announced. “Shall I escort them in?”

“We should take our leave now,” Hart said as he stood. “Good day, Lady Eldridge.”

“Good day, my lord.”

Braden rose just as his cousins entered the room. Lady Bunworth released a slight gasp while Miss Tavers smiled at them both. “Good day, Lady Eldridge.” He gave a quick bow. “Good day, cousins.”

Constance glanced between them both with a puzzled look upon her face. “Good day, my lords.” She turned her attention on Hart. “Lord Hartsfield, how fortunate to see you here. I was . . . was hoping I could speak to you about an urgent matter in private. Middleton, I shall see that Hart is returned to his home.”

How odd that Constance would need to speak with Hart when he so rarely went to town and had only arrived yesterday.

“That is fine, Lady Bunworth.” Hart turned to him. “I shall just walk home once we are finished here. Can you make sure Mia returns home safely?”

“Of course,” Braden said with a bow to the ladies. “Good day, ladies.”

Braden left the house, still bewildered by what Constance would need to talk with Hart about. He walked to the carriage, only to find his driver gone.

“Sorry, milord, I’m coming,” a voice called from behind him.