Lords of Scandal (Lords of Scandal 0.50)

He’d done it again. Her fiancé, the Earl of Effington, had not attended an event he’d promised to be at. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. He’d promised to try and attend. But he’d had to make a trip into the country to see to his holdings and he wasn’t sure he’d make it back in time. At least that’s what he’d told her.

Except lately, she’d begun to wonder. Most lords did not need to return to the country so frequently, especially in late winter. The roads were a muddy mess. Was he lying to her? Her fears had gotten the best of her and tonight, when he hadn’t attended the ball, she’d gone to the powder room teary-eyed. The Countess of Abernath had followed her in.

The woman was beautiful in a way that made Emily shiver. Her features were perfectly symmetrical but drawn in hard lines, the blue of her eyes icy as her lips turned down in a cold frown. “Upset, darling?”

She didn’t know the woman at all, so the false endearment grated on Emily’s already frazzled nerves in addition to being in stark contrast to her looks. “Not at all. I always cry at the end of balls.”

The countess had trilled a fake laugh, the sound making Emily wince. “Of course you do. Especially with such a handsome fiancé who never escorts you to any of these events.” The woman had leaned in conspiratorially. “I’d be upset if I were you too.” She reached a hand out to touch Emily.

“I’m not upset. My fiancé isn’t here for good reason.” She’d straightened her spine. She didn’t like whatever this ice-cold woman was insinuating.

“And what reason did he give you exactly?” The countess swayed closer, her lithe body almost hypnotic.

Emily had frowned. “That’s not your concern.”

“You’re right, of course. I just don’t like to see another woman suffer.”

Without thought, Emily took a step back. “Suffer? Why would I be suffering? Lord Effington is a fine man who—”

The countess clucked her tongue. “Didn’t you know? Those who truly understand him don’t call him Effington, but Effing.”

What was she talking about? “Effing? What does that mean?”

The countess raised her perfectly arched brows. “I’ve heard the man is a master in the bedroom. I mean how could he not be after spending so much of his time at the Den of Sins.”

Cold, hard dread made her head faint and her knees weak. Had he really lied about his whereabouts? The name itself didn’t sound good. Disreputable and dangerous, most likely. And if her fiancé was a part of this place…she shuddered inside. “The Den of Sins?”

“Oh yes, darling. Over on Bedford Street. You’ll know the place. It’s next to the building marked with a W. In fact, I heard a rumor he’s there right now.” The Countess had patted her shoulder with a hand and then walked away, but not before Emily, eyes brimming with tears and blurry, caught her smirk.

The next half hour had passed in a blur as she’d relayed the story to her sisters about what had happened.

“The bastard,” Diana had spit, her dark hair flinging over her shoulder. “I knew he was too handsome to be that good.”

Emily wanted to protest. But how could she?

“We don’t know he’s actually done anything.” Grace, the youngest and fairest with shining blonde hair and large blue eyes, had pointed out as she patted Emily’s hand. “In the morning we’ll find him and—”

“Morning?” Emily croaked. She had to spend the entire night like this?

Cordelia, the second youngest, but always attempting to be the wisest, held up one of her slender fingers as she pushed up her spectacles. “We know where the establishment is. Why not go there now? Catch him in the act. That way there can be no doubt if you need to end the engagement.”

The group fell silent. Her cousin, Ada, was a sweet soul with beautiful auburn hair and stunning green eyes, but she was timid by nature, which she displayed in that moment. “That neighborhood? We couldn’t possibly.”

“There are six of us,” her sister, Minnie clucked, her coloring far more vibrant and her personality as well. “Don’t be a ninny.”

“But what if someone sees us,” Ada’s voice quavered.

“Oh, I know.” Diana clapped her hands. “The hostess had a basket of dominos by the door. We’ll use the masks to cover our identities.”

Ada frowned but fell silent as Diana and Minnie pulled Emily to standing. Her knees wobbled again but she locked them in place. “We’re really going to do this?” Then she straightened up her spine. “Yes. We’re doing this.” She clenched her fingers around Diana’s and Minnie’s. “What if it’s awful? What if I find him…” She swallowed. “If I cancel the wedding, I’ll be ruined.”

Inside, her heart shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. She wasn’t just marrying Jack, she loved him. Her reputation was honestly the least of her concerns.

“Worry about that after,” Grace whispered. “Let’s go before we change our minds.”

Together they started for the carriage.

Chapter Two