Lords of Scandal (Lords of Scandal 0.50)

Jack tossed another coin on the pile, his gut clenched in dread. “I’ll leave all of you to finish the counting, but don’t let the whores near the money. You know what happened the last time.”

“Whores?” A feminine voice trembled from the doorway. It rang with a familiarity that made his chest tight, but he dismissed the feeling. They likely all sounded the same though he hadn’t meant to offend.

He shouldn’t care but he hated to hurt a woman’s feelings. “Tradeswoman, love, if it makes you feel bet…” The words died on his lips as he glanced up to give the woman his most charming smile. But a whore didn’t stand in front of him. Nor did a maid, or a beer wench. Standing in the doorway was Emily, wearing a domino that did nothing to disguise her identity. He’d know her anywhere. His heart sank to his knees. “I can explain.”

She wrapped her fingers about her neck. “I don’t need your explanation. I already understand.”

Two heads popped up on either side of her shoulders. He recognized her cousin and sister, Minnie and Diana. Suppressing a groan, he ran his hands through his hair. While he was glad she hadn’t travelled alone, somehow witnesses worsened the situation.

“What’s happening?” Diana hissed, nudging Emily forward.

Suddenly the flood gate opened, and women spilled into the room. Jack’s feet were planted to the floor.

“Hellfire and damnation,” Daring muttered. “I knew you getting married would be the death of us.”

“What does that mean?” Minnie huffed, her hand coming to her hip. Then her eyes narrowed in her domino. “Goodness gracious, you’re the Duke of Darlington.”

Daring gave a rumble of deep dissatisfaction as he stood, his chair crashing to the floor. “That is privileged information.”

Jack’s feet unstuck, as he stepped in front of his friend. These men had carefully guarded their identities for years. The whole place was about to crash down on their heads along with his impending marriage. “I’m sure these ladies will understand that they can never share with anyone what they saw here. It’s their reputations as well as ours.” He could only hope that would pacify Daring.

“So it is,” Malice rumbled low and deep, his eyes sweeping over the group of women.

Emily’s hands trembled as she clasped them in front of her. “What are we keeping secret exactly? That six lords sit in a room counting money and order in whores?” Her voice shook and a tear slid down her cheek from underneath the mask. “Your secret is safe with us. Jack, you’ll have to find a reason to end our engagement that does not destroy my reputation so that I might be able to—”

“End our engagement?” His voice was

far louder than he’d intended and his heart, which had perhaps reached his stomach fell down into his shoes. “Emily. No. There is no need to end—”

“Come on.” Diana grabbed Emily’s hand. “We’re leaving.” Then Diana pointed at her cousin. “Ada, walk behind her in case she faints.”

“Me?” Ada dutifully stepped behind her cousin. “I’m the smallest, you know. If she goes down, she’s taking me with her.”

Vice actually chuckled and Jack sent him a look that promised death. Malice, who better understood what was happening, stepped behind the women and closed the door, locking it in place.

At least two of the ladies screamed. Another gasped and a fourth let out a huff of breath. That must have been Diana because she let go of Emily’s hand and stepped toward Malice. “Open that door at once.” Her hands were on her hips and her chest puffed out as she lifted her chin. “I won’t ask again.”

“You need a lesson on how to speak to a gentleman,” Malice growled.

Diana sashayed toward him. “Are you threatening me?”

Exile stepped between them. Easily the largest man in the room, his brawny head dropped down toward Diana’s face. “Easy lass, no one wants trouble here. We all just need to talk for a minute, and we don’t need any interruptions. Everyone’s reputations are better served with some privacy.”

“Don’t placate her.” Malice said as he stepped up behind Exile. “She’s being rude and—”

Quick as a snake, Exile turned back to Malice, giving him a shove that sent the man crashing back into the door. “You’ll watch your tongue when speaking to a lady.”

Jack had barely taken his eyes from his soon-to-be bride but even he noted how protective Exile was over Diana. He gave Exile a questioning glance which the man ignored.

Emily swayed on her feet and his attention snapped back to her. He reached out and pulled her against his chest. “Darling, listen.”

“I’m not your love?” Her voice quavered, but her eyes were hard as she pushed against his chest. “You save that for your ladies of the night? Is that who you’re with every time you make a trip to the country?”

Damn. His fist clenched at his side. This was awful. “I would never hurt you,” he whispered, locking his gaze with hers so that she might see the truth. He brushed a lock of her silky brown hair. “I lost track of time, but I had every intention of meeting you at the ball.”

She frowned as her lush lips pulled into a hard line. “And your trips to the country?”

His chest ached. “I can explain.”