Lords of Scandal (Lords of Scandal 0.50)

Back at the Den of Sins…

Daring sat staring at his friends. The women who were supposed to be the evening’s entertainment had finally arrived minutes after the proper ladies had left. He’d sent the professionals away. He needed to keep his wits about him, not lose himself in a harlot. Besides, after the encounter he’d just had, the women of the trade had lost their appeal.

They were willing and eager, almost nauseatingly so, wanting the deed over as quickly as possible. He realized that what he actually craved was a…challenge. A woman who would not give in easily, a woman who would test him at every turn a woman…like Minnie.

Bloody hell, was that her actual name? Couldn’t be.

“Gentlemen, we have a problem,” he said, flipping one of the coins that sat in front of him. “The question is, what are we going to do about it?”

Exile sat up in his chair, his neck giving a menacing crack. “I’ll tell you what we’re not doing. We’re not hurting those women. Any man who is thinking that will have to go through me.”

“No one is hurting them,” Malice answered. His own fist clenched. “We rarely stand together on anything, Exile, but in this I am with you. You’ll have to go through both of us and I’m going to be honest. You three would have a tough time accomplishing the deed.”

Daring sat back, surprised. Not at Exile. The man was a gentle giant, but Malice treated most of life like a game that he always won. He rarely took anything seriously. “No one has proposed we should.”

Bad thrummed his fingers on the table. “What we need is a bit of assurance that those ladies keep our secret. They could leak details about who we are or the club without implicating themselves.”

“And then we could out them for having been here.” Vice added. “Whichever one said it was right…they’ve more to lose than we do.”

Daring shook his head. “That one standing toe-to-toe with me, I don’t trust her not to share out of sheer spite. She might be smart enough to out us without entangling herself.” He scrubbed his cheek. “But perhaps if we each saw fit to talk to the ladies personally. Make sure they understand the consequences of telling, then we might rest easier.”

Bad’s fingers ceased their movement. “Each of us pick one woman to talk with. I like the idea. It has merit.”

Vice kicked his feet up onto the table. “We could also use our private conversation to collect additional ammunition or just observe them and make certain they’re not the sort of addled-brained females that gossip without thinking through the consequences.”

Exile’s neck cracked again. “What does that mean? Additional ammunition?”

Vice held up his hands. “I just mean that we collect a bit of information on them. If they seem as though they might share our hidden occupation, we figure out a way to make sure they don’t. Nothing that would actually hurt them, but we’d have just enough to keep them quiet.”

Exile drew in a deep breath. “We could marry them.”

“I beg your pardon?” Daring nearly choked on his own spit. Partially because the idea was unexpected. He’d thought the idea of marriage would be revolting but instead, he found the notion rather pleasant. “Marry that viper?”

Exile cocked a brow. “I didn’t name a specific woman. Which viper are you referring to Your Grace?”

Damn, he’d stepped into that one.

But before he could answer, Malice stepped in. “The idea of marriage does have some merit.”

“Did Jack infect you?” Bad stared at Malice as though the man belonged in the asylum.

Malice rolled his eyes. “I didn’t fall in love with a single glance, you egit. We’ll all have to marry eventually. It’s part of the title. And they already know our secret so that saves us from the sticky situation Jack is in. As far as I’m concerned, perhaps I could marry that little country mouse who felt rather nice. I’ll tuck her into my country estate and visit a few times a year to ensure I have an heir.”

“Delightful.” Vice curled his lip. “You’ve managed to sully the most Godly pursuit we’re likely to engage in…marriage.”

“That does beg the question,” Daring interrupted. “Malice clearly has a Chase girl (I don’t know what this means – “Chase girl”, chosen?) in mind. Which woman does each of us address?”

Malice spoke first. “I want Cordelia.”

“You want Cordelia? That’s your country mouse? Are you certain?” Bad asked, cracking his knuckles.

Malice gave him a look of death. “Who’s your choice?”

“That pretty blonde I walked out. I don’t remember her name. She was quiet though, which I like.” Bad gave them a wink. “I’ll not only observe her but woo her and then she’ll keep our secret because she wants to, she’ll be so enamored with me.”

Vice gave a short bark of laughter. “Bloody fool.” Then he cleared his throat. “I like the redhead. I’ll hunt her for sport.”

Daring felt possessive jealousy prickle down his spine. “The redhead is the girl I intend to bring to heel.”