Viscount of Vice (Lords of Scandal 4)

Vice grimaced. Jealousy was a dangerous mistress. “We don’t want the countess like that. We just need a word.”

“I know what you need. You can’t have it.” Then he sneered at Bad. “Outsmarted you this time. She’s long gone by now.”

Crusher had brought them back here to distract them. The countess had likely slipped away. But at least they knew who she was now associated with. “You’ve mistaken our intent entirely.” Vice held up his hands. “We were only concerned for her after the fire. She has a history with our friend—”

“I know about her history,” Crusher sneered. “And your friend is going to pay. If you’ve helped him to hurt her, you’re all going to pay.” Then he reached over and shoved Bad in the chest.

Crusher was a large man but Bad planted his feet in a way that kept him from moving. He absorbed the push. “We’ll see who pays.”

Those words might as well have been a powder keg. The room exploded as the Crusher dove at Bad, the dealer making a lunge for Vice.

Ducking around the table, the man missed, and went crashing into the wall.

Crusher had Bad on the floor, his beefy fist raised. Vice grabbed a chair and brought it crashing down on the man’s back. He slumped to the side and in an instant, Bad was up.

Racing to the door, they made their way out of the club, stumbling into the street. Vice didn’t stop, heading to the alley where they’d left Daring but the carriage was gone. “Do you think they’re chasing Abernath?”

Bad shook his head. “I don’t know but let’s get out of here while we can. We’ll find out tomorrow.”

Vice grimaced as they started running down the street, zigzagging through alleys. One thing was for certain, they hadn’t solved anything yet. He could only hope they hadn’t made the situation worse.

They’d head for Daring’s and find out what happened. Most likely, Daring was tailing Abernath now. He hoped they caught her. Not that he intended to leave Ada alone. He liked it best when she was by his side, but he still couldn’t shake the feeling that she could do much better than him.

Chapter Seven

The next day passed in a flurry of activity. Ada kept her promise and

went to stay with Emily and Grace. The girls had always passed freely between the family homes and her parents thought little of her going to stay at her aunt and uncle’s house.

Which was a relief. As she’d been packing to go, her mother had had a great many questions about the Viscount who’d been so attentive.

“When did you meet him, dear?” It was an innocent enough question but the answer was anything but.

As she could not say, at their secret club in the middle of the night, she’d nibbled her lips. “Jack and Emily introduced us.”

Her mother had grinned approvingly. “And has he asked to court you yet?”

“Mother,” she’d pleaded. “We’ve only met a few times.”

“Is he attending the ball tonight?” Her mother leaned forward from her perch on the bed.

“Yes,” she answered, straightening from the trunk she was filling. “But mother, don’t get your hopes up. Lord Viceroy is a known bachelor.”

Her mother winked. “So was your father, dear. And you,” her mother pointed at her daughter, “are just the sort to change a man’s mind.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Oh please. Diana or Minnie, they are the types who might—”

“Ada Lynn,” her mother said as she stood from the bed. “They might take a man and shake some sense into him, but you will slowly lead him down the correct path. He won’t even realize it’s happening until it’s too late.”

Ada hadn’t known how to respond to that and she still didn’t. In her experience she hadn’t led anyone anywhere. Well, she’d managed to get Blake to agree to come to a ball. That was about the extent of her abilities.

But the words had echoed in her head as she’d gone to her aunt and uncle’s home. They’d stayed with her as she’d eaten a light meal and then gotten ready for the evening’s festivities.

Emily lay on her bed in her room as Grace and Ada dressed but her eyes remained unfocused as she stared out the window.

“Em,” Ada tentatively asked, her white gloves being buttoned up her arm. “Why don’t you come with us?”

“I’m pregnant. I shouldn’t.”