A Rake's Midnight Kiss (Sons of Sin 2)

Richard’s hands curled at his sides. From any other man, that remark would invite a punch in the nose. “It confirms the succession.”

Cam’s expression conveyed his scorn. “Nothing can change Sir Lester Harmsworth’s sixteen months in St. Petersburg before your arrival.”

“Take care,” Richard murmured.

Cam sighed. “You’re wasting your time here. And getting in much deeper than you should, both to your detriment and to the detriment of Little Derrick’s residents.”

Richard flung away, knowing he behaved like a boor but unable to stop himself. Where, oh where was the sophisticate who had adorned a thousand London ballrooms? He’d felt likely to split into pieces ever since Genevieve had turned her back on him.

How right he’d been to fear her power. Although his wariness had done bugger all to stop him tumbling head over heels in love. What would his friends say if he declared that mawkish sentiment? They’d laugh themselves into next Sunday.

“Do forgive me,” he said with heavy sarcasm. “I’d so hate my racketing to smear your sterling reputation, Your Grace.”

Cam didn’t fly into a rage. He never did. Devil take him, Richard occasionally wished that something would ruffle that perfect façade, unearth some passion beneath the decorum. Instead Cam’s face tightened with sympathy. Hell, he didn’t want his friends feeling sorry for him.

“You know that’s not my primary concern.” Cam paused. “Although, yes, the longer this continues, the more likelihood of disaster and scandal. For you. For Dr. Barrett. For Miss Barrett. For me. After all, I introduced you to the neighborhood.”

“I want the jewel,” Richard said through tight lips.

From under lowered lids, Jonas observed his friends. “You’re doing precious little to get it.”

“I’d say he’s doing nothing at all,” Cam affirmed.

Richard shifted uncomfortably. He’d never taken advantage of the secrets he’d unearthed at the vicarage. Cam had a point, to Hades with him.

r />

“I’m waiting for the optimum moment.” He paused. “Right now, I can’t do a blasted thing because bloody Fairbrother has posted a watchdog.”

His festering resentment since that perfect day in Oxford had only been exacerbated by the arrival of the bruiser Hector Greengrass. Fairbrother had infiltrated Greengrass into the vicarage ostensibly to protect the inmates. More likely to spy on Genevieve and Christopher Evans. But the decision had been made before Richard could lodge an objection. Greengrass slept above the stables and devoted his days to dogging Richard’s footsteps.

Aside from the man’s presence stymieing all attempts to get Genevieve alone, Greengrass struck Richard as a criminal type. It was like setting the cat to defend the mouse hole.

“Keep an eye on Fairbrother, Richard.” Jonas’s expression was serious. “Cam asked me to make inquiries. I hear disturbing rumors about sharp practices and stolen goods.”

Now, that was interesting. “Enough to set the law on him?”

Jonas shrugged. “Nothing substantiated, but my sources indicate that he’s a man with expensive tastes and an eye to acquisitions fit to empty a maharajah’s treasury.”

Richard frowned. “There. I can’t leave Miss Barrett at the swine’s mercy.”

“You’ve got a barrel of excuses for staying, old chum,” Cam said.

“If you wanted the jewel, you’d have it by now,” Jonas said ruthlessly.

“I want it.”

“Not enough,” Jonas retorted.

Cam sighed. “Stop glaring at me like an angry bear and come back to the fire. You need another drink.”

Richard didn’t comply with his friend’s half-humorous invitation. The reference to his bastardy had cut. It underlined how much he liked being legitimately born Christopher Evans.

“What can you achieve?” Jonas’s unreadable black eyes sent a cold chill through people who didn’t know him or who had reason to fear him. Even Richard, who considered him a man of unshakable honor, suppressed a shiver as that obsidian regard settled upon him. “Surely you don’t plan to devote your life to playing a rustic Romeo?”

Richard stiffened and stared down his friend. He spoke the thought that had crept into his mind so many nights when he’d lain awake longing for Genevieve down the hall, impossibly far away. “I could stay here. Why not?”

Cam groaned with disbelief. “Why not? A million reasons why not. You’ve taken leave of your sanity.”