A Most Sinful Proposal (The Husband Hunters Club 2)

“Lord Jasper is looking through your papers now,” Morris said hurriedly, his voice rising as he pursued his master up the stairs. “He thought it best to know the worst at once.”

“Of course, Morris. Thank you.” Marissa managed a fraught smile as she followed in Valentine’s wake.

Upstairs, she found Lord Jasper and Lady Bethany busy making repairs to the room, both of them appearing somber and concerned. Valentine stood in the doorway like a man in shock, glaring around him at the chaos of papers and books that covered the desk, chairs, and floor. Books had been pulled from the shelves and lay tumbled in piles, while dried rose specimens, broken and smashed, were scattered throughout the room.

Marissa was too horrified to speak.

“He’s been in here,” Valentine said, cold rage in each word. “In my rooms. Touching my things. Reading my papers.”

No one asked who he meant.

“I think it looks worse than it is, old chap.” Jasper’s voice held a soothing note. “Nothing is missing as far as I can see. It may not even be Von Hautt who did this, you know.”

But Valentine shook his head. “It was Von Hautt,” he said through gritted teeth. “This was all planned. Attacking Lady Longhurst and then drawing me away to Canthorpe. I thought he was behaving like a madman, but he’s a madman with a purpose. He planned it so that he could sneak into my rooms. Invade my personal belongings.”

“But even if that’s so, he hasn’t gained anything by it, has he?” Jasper insisted. “He already has the list of names. What is there here that he hasn’t already got?”

“Perhaps he wants Lord Kent to feel unsettled,” Lady Bethany suggested. “Knowing that his home has been infiltrated by the enemy will cause him a deal of suffering, and Baron Von Hautt seems to want him to suffer.”

Valentine ran his hands through his hair until it stood on end, making him look even more dangerous. “How can we guess the thoughts of a lunatic,” he muttered. Then he stopped, eyes narrowing, and spun around toward his desk. “Wait a moment…” Wildly he began to search through the mess of papers, some of which had fallen to the floor, or were about to.

Marissa came and stood beside him. “What is it?”

“The letter!”

“What letter…?”

“My friend in London. The letter that told me the geographical locations of the last families on the list. It was here and now it’s gone.” He looked up, eyes blazing into hers. “Von Hautt has it.”

“Are you sure?” She began to search through the mess of papers, carefully sifting them from one pile to another.

But Valentine already knew it was gone. He was striding across the room and then back again, so distracted it was impossible for him to keep still. “Oh yes, he has it,” he roared with bitter certainty. “Now he knows where the last two families lived and he’ll be able to get there before us. That has been his plan all along. To beat me to the rose.”

“We won’t be far behind.” Jasper was all quiet menace. “Don’t worry, old chap, he can’t hide from us. We’ll find the rose and we’ll find him, and then we’ll make him pay.”

“How the hell do you know he hasn’t found it already?” Valentine was beyond being rational or calm. “He could have it in his hands now. He wants to hurt me and he knows that by taking the one thing I’ve been searching for all these years…How can I complete my quest?” His gaze sought and found Marissa’s, his eyes full of agonized emotion.

She knew exactly what he was thinking. If Von Hautt had the rose then he’d failed. All the years of searching in vain.

She slipped her hand into his, warm and comforting, and watched as he forced himself to climb out of the pit of darkness. Valentine was no weakling, and he must be strong or Baron Von Hautt really would trample on his hopes and dreams.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a more natural voice. “It was seeing what he’d done. I am recovered now. Forgive me.”

There were understanding nods all around.

“Surely Baron Von Hautt cannot expect to appear in London with the rose and everyone to pat him on the back and say well done?” Lady Bethany said thoughtfully. “The truth about his behavior will come out and he’ll be shunned by the very people he wants to impress. Where’s the glory in that?”

“You are wondering what is the point of him winning the rose by foul means?” Jasper said with a nod.

“All that seems to matter to him is that he’s won,” Marissa replied, “not how that win was achieved. Defeating Lord Kent is what is driving him, not fame and world renown.”

“What have you done to him that he feels so bitter toward you?” Lady Bethany said. “There must be something, Kent. You must search your memories until you find it.”

Valentine sat down and put his head in his hands, his shoulders hunched. “I don’t know,” he groaned. “I honestly don’t understand any of it.”

“Very well then, let’s just consider matters calmly for a moment,” Jasper said. “Von Hautt lured you away from Abbey Thorne Manor, using Lady Longhurst, and when you’d gone he came up to your rooms and stole the letter.” He paused, looking about. “Didn’t someone see him? He must have passed through the house and there would be servants, Morris, and so on. Someone must have seen something.”

“Morris says not,” Marissa murmured.