Dauntless (Gentlemen of the Order 1)

In truth, there wasn’t a magistrate in the land willing to prosecute a member of the peerage. Still, her comment ruffled Lord Benham’s feathers.

“Do you think I would take myself to the depths of the devil’s underbelly and pay a miscreant to do my bidding?” Lord Benham stared down his hooked nose. “Now get the hell out of my house.”

Panicked, Lord Newberry tried to reason with his friend. “Just tell them about the last time you saw Howard Dunn, and that will be the end of the matter.”

“Listen to your friend, Benham.” Mr Cole’s tone was as menacing as the look in his eyes. “Prove your innocence else I fear Ashwood will call you out for insulting his mother, and for the shocking way you treated Miss Dunn. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of his skill with a pistol.”

Lord Benham gritted his teeth, though uncertainty flashed in his eyes.

Eva hurried forward. “Be assured, my lord, my brother is no longer welcome in my house. It is only a matter of time before someone beats him to death and throws his body in the Thames. But do I deserve to suffer because of his foolish actions?”

The viscount sneered. “You’re not the only person suffering, Miss Dunn. Why should you sleep peacefully when someone else must forever hide in the shadows?”

Hypocrite!

“Had you won the bet, my lord, you would be guilty of sentencing me to the same fate. But I suppose you do not consider my life as important.”

The viscount remained silent.

“Did you pay someone to attack Miss Dunn’s home?” Mr Cole snapped. “Was your mind clouded with the need for vengeance?”

“I know you hate me,” Eva blurted, unable to suppress the sudden rush of emotion. There had been too many problems to deal with of late. “But do you really wish me dead?”

A muscle twitched beneath the viscount’s beady left eye. “I do not hate you, Miss Dunn. I’m simply unused to rejection.”

Eva took another tentative step closer. “Please, my lord. They say a kindness bestowed is repaid tenfold. Tell me what you know about my brother.”

“Just tell her!” Lord Newberry interjected. It was plain to see he had his own interests at heart.

Lord Benham shot his friend an irate glare before turning to Eva. “I did see him in Cockburns, but not on the night I mentioned. It was two weeks ago now.”

Eva’s blood boiled. Her brother was an utter buffoon. “He was still gambling despite his mounting debts?”

“Gambling with what pittance he had left in his pocket. The proprietor refused to extend his credit.”

“And did you speak to him?” Eva asked.

Lord Benham marched to the side table and unstoppered a crystal decanter. “I left before he did, waited in the alley.” He filled a goblet with brandy, swallowed the contents and hissed a breath. “Dunn

sauntered past as if he hadn’t a care in the world, while my sister—”

The viscount refilled his glass and emptied it just as quickly.

“Did you speak to him, my lord?”

“Speak to him?” the viscount mocked. “No, Miss Dunn, I dragged him into the alley and gave him the beating of his life.”

Eva sucked in a sharp breath.

“Did you kill him?” Mr Cole asked, though he sounded almost resigned to the fact the viscount would not admit liability.

“When he said he would marry Clara if I paid his debts and gave him a handsome monthly allowance, I considered squeezing the last breath from his lungs.” Lord Benham gave a hard, cold-eyed smile. “But two knife-wielding thugs approached. They took Howard Dunn along with my signet ring and purse. I’ve not seen or heard from him since. I imagine they fed his carcass to a pack of wild dogs in the fighting pits.”

The knowledge brought a surge of bile to Eva’s throat. Yes, she wanted nothing more to do with her brother. But to know he met such a grisly end, made her sick to her stomach.

“When was this?” Mr Cole asked, unperturbed by the news.

“As I said, two weeks ago.” The viscount refilled his glass and swallowed his resentment for the third time. “So you see, why would I hire someone to hurt Miss Dunn when I’m convinced her brother is dead?”