A Dangerous Game (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 2), Laura Beers [i read books TXT] 📗

“People don’t go around kissing their friends.”

He clenched his jaw. “I believe I sufficiently explained my reasons for doing so.”

“You did, but I believe your reasons to be foolhardy.”

Frowning, he replied, “I am done with this conversation, Mother.”

Disappointment flashed across her face. “As you wish,” she murmured.

“Will you inform Emmeline that I have gone out for the evening?” he asked as he walked towards the door.

“Why not inform her yourself?”

“Because she is in the bath, and it would be entirely inappropriate for me to do so.”

“You are married—”

“In name only,” he reminder her.

His mother clasped her hands in front of her. “Why must you go out?” she asked. “It is Emmeline’s first night at Hawthorne House.”

“And I have no doubt that you will entertain her splendidly.”

“At least stay for dinner.”

Oliver opened the door and replied over his shoulder, “I shall eat at White’s.”

“You are making a terrible mistake, Son.”

He turned back to face his mother. “Emmeline knew what she was getting into by marrying me,” he said. “I have no doubt that she will be fine.”

“I just think—”

“You don’t get to have an opinion on this matter,” he interrupted. “Emmeline and I made our decision, and you will respect that.”

His mother’s face grew expressionless. “As you wish.”

“Thank you.” Oliver spun back around and closed the door.

He walked purposefully down the hall and descended the stairs. As he stepped into the entry hall, he saw Pratt step out from the drawing room.

“Ensure my horse is waiting out front,” he barked.

Pratt tipped his head. “I shall see to it,” he said before departing to do Oliver’s bidding.

As he paced the entry hall, Baldwin emerged from one of the rooms and gave him a questioning look. “Whatever is the matter?”

Oliver stopped pacing and faced his brother. “I just had the most uncomfortable conversation with Mother.”

“Pray tell, what was it about?” Baldwin asked, growing serious.

“Emmeline.”

“Ah,” his brother said. “What about Emmeline?”

Taking a step closer, Oliver lowered his voice as he admitted, “Mother disapproved of the fact that Emmeline and I entered into a marriage of convenience.”

“Did you explain your reasons?”

“I tried, but she kept spouting nonsense about how Emmeline and I would suit if I would just make an attempt at it.”

Baldwin gave him a knowing look. “She is not entirely wrong.”

Oliver huffed as he tossed up his hands in the air. “Not you, too.”

“I am just saying that you should make an effort to make this marriage work.”

Oliver glanced over his shoulder before asking, “How do you suppose that is possible? We both know that I can’t be fully honest with Emmeline about my past or how I truly spend my evenings.”

“I’m not saying that it will be easy, but I believe it will be worth it in the end.”

“You were fortunate in finding Madalene,” Oliver said. “Not everyone would be as accepting of your past as she has been.”

“You are right.”

“We must put our duty ahead of our own wants.”

Baldwin sighed. “You are going to botch this up, aren’t you?”

“Meaning?”

“Go to Corbyn and tell him that you can no longer play the rake now that you have gotten yourself married,” Baldwin encouraged.

“I can’t,” he replied. “At least, not yet.”

“Why?”

“Because I am planning to attend the meeting tomorrow night with my friends,” Oliver explained. “I need to know if this Guy Stewart is one of the radicals that we need to be concerned about.”

Baldwin took a step back. “I wish you luck.”

“You aren’t going to stop me?”

With a shake of his head, Baldwin asked, “Would it make a difference if I tried?”

“Not likely.”

“Then go,” Baldwin said. “But be mindful that you now have a wife waiting for you to come home.”

“Emmeline will hardly notice that I am gone,” Oliver attempted.

Baldwin shook his head. “I told you that this would be a mistake,” he said. “You weren’t in a position to take a wife.”

“You are wrong.”

“I truly hope you prove me wrong, Brother,” Baldwin said before he spun on his heel.

Oliver watched his brother’s retreating figure and he found himself growing increasingly irritated. Emmeline would be fine at Hawthorne House without him. He didn’t have time to coddle her and ease her into her new role. No. He had a job to do, and he wouldn’t accomplish it by sitting around his townhouse.

It didn’t matter that he would prefer to spend time with his wife than eating out at White’s with his friends. His duty was to his country, not his wife.

Chapter Seven

“Will that be all, milady?” the young, red-haired maid asked as she stepped back.

Emmeline ran her hand down the sleeve of the borrowed white muslin gown. “Yes, thank you, Ellen,” she replied.

Her words had barely left her mouth when the door to her bedchamber was opened, and Jane walked into the room, wearing a jonquil gown.

“I have come to escort you to the drawing room,” Jane announced cheerfully.

“Oh, thank heavens,” Emmeline remarked. “Hawthorne House is enormous, and I am not entirely sure that I could have found the drawing room on my own.”

“I assumed as much,” Jane replied as her eyes perused the length of her. “My gown looks quite lovely on you.”

“Thank you for letting me borrow it for dinner tonight. I will travel to my townhouse tomorrow to retrieve my clothing.”

“I assure you that it is no trouble at all.” Jane’s eyes left hers as she questioned, “Are you pleased with your bedchamber?”

Emmeline nodded as her eyes roamed the square room with pale green wallpaper. A four-poster bed stood against the wall, and a fireplace sat on the opposite wall. “It is exquisite,” she admitted. “It is much larger than my bedchamber at my townhouse.”

“Have you visited the sitting room yet?”

Emmeline shook her head. “I have not,” she said.

Jane walked over to the door that led to the sitting room and opened it. “It is rather a nice room,” she shared before she disappeared into it.

Emmeline didn’t know why she was hesitant about visiting the sitting room, but she knew she was being foolish.