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

Follett raised his glass and declared, “Say goodbye to freedom. It is something that you will never see again.”

Haskett chuckled as he followed suit. “Your days of infamy are over.”

Oliver frowned. “Aren’t you being a tad dramatic?” he asked. “I merely took a wife.”

“A very beautiful wife,” Haskett said.

Follett nodded. “I agree.”

“Perhaps we should discuss something else?” Booth asked. “We have been discussing Radcliff’s marital state for the past few hours.”

Oliver let out a relieved sigh. “Yes, please.”

“What would you care to discuss?” Booth asked.

Turning his attention towards Follett, he inquired, “Is the meeting still on for tomorrow night at the Howl Hill Pub?”

“I assume as much,” Follett confirmed, “but I haven’t met with Guy Stewart again.”

Booth shook his head. “You are fools for even thinking about going to a pub in the rookeries. You could be robbed, or worse, and no one would even give you any heed.”

Follett puffed out his chest. “I can handle myself,” he said. “I carry an overcoat pistol on my person.”

“That is a relief,” Booth teased. “You have one shot, so I hope you only encounter one attacker.”

Oliver leaned back in his seat. “You don’t need to be worried about Follet, since I will be with him.”

Booth let out a bark of laughter. “No offense, but I doubt you will fare much better.”

“Why do you say that?” Oliver asked, amused.

“Are you in earnest?” Booth asked. “I don’t think I have ever seen you engage in fisticuffs.”

Oliver shrugged. “I am not the type to seek out a fight.”

Haskett interjected, “I will be going along, as well.”

Booth frowned. “Three gentlemen walking through the rookeries will garner some unwanted attention.”

“My coach will drive us to the pub,” Follett said. “We will be in no imminent danger.”

Haskett adjusted the lapels of his blue jacket. “Is anyone ready to adjourn to a gambling hell for the evening?”

“I’m in,” Booth declared.

“As am I,” Follet replied.

All eyes turned towards Oliver as Haskett asked, “Will you be joining us?”

“Or will you be going home to be with your lovely wife?” Booth questioned, a knowing expression on his face.

“I find that I would rather gamble this evening,” Oliver responded.

Booth lifted his brow. “Are you in earnest?”

“I am,” Oliver said.

A bright smile came to Booth’s face. “Well, wonders never cease,” he remarked, rising. “Let’s go before Radcliff changes his mind.”

Oliver reached into his waistcoat and pulled out a few coins. He placed them on the table before he rose. “I assure you that nothing will change now that I am married.”

Follett chuckled. “You aren’t truly that naïve?”

“Emmeline is not like other women,” Oliver said. “I have no doubt that she will be a dutiful wife.”

Haskett came around the table and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then she has deceived you.”

“Perhaps, but Emmeline knew what she was getting herself into by marrying me,” Oliver responded.

“It is no shame to admit that you were trapped by the parson’s noose,” Haskett said, removing his hand. “Although, I won’t be so foolish as to follow in your footsteps.”

“What lady would want to marry you?” Follett asked, smirking.

Haskett laughed loudly. “Not any sane one, I can assure you of that.”

As Oliver listened to his friends banter back and forth, he couldn’t help but wonder what Emmeline was doing at this precise moment at Hawthorne House. And the same nagging thought kept creeping into his mind. Did she miss him when he was not around?

Chapter Eight

Emmeline kept her face expressionless as she rode in the coach with a maid, but her emotions were churning inside. Oliver hadn’t come home last night. When she had woken up early for her morning ride, she’d boldly peeked into his bedchamber, only to discover that his bed had not been slept in.

Why had he not come home last night? Perhaps he’d sought out company from another. He had promised to be faithful to her, but the doubt kept creeping back in. How well did she truly know Oliver?

And why did the thought of him being with another woman cause her heart to ache? It shouldn’t. This was only a marriage of convenience, after all. Nothing more.

Her eyes strayed towards the window as she blinked back her tears. What had she expected? She had practically forced Oliver into the marriage. Now that he was back in Town, he had the freedom to do as he pleased while she resided at Hawthorne House.

“Are you all right, Miss?” the maid asked.

Emmeline met her gaze. “I’m afraid I am rather nervous about meeting with my aunt and uncle,” she lied.

The maid took her at her word and nodded.

The coach stopped in front of her uncle’s whitewashed townhouse and Emmeline waited as the footman came around to open the door.

Once she stepped onto the pavement, she stared up at the home she had been raised in, knowing everything was about to change. Again.

Hesitantly, she approached the door and knocked.

The door was opened, and the butler lifted his brow when he saw her. “It is good to see you, milady,” Drew greeted as he opened the door wide. “Do come in.”

“Is my aunt home?” she asked as she stepped into the entry hall.

“She is.”

“Will you see if she is accepting callers?”

Drew gave her a look that could only be construed as compassion. “I have no doubt that she will agree to meet with you.”

“I am not so sure.”

The butler gestured towards the drawing room. “Would you care to wait in the drawing room while I inform your aunt that you are here?”

“I would be happy to,” she replied.

As she crossed the tiled entry hall, she couldn’t help but wonder if her aunt would refuse to see her. She truly hoped not, but she wouldn’t be entirely surprised.

Emmeline walked over to the pianoforte and ran her hands over the ivory keys. She closed her eyes, remembering her mother sitting next to her as she taught her how to play. Her mother was always so patient, even though reading