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

to wipe them away with her gloved hands. “As you wish.”

Betty remained standing there for a moment, staring at her, and Emmeline thought she saw her expression softening. But then she blinked, and her aunt departed from the room without saying another word.

Rising, Emmeline walked over to the door and stepped out into the entry hall. Drew was standing there, watching her with pity in his eyes.

He walked over to the door and opened it. “It was good to see you, milady.”

“Likewise, Drew.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Emmeline brought a smile to her lips at the fastidious butler. “I hope to one day see you again.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Drew said in a hushed voice, “It has been my infinite pleasure to serve you and your parents.”

“Thank you,” she murmured as she exited the door.

The footman stepped off his perch when he saw her and opened the coach door. She was about to step in when she heard her name being called from behind her.

Emmeline turned and saw her lady’s maid standing near the servant’s entrance. Mary gestured that she should approach her.

Emmeline closed the distance between them and asked, “What is it?”

Mary glanced worriedly towards the main door of the townhouse. “I will most likely be dismissed for telling you this.”

“Excellent,” Emmeline declared, “because I want you to come work for me at Hawthorne House.”

Mary smiled. “I was hoping you hadn’t changed your mind about that,” she said, clearly relieved.

“Then it is settled.”

Her lady’s maid bobbed her head. “But first, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” she asked, growing a bit nervous.

Lowering her voice, Mary shared, “I was walking through the entry hall yesterday and I heard Lord Taylor discussing your dowry with Mr. Clarke.”

“He was meeting with my father’s solicitor?”

Mary nodded. “He was.”

“But surely you were mistaken, since I don’t have a dowry.”

Mary gave a half-shrug. “That is what I thought as well, but I know what I heard.” She glanced over her shoulder when she heard the servant’s entrance open. “I’d better go. I will see you later.”

Emmeline watched as Mary hurried towards the servant’s entrance, her mind whirling with what she had just been told. Could it be possible that she did have a dowry after all? And if so, why was her uncle keeping it a secret?

One thing she knew for certain, a visit to her father’s solicitor was in her near future.

Oliver brought his hand up to cover his yawn as he walked down the pavement towards Hawthorne House. He hadn’t intended to stay out all night, but he had gotten caught up at the gambling hells with his friends.

“You look terrible,” Corbyn said as he appeared by his side, matching his stride. “What establishment did you frequent last night?”

“The Queen’s Gambling Hall,” he replied.

“Anything to report?”

“Nothing more than Whig propaganda.”

Corbyn frowned. “I hate Whigs.”

“As do I,” Oliver remarked. “Their heads are filled with fantastical nonsense of what a monarchy is supposed to be like.”

Corbyn looked at him curiously. “I am surprised you stayed out all night, with you having a new wife and all.”

“You do not need to fret. I have no intention of becoming lackadaisical now that I have a wife.”

“I never implied you would, but it is all right to take some time off.”

Oliver huffed. “Like you do?”

“That is entirely different,” Corbyn contended. “My job is to run the agency, which I cannot do if I take any time off.”

“An agency that doesn’t truly exist under the Alien Office.”

Corbyn smirked. “Precisely.”

Oliver glanced over at him. “What has you up so early?” he asked.

“Early?” Corbyn repeated. “It is nearly midday.”

“I hadn’t realized,” Oliver replied as he approached the entrance to Hawthorne House. “I’m afraid I lost track of time.”

A dark-haired guard with a large forehead greeted him. “Morning, milord,” he said, walking over to the gate. “I hope you have a pleasant day.”

“Thank you,” Oliver replied as he stepped through the gate.

Corbyn followed him through the cobblestone courtyard and remarked, “I wonder what Lady Oliver must think about her husband not coming home last night.”

“I will simply explain that I was visiting a gambling hell.”

“Ah, and you are foolish enough to think that might appease her?”

“Why wouldn’t it?” Oliver asked with a shrug. “It is the truth.”

Corbyn chuckled. “It has been my experience that women do not appreciate when their husbands stay out all night.”

“Emmeline is different.”

“In what way?”

Oliver arrived at the main door and reached for the handle. “It is a marriage of convenience,” he said as he opened the door.

“I still contend that she expects you to come home every night, and perhaps even spend time with her.”

Once Corbyn stepped into the entry hall, Oliver closed the door behind him. “I have every intention of returning home after the meeting tonight,” he said.

“That is a start, but…”

Corbyn’s words trailed off when Jane marched towards them with a thunderous look on her face, holding the morning newspaper in her right hand.

She stopped in front of him and held the newspaper up. “Do you know what this is?”

“A morning newspaper,” Oliver replied plainly.

Jane’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And do you know what it says about you and Emmeline?”

He shook his head. “I do not.”

“Every member of Society is laughing at Emmeline because they do not think it is possible for you to be satisfied with just one woman.”

Oliver grabbed the paper out of her hands and opened to the Society page. As he read the article, he found himself growing increasingly agitated at the writer’s blunt opinion of his philandering ways.

He met his sister’s gaze. “Has Emmeline read this yet?”

“She has not.”

“Good.” He folded the paper and placed it on a side table. “We need to keep this away from her.”

Jane stared back at him. “For what purpose?” she asked. “Emmeline is clever, and she will eventually figure out that the members of the ton are relishing in her misery.”

“Emmeline is not miserable,” he said firmly.

“No?” Jane questioned, tilting her chin. “You should have seen her face when she inquired about