An Improper Suitor Read Online Free Page A

dog.
    He sat and prepared himself for the lecture that he knew was coming. He searched through his recent past, the last two months, atany rate. His latest mistress, the luscious (though very greedy) Angelique had been given her congé three weeks ago. There had been some overlap between her and the alluring Lady Amestable, who insisted on sharing his bed when Lord Amestable was away at his estate, which was quite often. Fortunately for him. And he had enjoyed one riotous night with Mrs Radlow, the golden-haired widow. There was nothing exceptionable in any of them. Unless Lord Amestable had discovered his wife’s infidelities and was foolish enough to call him out.
    No doubt he would find out, after the lecture was over.
    ‘—how embarrassing it is to have to tell Lady Ponderton every time she asks, that you have not yet settled down. I could understand it if you were still green and wanting to make an impression. But you’re thirty. Thirty is beyond the age when an earl starts looking to his responsibilities and thinking about the family line. Just the other day Lady Neyfous was saying that it was such a pity—’
    He rose and poured himself a glass of claret from the decanter on the tray. That was the only good part about these encounters. Mama always provided him with the best from her cellars. Perhaps she meant it as a bribe so he would listen. Or as a reward for enduring the lectures.
    ‘—you will stay for dinner, won’t you?’
    Always the same question. ‘Yes, of course, Mama, I’d be delighted.’
    She tugged at the bell-pull. The butler entered, a gangly man with no chin and pale-blue eyes.
    ‘Have a place set for Lord Thorwynn, will you?’
    ‘Yes, my lady.’ The butler bowed so tightly from the waist that Lionel wondered if he had lumbago.
    ‘Who is this man? What the devil happened to old Matthews?’ Thorwynn asked.
    His mother sighed. ‘His name is Iggleton. He came very highly recommended. Old Matthews has been pensioned off. The poor man was starting to confuse everyone’s names. He’s gone to live with his sister in Staffordshire, I believe.’
    Things would not be the same without him.
    ‘This brings me to why I called you here.’
    Ah. Here came the moment he’d been dreading. Despite herpenchant for dramatics, his mother usually had good reasons to summon him.
    ‘It’s that Neville girl.’
    For a moment he could not place the name. Then an image flashed through his mind of a girl lying on the ground very still. He choked on his drink. ‘Nothing’s happened to her, has it?’
    His mother looked puzzled. ‘I’m not sure I understand what you mean. If it’s one of your cant terms signifying that she is increasing, then I can only say that I am shocked beyond words.’
    ‘Increasing?’ he said. He downed the claret in a gulp. He was not slow-witted, but at the moment inspiration escaped him.
    ‘In all the years I brought you up and watched you grow, I never thought for a second you would sink so low.’ She was genuinely upset. This was no moral sermon. ‘I have tolerated some of your excesses in the spirit that they were done – a young man sowing wild oats. Particularly since much of your youth was spent in the army, fighting Napoleon. You have not spoken to me of it, but I am sure that must have been a terrible ordeal.’ She focused her attention on the brocade of the sofa, following one of the patterns with her finger. ‘But this time you have crossed the line.’
    He rested his glass carefully on the table and went to her. He knelt on the floor, and took her hands.
    ‘I’m very much in the dark, Mama. Could you kindly explain what is going on?’
    She took a deep breath.
    ‘Is it possible you have not yet heard? I find that hard to credit. You are always the first to know when you have become the object of gossip.’
    His head was still spinning. What possible gossip could there be that would involve Miss Neville?
    ‘I don’t see what there is to be done. You will