One Naughty Night2 Read Online Free Page A

ruffles.
    For an instant, another image flashed in his mind, of a different lady altogether. The woman who stood at the window of the house that was to let as he drove past. He had caught only a glimpse of her, a pale, heart-shaped face and shining brown hair. She was so still and serene-looking—until her white cheeks turned pink at his bold wave.
    There was something so oddly familiar about her. He felt like he should know her, remember her, but the memory was just frustratingly out of reach. He only knew he had to find her again and discover who she was.
    “Are you listening to me, Aidan?” his father barked.
    Aidan glanced up to see his father sneakily pouring a tot of brandy into his tea. “Mother will be furious if she catches you with that. Didn’t the doctor say no brandy?”
    “We aren’t talking about me, you impudent boy! We are talking about
you
, and your refusal to do your duty.”
    “You’ll have to leave all that heir business to David. He’s your firstborn, the future duke and all that. I don’t care to marry yet.”
    “Your brother is worse than you are. He won’t even leave the country, preferring instead to pretend to be a stable hand on his estate rather than behave properly. I have the two most ungrateful children in existence.”
    “Yes, yes,” Aidan said impatiently. He had heard of his inadequacies and those of his elder brother for years. It was very boring now—especially when he needed to hunt down a certain lady. “We are wretched indeed.”
    “Well, I daresay you will change your mind soon enough when you meet the right girl. Just as I did when I met your mother. But that isn’t the only reason I wanted to see you.”
    “Is it not? How astonishing. What else have I done wrong this week?”
    The duke ignored him. “It’s your mother’s silly nephew William again. He’s made a new investment and thinks I should look into it as well.”
    “Oh? What is it this time?” Aidan asked casually, swinging his booted feet. Bill was constantly getting into speculative schemes and trying to involve his family in them too. Aidan steered clear—they failed more often than not. “Canals? Ships on the India trade?”
    “A gambling club. Something very much in your line, I should think.”
    Now that was a surprise. “A what, Father? Has Bill turned gamester on top of everything else?”
    “I shouldn’t think so. He’s terrible at numbers, like everyone in your mother’s family. He says this is strictly an investment.”
    “It sounds risky even for him. And especially for you.”
    “Not as risky as all that. It’s to be an elegant, members-only sort of place, right around the corner from this street. All these brainless aristocrats will flock there and are sure to lose their money at such foolish things as faro.”
    “Right around the corner, eh?” Aidan said, his interest piqued. Perhaps it was the house with the dark-haired lady in the window? “And who is to be the proprietor of this elegant place?”
    “A Mr. Dominic St. Claire. Surely you know of him, as you’re always hanging about the theaters.”
    Aidan’s interest rose. “I do know of the St. Claires. William St. Claire owns the Majestic Theater, and I heard Dominic St. Claire was a great Hamlet there only last month.” Was the woman a St. Claire, then?
    It was his lucky day.
    “So what then, Father?” Aidan said, concealing hisinterest. It would never do to arouse the duke’s suspicions. “You want me to put my money into this club as well?”
    “Certainly not! You can’t afford to lose so much as a shilling. I just want you to inspect the place for me when it opens, see if it looks to be a good investment.” The duke tried on a cajoling smile, always a bad sign. “I can’t get out much with this damned chair, and I want to be sure of my money. It wouldn’t hurt for you to meet some of the club’s members either.”
    “Fine,” Aidan said. As far as familial errands went, inspecting a gambling club