Sin With a Scoundrel: The Husband Hunters Club Read Online Free Page A

had a motive. It was a very sore point with Sir Henry Arlington and his men.
    “Richard, I think any answers you could find to our questions would be helpful. For now we will treat Bossenden Wood as possibly linked to the Suffolk riots. Yes, yes, Montague, I know it’s tenuous, but we can’t be too careful. All agreed? Can we have a show of hands?”
    All of the Guardians but Lord Montague raised their hands and agreed with the motion.
    “Anything else to discuss, gentlemen?”
    Richard shifted in his chair. “I have some information of sorts on Lord Horace Gilfoyle. You are all aware of my . . . more public occupation.” Several men guffawed. “Yes, I see that you are. Well, a young lady has asked for my assistance in gaining the attention of Gilfoyle.”
    It had been purely accidental that Richard fell into the game of teaching seduction. A friend had asked for his help with a difficult lady, and soon afterward he was swamped with requests. When he explained the situation to the Guardians, Sir Henry had decided it was as good a cover as any for a spy, and besides, what better way to hear all the latest gossip about town?
    “An introduction, do you mean?” asked Sir Henry now. “Surely you’re not that well acquainted with Gilfoyle?”
    “No, no, not an introduction. In fact the young lady is well acquainted with Gilfoyle herself. It’s more that she wishes to attract his attention in a romantic way. In fact she imagines she wishes to marry him.” He ended with a serious note in his voice.
    There was a moment’s silence as they all considered the possibilities. Horace Gilfoyle had been a man of interest to the Guardians for some time, for although he was from a respectable and wealthy family himself, he had a penchant for living on the edge of society and rubbing shoulders with rascals. They had been following his exploits and noting his friends and contacts. And of particular interest was the news that he’d been in Suffolk during one of the Captain riots.
    “I take it this young lady is an unattractive piece?” Sir Henry’s eyes narrowed through the smoke, but there was a twinkle in them that made Richard uncomfortable. The other man had always been adept at reading his mind.
    “No, she’s far from unattractive, but that isn’t the point, is it?” He hesitated but decided to keep his indecision to himself—it was none of their business that after a long night wrestling with his conscience, he wasn’t sure whether he could abet Miss Smythe in her plan to marry a man who might be a murderer. “I’ve accepted her commission. It will give me a chance to discover more about Gilfoyle. The lady’s brother is a longtime close friend of Gilfoyle’s, apparently, so she sees quite a bit of him.”
    “So the brother may be of interest as well?”
    “That’s a possibility.”
    “Good. You may have some things to tell us the next time we meet, Richard. Gentlemen!” He looked about the table. “I think we are done.”
    They began to leave, but catching a meaningful glance from Sir Henry, Richard lingered until they were alone.
    “How long since you’ve been back to your home in Kent, Richard?” his superior asked in an even tone. “Your brother has been dead for years. The house is yours, is it not?”
    “Yes, it is. My sister-in-law lives there.”
    “And yet you stay away?”
    “There’s nothing for me to go back for.”
    “I understand how keenly you feel the need to find your brother’s killer, whether or not it was this Captain. But surely you don’t still blame yourself? Anthony knew what sort of work he was involved in. Just as we all do. You cannot blame yourself for what happened to him.”
    “I have always believed I could have prevented his death. If I hadn’t fallen out with him. If I’d been there for him. He might have spoken to me—come to me for help.”
    “Romantic nonsense. You were not your brother’s keeper!”
    When Richard didn’t say any more, Sir Henry shrugged