A Dash of Scandal Read Online Free PDF Page B

swoon.
    â€œActually, you are so late I thought you had decided not to show. I was just thinking about calling it a night.”
    â€œSorry to be delayed.”
    â€œNo harm done,” Chandler said. “I thought you must still be dallying—I mean dancing with the young ladies. There seem to be more of them this year.”
    Like Chandler and Andrew, Fines worked at seeing how many of the coming-out ladies he could convince to take a forbidden walk in the garden with him. No matter how bad the Threesome’s reputation got, there were always one or two new ladies each Season who couldn’t resist them.
    â€œYou must be deep into your cups, man. It’s near dawn. All the parties were over hours ago. I truly thought you’d be long gone but had to check just in case you were here, and it’s a good thing I did.”
    Fines looked around the room, spotted a waiter, and motioned for a glass before he plopped down in the seat opposite Chandler and made an attempt to loosen his neckcloth.
    Chandler shifted in his chair and looked around the dimly lit room. Most of the tables in the taproom were empty. No doubt the gaming rooms would have thinned as well by this hour, with only the stout gamblers and drinkers around to see the morning break.
    â€œWell, I didn’t realize I’d been here that long, but perhaps I have.”
    â€œSounds to me like you have been woolgathering.”
    Fines knew him too well, and Chandler wasn’t sure he was as pleased about that as he once was. “Don’t make me sound as if I’m in my dotage.”
    â€œA year ago, I would have found you gambling at a table, not sitting drinking here by yourself.”
    â€œI was merely relaxing with my brandy. So tell me, where have you been while I’ve been patiently waiting?”
    â€œImpatiently is more like it, ol’ chap. Don’t try to fool me. I know you too well.” He cleared his throat and sniffed. “I just came from Anne’s. Sorry to keep you, but I was in the mood and didn’t want to lose it, you know.”
    Chandler felt a twinge of envy. He hadn’t felt in the mood to see his mistress lately, which was why he had dismissed her with a considerable sum not more than a month ago. In years past he would have been into another relationship before the day ended, but he was restless and felt he was looking for something more or different.
    â€œSo tell me, was there a jewel you danced with this evening who put you in a strain to see Anne?”
    â€œAll of them.” He laughed. “You know how I love beautiful ladies, and I would take every one of them to my bed if I could.”
    â€œYou love all women, Fines, not just the beautiful ones.”
    â€œTrue. I rather like changing my affections from one lady to another: It would be positively tiresome to settle on one, don’t you think?”
    Tiresome to settle on one lady? Chandler used to think so, too, but now he planned to do just that after he apprehended the thief.
    â€œHmm. It’s not something you are trying to accomplish, is it?”
    â€œDamn, no, Dunraven. Don’t startle me this early in the morning. I’m not up to it. Me make a match?” He shook his head. “The devil take me if I do.” Fines picked up the bottle of brandy and poured a generous amount into the glass that had been set before him.
    Chandler laughed. “Nothing would please me more than seeing a young lady sweep your legs right out from under you and land you prone at her feet.”
    Fines grimaced. “What a horrible thought. I’d just as soon grovel at the king’s feet. No doubt Andrew put such a foolish notion in your head. Just yesterday he said to me that one of us should start acting respectable before Society gives up on us and no longer seeks us out for their daughters. Can you believe such poppycock?”
    â€œHe mentioned something similar to me, but I doubt that will