A Rose Between the Thornes Read Online Free PDF

replenish something else?”
    Tobbert bowed, a twinkle in his eyes. “As you say. I trust neither of you will be bothered from now on. Not now you have made certain arrangements.”
    Nat stared at him. “What do you mean by that?” How the hell had his valet got hold of such news, so fast? Itwas well known servants knew everything, but not usually so far in advance. Be that as it may, he swore sometimes the staff knew he had been laid even before he did. “What do you know of our arrangements, Tobbert?”
    “Nothing concrete thus far, my lord, as I believe you have yet to set your plans in motion,” his valet said correctly. “However, I do know of a house that may be of interest to you both for this, ahem, endeavor whilst you are in town. In a quiet square not five minutes from here. Secluded, with two private entrances,” he paused. “I have taken the liberty of securing it for you.”
    Nat’s eyes narrowed. Was the man a mind reader? He had often wondered. “When did you do this? We have but only decided the outcome of our activities mere hours ago.”
    “Ah, but the chase has been on for several weeks now, and I have faith in your abilities,” Tobbert said with the familiarity of an old retainer.
    “And you condone this, what you suspect we are about to do?” Nat was incredulous. Tobbert and Jasper’s valet Stimson would support them to the death, but this seemed unusual in the extreme.
    Tobbert looked at him levelly. “I’ve known you for over thirty years, and I’ve steered you through more scrapes than I care to remember, my lord. The lady is truly that, a lady, and both Stimson and I feel she will be good for you both. It remains to be seen if you will be good for her. We can but trust you, and hope so.”
    I should have remembered servants see all and know everything that happens. “Tobby.” Nat used his childhood name for the man who had gladly followed him around Europe, curbed his excesses, and stopped him from acting on some of his more extreme ideas. “I can only do the same.” Nat’s reply was heartfelt. “So this house?”
    “Ah yes, the house.”
    Four hours later, he stood in his brother’s bedchamber and recounted the conversation that had ensured between him and his valet.
    “And I believe ‘twill be perfect for us. I trust Tobbert—and Stimson—implicitly to know our needs, perhaps even more than we do. As I can’t imagine our lady will wish to come here,” he continued, “I think it could well be our answer.”
    Jasper, newly washed and shaved, shrugged off his dressing gown and into his riding jacket, one of the few garments he needed no help with. Today he favored brown, Nathaniel blue. As they could easily exchange clothes, the color they wore was no help in deciding who was who.
    “You could well be correct in your assumption,” Jas agreed as he checked his appearance in the looking glass. “Good for Tobbert; so do we visit the property? Arrange for furnishing? Or leave it to Tobbert?”
    “We visit, see where we want our personal furnishings to go, and leave the rest in his and Stimson’s hands.” Nat laughed. “For only we know exactly how our furnishings should be placed. There is no point in rushing things. We have the new hunting lodge not two hours away, which is ready and waiting for us.”
    Jasper nodded. “So we begin there?”
    “We begin there.”
    Jas grinned, a wicked evil grin, the sort that would set maidenly hearts aflutter, though excitement, or apprehension, depended on the lady in question. To Nat it merely reflected his own thoughts and anticipation. Surely the thrill of the chase almost compared to the thrill of coming in a hot, tight, willing cunt or arse?
    “So you will set phase one in motion? As we discussed?”
    Nat laughed and clapped his brother’s shoulder. “’Twill be my pleasure. In two days hence.”
    ***
    Sophia sat at the breakfast table, Hermione next to her. Both ladies were perusing their post.
    “Bother,” she said