Her Notorious Viscount Read Online Free PDF

both their workings to likely do quite well at it.” He took the cigar from his mouth and smiled. “And I have not fathered a hundred children. None that I am aware of, as I am exceedingly careful, you see. When it comes to the underground…”
    He looked away, turning his face full into the moonlight, and Jane caught her breath. There was something sad in his expression. Just for a fleeting moment, but she saw it nonetheless.
    “That is true. I did box in the underground matches. And made myself a tidy fortune that has nothing to do with my father’s coffers. So you can report that back to whichever lady you work for. I assume she sent you here to find out about me and see if I’m worthy of marrying. Or bedding.”
    With heat burning her cheeks, Jane shook her head. “You misunderstand me, sir. I was not sent here by my employer. Lady Ridgefield is not looking for a husband. She doesn’t know I came at all.”
    “Lady Ridgefield?” Stoneworth repeated in surprise. “Ah yes, well, Her Ladyship and I are not quite of an age, are we?”
    Jane felt her lips twitching with a smile that she suppressed. “My errand is none but my own. You see, four years ago my elder brother disappeared after a series of increasingly bitter rows with my father. Since my father’s death, my cousin has had my brother declared dead and taken over the title, but I do not believe that declaration to be true. I have pored over my father’s papers, but there is little information. Only that Marcus was last seen two years ago in the underground by a man my father hired to bring him back to us. And then…nothing.”
    Stoneworth stared at her blankly. “If your father was titled, why do you work as a lady’s maid? Surely your cousin will provide you with some living.”
    “He has offered to do so.” Jane lifted her chin with as much pride as she had left. “But I would not take a farthing from that charlatan. Acting like he has the authority to do anything with the title or the money that is rightly my brother’s.”
    “Why not marry then?” he asked.
    She pursed her lips. “Who would have me? My brother’s reputation is out in enough circles, and then there is the tiny fact that I am essentially a servant now.” She straightened her shoulders. “But even if those things were not true, I could not put my thoughts into marriage, not with Marcus still missing. My whole attention must be put toward finding him. And helping him back to health once he is found and returned to his lawful position.”
    Nicholas’s brow wrinkled as if he had some argument with that, but he didn’t press the issue. “And where do I come into this somewhat tragic little tale?”
    Jane pursed her lips at his dismissive tone. “If you did, indeed, live in that underground world, then you may have connections with those who knew my brother. I thought that if—”
    He held up a hand as he let out a long sigh. “What is your brother’s name?”
    She stepped forward, her blood quickening with excitement. “Lord Marcus Fenton. He would have been Viscount Fenton after my father’s death, but my cousin—”
    “Stole the title, yes.” Stoneworth stepped away from her, his earlier flirtatious demeanor gone. Now it seemed he did not even want to look at her. “I do not know his name, I am sorry, miss. You will have to find someone else to help you.”
    Jane shook her head in disbelief. “N-no. There is no one else! Do you not think I have looked? Since my father’s death last year, since my cousin instigated his treachery, I have searched far and wide and spent what little money I saved from my pin allowance over the years, but with no results.”
    “And why do you think my help would bring you more results than you have obtained already?”
    She stepped toward him, hands held up in mute entreaty, though she hated to beg. “I never had someone assisting me who actually knew the world Marcus may be trapped in. You are the only one. Please,