Loretta Chase - The Devil's Delilah Read Online Free PDF Page A

earl snapped. "I didn't ask them here for their amusement or yours, and I mean to be rid of them as soon as possible. Your mother is still in fits, and she doesn't know the half of it." Lord Streetham proceeded to tell his son the whole of it — or most of it, for he did not reveal precisely what revelations he feared. He dwelt instead upon the ignorance of the public and the jealousy of political rivals. The latter, he insisted, would snatch at any straw that might discredit him.
    "They will twist minor peccadillos out of all recognition and make me appear unfit to lead," he stiffly explained. "What you or I, as men of the world, would shrug off as youthful folly they will exaggerate into weakness of character. Mere boyish pranks will be transformed into heinous crimes."
    He turned from the window in time to catch his son grinning. The grin was hastily suppressed.
    "I'm delighted you find this so amusing," said Lord Streetham coldly. "Doubtless your mother will find it equally so, particularly when she grows reluctant to go about in public, for fear of hearing her former friends snickering behind their fans, or — and I'm sure this will be most humorous — enduring their expressions of pity."
    Lord Berne became properly solemn. "I beg your pardon, My Lord. I did not mean — "
    "I'll tell you what you mean, you rattle! You mean to relieve Desmond of that confounded manuscript."
    "I?"
    "The girl, you idiot. If you must dally with her, then do so with a purpose. I am unable to locate the memoirs. That does not surprise me. Desmond is cunning. She may be equally so — certainly her mother is — but she is a female, and all females can be managed."
    Since Lord Berne had never met a young woman he couldn't manage, he could hardly find fault with this reasoning. Nor, being sufficiently intelligent, was he slow to grasp what his father wished him to do.
    "You believe I might persuade her to turn this manuscript over to me, sir?" he asked.
    Lord Streetham uttered a sigh of vexation. "Why else would I impose so on that depraved brain of yours? Of course that is what I wish. Now go away and do it," he ordered.
    Lord Berne went away not altogether pleased with his assignment — which was rather odd, considering this was the first time his father had ever trusted him with any matter of importance. Furthermore, what was at stake was power, and the viscount had selfish reasons for preferring that his father's not be diminished in any way. Lord Street-ham's influence had more than once saved his son from an undesirable marriage, not to mention tiresome interviews with constables.
    The trouble was, the son was accustomed to pursue pleasure for its own sake. Though he would have been delighted to dally with the ravishing Miss Desmond, doing so as a means to an end was very like work , and his aristocratic soul shuddered at the prospect.
    Still, he thought, his noble sire could not possibly expect him to begin this minute. Consequently, Lord Berne took himself to the water tower for a cold bath, and remained there, coolly meditating, for two hours.
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    Chapter 3

    I hough she had bathed and dressed leisurely, Miss Desmond discovered she had still the remainder of the afternoon to get through and no idea what to do with herself.
    Lady Streetham, Delilah knew, was not eager for her company, and the feeling was mutual. Papa was having a nap. Her host was closeted with his steward. Lord Berne, according to her maid, had not yet returned to the house.
    Clearly, Miss Desmond would have to provide her own amusement until tea. The prospect was not appealing. She could not play billiards, because that was unladylike. She doubted very much her hosts would approve her gambling with the servants. For the same reason, she could not spend the time in target practice. This enforced inactivity left her to her reflections, which were not agreeable.
    Though she'd made light of it to her father, last night's contretemps preyed on her mind. It was no good