Love and Larceny Read Online Free PDF Page B

in Lord Hastings’s intelligence corps
but politely refused.”
    Interesting. Wynn knew that Sinclair himself
was rumored to be a member of the intelligence corps. He’d
certainly been part of the investigation of the French spy the
night Wynn had met Daphne. But that Sheridan had refused to join
that exalted company puzzled Wynn. It would have seemed a natural
use of his talents, convincing others to spill their secrets for
king and Country.
    “Then he’s a member of the aristocracy,” Lord
Brentfield surmised.
    “He is accepted,” Sinclair agreed, with
enough of a lift of his dark brow that Wynn was reminded Sinclair’s
father was not only titled but a famous Parliamentarian, highly
revered by Society. “His parents died when he was young. I believe
he was raised by a spinster aunt under duress.”
    Now Sheridan was attempting to commend
himself to Lady Rollings, if the way Daphne’s mother was simpering
was any indication. Still, Wynn couldn’t help a momentary feeling
of kinship for the fellow. His own father had died of consumption
when Wynn was ten. For a time, it was feared his mother and sisters
might have contracted the disease as well, and Wynn had suddenly
found himself facing the fact that not only was he now the man of
the family but potentially the last member of the family standing.
He wouldn’t have even had a maiden aunt to raise him. How hard must
it have been for Sheridan, raised in a household where he always
felt beholden?
    “What say you, gentlemen?” the earl asked,
his own blue gaze on Sheridan and the ladies. “Should we extend an
invitation to Mr. Sheridan to join our little party?”
    Sinclair shrugged his powerful shoulders.
“The more the merrier I say, my lord. Fairfax?”
    They were both regarding Wynn. Here was his
chance to tell them to send the fellow packing. Why should he
encourage any additional competition for Daphne’s hand?
    Yet what sort of man feared competition?
    “Certainly, my lord,” Wynn said. “And I
commend your hospitality.”
    Daphne laughed then, the joyful sound
carrying across the still waters of the pond. Sinclair and Lord
Brentfield smiled before the younger man excused himself to go find
Ariadne.
    Lord Brentfield took a step closer to Wynn.
“And I commend your generosity, Fairfax. Not many men would
encourage a rival. But then again, perhaps our Daphne already knows
the gentleman she prefers.”
    That, unfortunately, was exactly what Wynn
feared.
     

Chapter Five

    After a quick consultation with David and the
taciturn butler, Hannah extended an invitation to the fascinating
Mr. Sheridan. He promised to return shortly with his things after
thanking her ladyship and Daphne with great charm and wit on the
north lawn.
    “Even though we are all spoken for,” Ariadne
said, swishing her white muslin skirts as she watched him ride off
toward the far wood, “it never hurts to have another presentable
gentleman about.”
    “Indeed,” Priscilla agreed, head cocked so
that her fashionable chip bonnet pressed her golden curls against
her creamy cheek. “Just because you’re full doesn’t mean you can’t
admire the cakes on display.”
    “I for one would prefer to know what’s inside
that cake,” Emily put in with a frown, hands brushing her navy
skirts. “What do we know of Mr. Sheridan? What is his purpose for
rusticating in the area?”
    Daphne frowned as well. “You begin to sound
like Lady Minerva.”
    Emily blushed, glancing to where her elderly
aunt and Daphne’s mother were strolling together. By the few words
that drifted across the lawn, Lady Minerva was apparently
attempting to school Daphne’s mother on the finer points of raising
willful young women. Lady Rollings’s countenance was growing redder
by the moment. Ariadne excused herself to go intercept the pair,
and Hannah and Priscilla moved to join their gentlemen where they
were studying the reflecting pond as if with every intention of
either fishing or diving in.
    “Forgive