One Sinful Night Read Online Free PDF

quietly, Grayson? I don’t want to show our hand until we have absolute proof.” Aidan rubbed his throbbing temples with the pads of his fingers. It was foolish of him to drink to excess last night, but seeing Vivienne brought back so many painful memories he needed to drown them to block them out of his head.
    â€œOf course, my lord.”
    â€œI’m stuck here in the country until this hellish week is over. Then I’ll be back in London. It’s actually fortunate that I’m out of town. He won’t believe that I suspect him if I’m here.”
    â€œHe’s here as well, my lord.” Grayson offered the news calmly.
    Aidan frowned in surprise. “Jackson Harlow is here at Bingham Hall?”
    â€œHe arrived just before I did this morning. Another guest of the Duchess of Bingham.”
    â€œI thought Jane Havilland had more discriminating taste than that.” Aidan closed his eyes briefly in silence and opened them again. “Actually it may just be a fortunate bit of luck that Harlow is here. Now I can keep an eye on him myself, and perhaps attain some information from him. Meanwhile you can continue the investigation of his affairs in London and keep watch over those hired thugs of his.”
    â€œYes, my lord.” Grayson paused, then questioned hesitantly, “If you don’t mind my asking, are you quite well? You don’t look very good.”
    â€œJust a little too much to drink last night, and I’m paying for it dearly today,” Aidan admitted wearily.
    Grayson smiled sympathetically, but raised his eyebrows. “That’s not like you, my lord. I trust all is well?”
    â€œYes. It’s fine,” he answered dismissively. “I shall return to London on Monday. Hopefully you will have discovered some evidence before then. Please send a messenger the minute you learn anything new.”
    â€œBe careful of Harlow. He’s a rough character,” Grayson warned.
    â€œSo are those thugs of his in London. Watch your back as well, Grayson.” Aidan rose to his feet and escorted him from the library.
    Once his assistant was in a carriage on his way back to London, Aidan still had another task to accomplish. He would have preferred to go back to bed and recover in peace from last night’s debacle, but a meeting with his mother was unavoidable. As much as he did not want to, especially in his present condition, he had to see her. Aidan walked through the grand house, one of the largest estates in the country, in search of Susana Kavanaugh, and he had a fair idea of where he could locate her.
    As expected, he found her playing cards in the ladies’ drawing room. It was a light and airy room, bearing the distinctive flair of the Duchess of Bingham’s decorative touch. And there sat Lady Susana Kavanaugh, the Countess of Whitlock, in her usual regal pose, her head held high, her back ramrod straight, playing cards with Lady Downey.
    His mother looked up as he entered, her keen eyes missing nothing. He could tell by the look on her face that she was not in the least bit happy with him.
    Aidan greeted the two women. “Good afternoon, Mother. Lady Downey. How are you ladies this fine day?”
    Lady Downey smiled warmly at him. “It’s always nice to see you, Aidan, dear. It seems your mother has beaten me yet again. But if you will excuse me, I think I shall take a little nap before supper. And I expect you to sit beside me this evening, Aidan.” The sweet elderly woman had the audacity to wink at him. “It’s not every day that I get to spend time with the most eligible and handsomest bachelor in London!”
    â€œOh, really, Margaret!” Lady Whitlock rolled her eyes at her friend.
    â€œIt would be my honor to escort you to supper, Lady Downey.” Aidan gallantly kissed her hand while she batted her lashes at him. Might as well give the old bird a little thrill.
    As Lady Downey shuffled with