Reckless Rules (Brambridge Novel 4) Read Online Free PDF

could.”
    Victoria nodded slowly. Miss Fanthorpe’s case had merit. If she had been able to do so, Victoria would have paid for information on Lord Colchester before she had married the man, and she recommended every woman did so. Victoria had already lived through one marriage based on lies and subterfuge. She would never endure another.
    Yet despite Miss Fanthorpe’s confidence that she would be in control, Mr. Cryne was a slippery man. No amount of information would be able to predict how he would react to being held hostage by her knowledge of his debts.
    “I do believe we have finished here,” Victoria said crisply. “If I might approach the subject of payment?”
    “My man of affairs has already made the donation that you requested to the James Robertson Pauper establishment in Hoxton. Where should I send the payment on the completion of the second investigation?”
    “Edward Deacon’s Work House in Mile End,” Victoria said. She was also one of the patrons of that particular establishment. It didn’t do to funnel too many funds into just the one place. She didn’t want too many questions being asked about why so many of the ton were suddenly becoming interested in the welfare of the poor. It would be bad for her investigation business.
    “Excellent. Now then, have you seen the new production led by David Garrick? I thought Keane was marvelous.” Miss Fanthorpe pulled Martha from her seat and they followed Victoria out of the powder room.
    Victoria let herself be drawn into the small talk. It was a good change of tempo and an excellent camouflage to what had been a very successful meeting. They had in fact been very fortunate that no other ladies had entered the powder room.
    As they entered the hallway to a babble of female voices, the reason for their privacy was clear.
    “Do tell us about some of your experiences in the forge, Mr. Standish?”
    “Oh no, I would rather hear about his manor house. You have very secluded views of the sea I hear?”
    “Oh my,” Miss Fanthorpe muttered. “Would you look at that? Now that is a man who it would be interesting to know about.”
    Victoria followed Miss Fanthorpe’s rigid gaze and blinked slowly in frustration. Bill stood opposite the entrance of the powder room, leaning his massive shoulders against the wall. He had taken his coat off, revealing his immaculate shirt and waistcoat straining against his hard muscles. Ladies and their companions crowded around him, batting their eyelashes, uncaring as to who should see their behavior.
    “Dreadful,” she murmured quietly, but loud enough that those on the edge of the group would hear. Many of the younger girls gave her quick worried glances, and without a murmur, slipped away, dragging their companions with them. One in particular gave her a horrified look.
    “Miss Armistead,” Victoria said flatly. She almost laughed as the girl picked up her skirts and trotted away without waiting for her companion. That just left the widows, many of them seasoned women with fortunes to match.
    “Just because you, Lady Colchester, are a paragon of virtue,” one of them said snidely, “doesn’t mean to say we can’t have some fun.”
    “Yes. Mr. Standish could make me very happy,” another preened, shooting Bill a low look from beneath her lashes.
    Bill’s Adam's apple moved as he swallowed.
    Victoria smiled.
    “If you would excuse me ladies, Lady Colchester has requested a private conversation with me,” Bill said. Victoria started and brought her gaze up to his devilishly handsome face. He grinned at her unrepentantly. “She said it was urgent.”
    The widows tittered and remained where they were, keen to see the perfect Lady Colchester put a step wrong. How could Bill have put me in this position? He knew how she felt about his continued advances. Or at least he should. She had been quite firm in the face of his… onslaught. Victoria guiltily pushed down the memories of carefree cart rides in Brambridge,