Regency 02 - Betrayal Read Online Free PDF Page B

lightly on the chest. “I would
not have asked if I didn’t want to know,” she replied with a smile
that took the sting out of her action.
    He had to smile. “I have a problem,” he
began, his smile disappearing as he thought about Lady
Rothsmere.
    Raven waited patiently, knowing Adam would
only continue when he was ready. When he rose and dressed, she sat
up, a little puzzled but still silent.
    Pausing with his hands in the middle of tying
his cravat, he said reflectively, “I find myself encumbered with a
certain burden who refuses to…cooperate.”
    This was enough to arouse Raven’s curiosity.
Rising and pulling on a robe, she asked, “Can I help in any
way?”
    Gazing at his beautiful mistress
thoughtfully, he nodded. “Perhaps.” Glancing at the clock on the
mantle, he smiled. “We are both late now, my dear. I am due at
White’s and you should be at the theater.”

    “You look awfully pensive, old man. What’s to
do?”
    Adam didn’t bother to rise. He simply
gestured to the seat opposite and waited for Connor to sit
down.
    “Nothing is wrong except I have a runaway
heiress in my house and a sick feeling in my stomach that she would
actually be better off with me than with her own family.”
    “I wondered if you had realized,” Con said
seriously. He ordered from the waiter that approached and sat
silently until the man had left before continuing. “I have to admit
that I wonder what would make one of the richest titled ladies run
away and actually prefer to be left to die as a petty thief in
Newgate. She must have been desperate.”
    “Or out for a lark that went desperately
wrong?” Adam inserted cynically.
    Connor considered that for a split second
before firmly shaking his head. “I think some investigation into
her family is called for, Adam. Her actions are too extreme. Even
for a woman of her stubborn hardheadedness.”
    Agreeing reluctantly, Adam added, “If they
discover I’m back before I learn anything, I will have to return
her. I can’t legally hold her. She is underage, Con.”
    The subject seemed closed for the moment. The
friends ate steadily for a while before Connor cleared his throat
and said, “I have to go back to Denbigh soon.”
    Adam’s fork paused en route to his
mouth. He set it down on his plate and pushed the plate away. “How
soon?”
    “I wanted to leave tomorrow.”
    “You can’t,” Prestwich returned bluntly.
    “I can’t?” His tone was disbelieving.
    “No, you can’t. What if something happens to
Bri? I can’t take care of a feverish countess who hates the very
sight of me. What if she dies, Con?”
    “That’s your own fault,” Con retorted. “Her
hating you, I mean. As for the rest, I can wait only a few days. I
will leave as soon as her fever breaks. After that, you will have
no problem.”
    “She was starving.”
    “I know. It wasn’t hard to tell.”
    “She can’t keep anything down. What if she
still dies even after the fever breaks?”
    By now, Adam could hear the worry and
desperation in his own voice. And he hated it.
    “After the play tonight,” Con replied in a
seeming non sequitur , “we will go to the green room and
visit your friend the Swan.”
    “Why do you—”
    “Trust me,” Con interrupted forcefully.
“Don’t worry.” He rose to his feet and prepared to take his leave.
“Come around for me at half past seven if you will. Until
then.”

Chapter Six

    The Theatre Royal in Drury Lane that evening
was crowded despite the lack of Society in Town. Hundreds of
candles blazed in large chandeliers poised above the full pit
below. Even the boxes were crowded with those members of the ton who either stayed in London all year or were there on
some business or other.
    Adam and Connor were of the latter group.
Connor preferred to spend his time in the country with his wife and
children and Adam had never found London very interesting when
Parliament was not in session.
    The play started and Adam marveled anew at
the