Suzi Love Read Online Free PDF

at clubs about certain gentlemen having sudden windfalls. Or things gleaned at certain balls and soirees.
    “Unbelievable.” Both hands went up in the air. “That’s
certainly
as clear as muddy water.”
    “Clear or not, I’m asking you to trust me. To help me.” She held out both hands, palms up, and hoped he wouldn’t notice their tremors. “With your assistance, I can verify more names. Collect proof of each one’s involvement and hand it over to Scotland Yard. Time is of the essence, as we’ve now less than two weeks.”
    She watched him absorb, assess, decide. In under a minute, he guided her to his desk and seated her before it. “Make a start. List the names of every man you suspect to be a member.” He placed writing materials before her. “Then list those you consider inner tier, and include their ranking.”
    He walked away, leaned on the mantelpiece, waited, a too-poignant reminder of the last time he’d walked away in silence. In her naiveté, she’d imagined their carefree youth, their first love, predestined a lifetime together. Stupid, stupid fool. This powerful new duke, stalked by every husband-hunting chit and matchmaking mama and invited to prestigious social events, was far above her touch. Her chest pained with the sharp slice of loss.
    Moisture pooled in her eyes so she squeezed them shut, rubbed them with closed fists. She focused on the reasons she’d entered his residence unchaperoned. To safeguard her family and, if possible, warn her childhood champion of his future entrapment. Nothing else.
    He walked back, frowned, and pointed to the blank foolscap. “Go on, then. Names, titles, levels. What do they call it? An alliance?”
    “A circle or a coterie, with tiers of membership.” She sketched a cartwheel with radiating spokes. “Larger rings of membership decrease to a smaller number of the inner elite, the ones who hold the real power. The most desperate and the most evil.”
    “Add a column for any specifics about each of them. Next, write what evidence the Yard requires as absolute proof to take these men to trial. If they hold titles, they’ll demand exemption from incarceration, exclusion from public trial, and use every trick to avoid charges. Also, list the railway stocks you — or rather — Michael, plans to buy.”
    He grinned at her, pesky man. No doubt he saw through her ruse over who formulated their share plans, but for now she chose to ignore that, too.
    “Time was obviously spent calculating the best mathematical outcome on each locality, and forecasts plotted for their suitability for expansion. I assume that’s in those ledgers, the ones these men thought would be kept in Peggy’s cottage.”
    “I cannot disclose details of the investments Michael is planning for the women. Not yet.” She wrote quickly, filling in columns with details of the syndicate and then pushed the paper towards him. “The less you know, the less the danger. For you, and for my family.”
    She folded her hands in her lap and adopted her best big-sister-do-as-I-say voice. “You may explain any further concerns you have to my family tomorrow morning.”
    “I’m to meet your family? Huh! A request. Or one of Lady Rebecca’s royal commands?”
    “Stop being difficult.” She stood and stomped one foot. When he grinned, she scowled and stomped harder. This dratted extra-thick carpet made no satisfying sound under her foot, despite heavy maid’s boots. His grin widened until every white tooth gleamed in the firelight. Her jaw was so rigid she could barely spit out words. “Yo … you’re still the most ex … exasperating man, I’ve ever met.”
    She marched to the settee and plunked down.
    “Easily explained.” He stalked after her, threw himself down beside her. “I’m the only man who’s ever dared question your ladyship’s orders.”
    She glared, inched further along the settee, and pointed a finger at him. “Regardless, you will present yourself at Jamison House in