The Elusive Lord Everhart: The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

penultimate curve, the sole of his boot clanking against each iron tread. “So, you’ve come here with your bride, then?”
    Before Croft could answer, Danvers strolled into the room. “I went to tell Montwood that we have guests, but he has disappeared again.”
    “He has a knack for doing that whenever I am around,” Croft said. “And in my opinion, he should keep to that habit.”
    Danvers laughed. “Strangely, you are not the first to have said that. Apparently, Montwood collects ill favor as one collects snuff boxes.” He walked over to the mahogany sideboard and poured a dram of Irish whiskey into each of three glasses. “But all in all, he isn’t a bad fellow.”
    Croft accepted a glass with a salute. “Perhaps you would think differently if he’d threatened to elope with your wife.”
    “Then I need never worry.” Danvers tossed a nod in Gabriel’s direction as he set the third glass on the oval table in front of the sofa. “Nor Everhart, I imagine.”
    “True,” Gabriel agreed, but the word came out dry, parched. He sensed a need for the fortifying drink but didn’t trust his good leg to hop down the final two steps and across the room to get it. Unfortunately, that was also where he’d left his cane.
    Croft tossed back his drink. “Gentlemen, my curiosity is piqued by your certainty.”
    “Some may call it an oath. While others . . . ” Danvers added as he returned to the sideboard, “might call it a wager.”
    “Do not tell me you’ve tossed your coin into the same pot against Montwood.” Croft shot to the heart of the matter quickly. When he looked from one man to the other, he shook his head and laughed. “For your sakes, I pray it was a small sum.”
    Danvers shrugged. “This is no card trick; therefore, no risk involved. It comes down to a choice of will or won’t .”
    The words were stated with such simplicity that it was impossible not to believe them.
    Croft shook his head again. “The same way you choose to take each breath, I suppose? I will breathe—I won’t . . . ”
    Gabriel swallowed. Hard.
    He knew precisely what Croft was saying. Gabriel had once felt so consumed by love that he’d had no choice in the matter. Or at least, that’s what he’d imagined at the time. Thankfully, he need not worry about being so foolish again. Croft’s interference had helped Gabriel come to that realization five years ago.
    They’d been at Vauxhall Gardens. Croft had accompanied his sister on an evening tour. Gabriel, Brightwell, and their small circle of friends were also among the party. When the fireworks distracted the group, Croft had pulled Gabriel aside, shielding them from the others. “You have wounded my sister, Everhart, and for that I could easily kill you,” he’d said in a lethal hiss. “If anyone harms my family, I repay them tenfold.”
    Gabriel remembered taking an involuntary step back. “ I don’t know what you mean, sir.”
    “I am speaking of the letter. Yes, that letter.” And that was when Croft had taken him by the throat. “If you thought that omitting your signature would keep me from discovering your identity, you were mistaken. You encouraged her affections only to toy with them, the same way you’ve done to those other young women to whom you wrote. With what I know, I could have you arrested under charges of Unlawful Intent and Licentious Seduction of an Innocent. Upon conviction, they would burn a brand into your flesh that you would wear for the rest of your days. Do you want to bring utter humiliation to your father and grandmother? Is that what you choose?”
    “To make amends . . . I could marry her,” Gabriel had rasped, unable to swallow. Delirious, he clearly hadn’t known what he was saying. Essentially, he’d offered to exchange one form of death for another.
    “And have my sister married to a man who would so easily dally with her emotions? Never.” Croft had tightened his grip. “There will be no more letters. And you will