The Guise of a Gentleman Read Online Free PDF

ring except the one man directly above him to whom he passes on the information.”
    Greymore’s gaze turned probing. The unspoken question, ‘were you one of those pirate captains,’ hung in the air, but Jared volunteered nothing.
    Finally removing his piercing stare, Greymore chewed on his lower lip. “We created those miscreants when we turned respectable merchants into privateers during the war.”
    Jared nodded. “After the war ended, some privateers turned to outright piracy instead of returning to honest work. And someone is organizing a number of them.”
    “A pirate coalition,” Greymore said thoughtfully. “A chilling thought. What do you know?”
    “I’ve followed the trail here to a member of the gentry or the aristocracy. Find him, we find O Ladrão .”
    Greymore frowned. “What do you propose we do? Search every house looking for incriminating evidence?”
    Jared couldn’t resist needling him a bit. “We could try to get hired on as someone’s servant and eavesdrop, but that would take an awfully long time if we do it for every house here.”
    Greymore’s frown deepened. “That, and I’m well known here. But you aren’t the only one good with disguises.”
    Grinning, Jared waved him off. “I don’t think we’ll need to resort to that.” He read through the list again. “Many of the members of the ton have shares in shipping. None of the names listed here have any obvious connections; all have suffered losses due to pirate attacks.” He looked up from the paper and stared, unseeing, out the window. “I wonder if O Ladrão has allowed his own ships to be boarded to throw suspicion off himself. The goods might be sold at a smuggler’s port and thus the losses could be recouped.”
    “Hasn’t the navy shut down all the smuggling coves?”
    “They’ve made a valiant attempt. But I know of three that remain undisturbed.”
    “What’s your plan?”
    “Garner invitations to social events so I can meet people here. Then keep my mouth shut and listen. Maybe I’ll hear something interesting.”
    “Hmm. I read somewhere that an unwed gentleman who has money must invariably be looking for a wife. If word gets out that you’re wealthy, and unmarried, all the mamas will throw parties for you.”
    Jared made a face and replied with great reluctance, “I suppose that’s one option.”
    “We’ll have to make up some wild story about how upright and virtuous you are, or everyone will see you for a rake and lock up their daughters. You’ll receive few invitations.”
    “You’ve always been good at telling tales. Very well. Tell your friends I’m an upstanding gentleman of means seeking the peace afforded by the countryside.”
    Greymore wagged a finger at him. “See to it that you behave in a manner that would not contradict that story.”
    Jared held up his hands in surrender. “I will be the picture of propriety. Although it’s gatherings that attract men folk that I want, not marriage marts filled with conniving mothers. I didn’t come here to get leg-shackled.”
    “You’ll meet the men because the ladies will have their husbands call upon you and invite you to hunt or have dinner and so forth in order to determine your suitability for their daughters. They’ll fall all over themselves to meet you.”
    “I’m only a second son.”
    The older man waved that off. “You’re the son of an earl, and you’ve amassed a fortune. Trust me, they’ll consider you ideal. Besides, women with no taste seem to find your looks tolerable.”
    “Your flattery makes me blush,” Jared murmured with a wry grin that pulled at his sore lip.
    A picture of shallow, grasping women flashed into his mind, like sharks in a feeding frenzy. At least the women here wouldn’t be afraid of him.
    “It’s my money women find attractive,” Jared added.
    “Right,” Greymore said dryly. “And it’s been how long since you’ve slept alone?”
    “A gentleman wouldn’t tell.” Actually, Greymore