The Lady In Question Read Online Free PDF

hadn’t thought of her eyes as seductive before now. It was probably no more than a strange quirk of the late afternoon light in the library. The same light that was responsible for turning her fair hair into a golden halo around her head. Ironic, as he had no doubt she was a far cry from anything approaching angelic.
    “Gordon, I have a confession to make.”
    His muscles tensed. “Yes, my lady?”
    “I don’t quite know how to say this.” A look of helplessness crossed her face and he knew, with an instinct that had served him well in the past, this confession had nothing to do with his purpose here. He steeled himself against a surprising stab of sympathy. Whatever else she might be, she had lost her husband, and one could only assume she would not have married Wilmont if she had not harbored some affection for him.
    “Yes?”
    “It’s just…” — she waved her hand over the papers — “all of this. I haven’t the faintest idea what to do about it.”
    “Forgive me, my lady, but I’m not certain I understand,” he said slowly.
    “This has all been awaiting my return and must be dealt with at once. There are bills and statements of banking accounts and documents about interests Lord Wilmont held and property he owned and heaven knows what else, and” — panic sounded in her voice — “I don’t even know where to begin.”
    “Perhaps Lord Wilmont’s solicitor could —”
    “No, no.” She brushed off his suggestion with an impatient gesture. “I met with him yesterday and, well, I didn’t like him. No, that’s not entirely accurate. I didn’t” — she thought for a moment — “trust him, I suppose. I know it sounds foolish, obviously Lord Wilmont trusted him, but there was something about him…”
    Whatever else the woman’s failings might be, she had excellent instincts. About this, at least. For reasons of security, Wilmont’s solicitor, Mr. Edmund Danvers, handled Tony’s financial affairs as well as those of the other men he worked with. In truth, the man was as much a part of the department as Tony himself, but Danvers was a strange sort and Tony had never quite gotten over his own discomfort with him. He didn’t entirely trust him either.
    “Perhaps your family could —”
    “No.” Her chin lifted slightly and there was a spark of defiance in her eye. “I would much prefer not to involve them in anything regarding my late husband.” Her gaze dropped to the papers on the desk and her voice was resigned. “Besides, they are not especially fond of me at the moment.”
    The tone in her voice softened something within him and he had the strangest impulse to offer her comfort. He pushed the thought aside. He was here to protect her and, with luck, learn what she knew, if anything, of her husband’s work and what he had found — nothing else. Besides, he was to be her servant, not her friend.
    “Surely under the proper —”
    “Gordon.” Her gaze caught his. “Are you aware of my circumstances?”
    Of course he was aware of her circumstances. Who in London was not? Even disregarding his own connection to Wilmont and his personal knowledge of the events of six months ago and the past few weeks that went well beyond the woman’s own, he would have to have lived on a deserted island in the South Seas not to have heard of the scandalous marriage of this particular member of the Effington family.
    Even so, he chose his words carefully. “I am aware that you recently lost your husband.”
    She scoffed. “Come, now, Gordon. I may know little about putting the finances of a household in order, although I daresay I can plan a proper dinner party or musical evening or arrange flowers effectively. Admittedly, relatively worthless skills.” She smiled wryly. “But I do know servants talk and they usually have as much information as to what goes on in the world as everyone else, if not far more.”
    “I have heard rumors, my lady. I paid them no heed.”
    “Then you are the only