Twilight with the Infamous Earl Read Online Free PDF Page B

friends whom she trusted and influential new ones. Katie was not the first girl Catherine had found a new home for, nor would she be the last.
    “So you have no plans to keep her?”
    Frost crossed his arms and stared down at Vane. “What sort of miscreant do you take me for? The poor girl was in trouble and I offered my assistance. Nothing more.”
    Dare and Reign entered the room. Overhearing part of his explanation, Reign clapped a hand on Frost’s shoulder as he passed by him.
    “You did a good thing, gent. If not for you, that girl would have come to a bad end,” Reign said, moving to the other side of the table.
    “I beg of you, no more,” Frost pleaded, uncomfortable with the praise. “Next you will be claiming that I possess a heart and insist on naming your sons after me.”
    Dare chuckled and reached over to smack him on the back of the head. “I did name my son after you, you ungrateful arse!” He took the seat next to Frost.
    “It only proves that you have good taste,” Frost said genially. “Bishop is a strong given name.”
    “So why did Sin call this meeting?” Vane asked, yawning into his hand.
    “Trouble, gents,” Hunter announced. He was not alone. Sin and Nox’s steward, Berus, followed in his wake.
    “What sort of trouble?” Frost asked. “Has something happened here at Nox?”
    It was Sin who replied. “Were you not paying attention last week when Berus was telling us about Halward?”
    Frost shrugged. “Colin Halward. So what? The man is trying to build a nasty reputation for himself in London. He’s not the first.”
    Nor would he be the last.
    “Trying? Succeeding is more like it.”
    Before Sin could explain why this Halward fellow had him so bothered, Saint dashed into the saloon. “Forgive my tardiness. It couldn’t be helped. What have I missed?”
    “Not much. Sin was about to tell us why we should care about Colin Halward,” drawled Frost.
    “Halward is a first-rate bastard. A few years ago, he caused trouble at the Golden Pearl by attacking one of the girls. It was one of the reasons why Catherine decided to close the establishment.” At Frost’s blank expression, Saint growled in frustration. “Were you even listening when we discussed the man last week?” he asked, sounding breathless as he sat down on the opposite side of the table.
    Frost rolled his eyes. “I might have slept during the boring parts of Sin’s rambling lecture.”
    Maybe he had been distracted during their last meeting. He had made plans to spend the evening with a pretty blonde who had caught his eye.
    “Then permit me to remind you that Halward poses a problem to Nox. The bastard views the gambling hell as ripe for the picking since we have not been looking after our interests as closely as we have in the past.”
    Translation: His six very married friends had preferred to spend their evenings entertaining their wives rather than ending the day at Nox. For years, night after night, they had gambled, fought, drunk brandy and wine until they were half blind, and whored until the wee hours of dawn.
    Those wonderful days had begun to fade when Sin had encountered Juliana in Lady Lettlecott’s garden. Not that he blamed the lady—overly much.
    “And why, I ask, have we not been looking after our interests?” Frost couldn’t resist asking.
    “Here we go again,” muttered Vane, rubbing his face with his hands.
    “Berus has done an upstanding job looking after Nox, Frost,” Hunter said, his brow furrowing in a manner that proved he was serious. “You insult him to imply otherwise.”
    “My apologies, Berus,” Frost said, acknowledging the man who stood quietly at the door. “Your service to the Lords of Vice has been irreproachable. I have no quarrel with you, my good man.”
    “Thank you, milord,” Berus said, his voice slightly gruff with emotion. “It has been a pleasure serving all of you.”
    Sin leaned forward, his eyes glittering with anger. “Aye, Frost, we all know the