Page 65 of Tempting the Marquess

Chapter13

John leaned backin the padded chair in his library and sighed in satisfaction. His life was about perfect right now. Yes, he shared a house with the two most nauseating females in England, but other than that, perfect.

He held more power than most nobles and the royals to boot, and the fools didn’t even know it. The safe hidden behind his bookcase contained a king’s ransom worth of gold and jewels. And soon, so very soon, his life’s work would come to fruition, and Napoleon would conquer not only the continent, but this God-forsaken island aswell.

The dark clouds of the most brutal storm in history were gathering. And he couldn’t wait to march alongside the only man worthy of the title Emperor, and watch the humiliating defeat of that puffed-up bastard Wellington. Napoleon couldn’t lose. He had the cunning and the experience, not to mention a far superior army. The allied forces were scattered. Depleted. Ripe to be crushed.

“Claremont! Oh, Claaaaaremonnnnt.” Eva barged through the door without knocking, because that was something only people with a modicum of good sense or mannersdid.

“What do you want?” he said irritably.

“Is that any way to speak to your dearwife?”

John glanced at the letter opener sitting on his desk. It would be so easy to stab her to death. But even an amoral idiot like Eva had her uses. Her house parties and dinners had concealed many lucrative transactions, and she could be relied upon to seduce any man he placed in her path. Many a deal had been sweetened, or investigation diverted, by his unwitting spouse.

“Ah. You want money.”

“I think I deserve some,” she pouted. “You have a new horse, the best wines, and all those rifles and pistols. I didn’t even know you likedhunting.”

“It is one of my favorite activities. I live for the kill. But your allowance is more than sufficient. If you didn’t spend money like water, you could pay your bills.”

Eva stomped her foot. “I do not. Everything costs more than you could imagine thanks to that horrid little Frenchman.”

“Careful, my dear. I’d hate to have to hand you over tohim.”

“Oh, Claremont,” she giggled, the sound grating as rusty hinges. “You’re so awful to me, I don’t know why I marriedyou.”

“Because Lady Young found you half-naked and astride me in her library.”

“Oh yes. A wife in days and months later a mother. Hmmm. I wonder how Samantha is. I’ve been meaning to see her, but the callers are starting to drop off now that Lord Standish’s shooting is old news. And the Season keeps me sobusy.”

“Ahem,” came a discreet cough from the doorway.

“Yes?” said John, relieved at the interruption. He could only tolerate Eva in the smallest of doses.

“Apologies, your lordship, but an urgent missive has arrived.”

He took the note and dismissed the footman with a wave. The handwriting was distinctly recognizable as Phillipe’s. Interesting. Perhaps news from France? Standish had succumbed to his wounds? That would be welcome indeed.

Unfolding the thick parchment, John began to read. When he finished, he sat back in his chair, wanting to roar in triumph. It seemed even now, life could get better.

“Well. Your daughter is far more enterprising than I thought,” he mused.

“What?” said Eva, blankly. “Who is the letter from? Is it good news, then?”

“My dear, limit yourself to one inane question at a time or you’ll have a hot flush.”

“Inane? What does that mean? You know I don’t like it when you use words I haven’t heardof.”

John smiled. “It’s another word for intelligent and insightful.”

“Oh,” she replied smugly, placated. “Then I am most inane.”

“Yes, you are. It is the main reason I married you. Now, as to the letter, it contains information which might lead to a proposal. A proposal which would see Samantha take the mantle of society empress.”

“Are you drunk, Claremont? How on earth could Samantha be a society empress? She is so short. And has badhair.”

John breathed deeply, his fingers caressing the letter opener. It would only take seconds. And a half hour at most to get rid of her body forever.