Page 35 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

“As you know, we have been keeping an eye on several gentlemen of the ton. Many of them are members of the club and have placed bets.”

“Anything incriminating?”

“A few of the regular sort of things to follow up on. But I did find something curious.”

“Which is?” For Priya, something curious might be a discrepancy in the household ledgers or a secret message intercepted on its way to Napoleon. One could never be sure.

“These three tiny circles, overlapping and stacked up in a triangle formation,” she explained, sketching one out with the pencil tied to her notebook with a silk ribbon.

“What does it mean?” Peony asked.

“I don’t know yet.”

“You don’t know? That’s alarming in itself.”

“Eastbourne and Portsmouth both have the mark by their names in the betting book.”

“And we already know they are terrible,” Sybil said. “We helped prove it.” Eastbourne had kept women with inheritances but no family captive in his cellar, and Portsmouth had had the regrettable habit of murdering his wives when they did not produce an heir.

Priya drummed her fingers on the table. “I should very much like to know who made these marks and why.”

“A gentleman at the very least, if he is a member of Fortingham’s,” Sybil pointed out. “They are very picky about their membership and who crosses that sanctified threshold, present company not included.”

“It’s a start.” Priya grinned. “Apparently, you were so bored you stole a case for us, Sybil.”

“I do what I can.” Sybil grinned back.

“Good, because there’s more. I have a list here of all of those names with that symbol next to them, and I did a little digging.”

“I know that tone.” Peony dropped her toasted bread and leaned forward. “Do tell.”

“The first is Lord St. John. He has three daughters, all out at fifteen. Two already betrothed. Reluctantly, it has to be said.”

Matilda narrowed her eyes. “I know the nanny in that household. She is not fond of the parents. Either of them. Leave it to me.”

“Excellent. And Lord Abbot. He tries to compromise young heiresses in the hopes of a rich marriage of necessity. Peony, would you take care of that, please?”

“I look forward to it. It will give me a chance to test out my new umbrella with the hidden sword.”

“It’s probably best not to skewer an earl if you can help it.”

Peony pouted.

Sybil waited, her back teeth tensing.

“Sybil, I have left the Earl of Chiswick for you.”

She let out a breath. “Thank God. If you told me to rest again I was going to stage a riot in your favorite parlor. The one with those giant ferns you love so much. It was going to be very messy. Not at all demure.”

“I am aware.”

“Is there mayhem involved? I find I am very much in the mood for mayhem.” Anything to stop thinking about Keir and Violetta. About Keir at all. Though she already knew that was impossible.

“I need you to keep him distracted while we steal away his very unwilling bride. I sent word this morning, and she does not find that the age difference, as well as his syphilitic reputation, makes him an ideal marriage partner.”

“He is ancient,” Matilda confirmed. “And do let me guess—his newest bride is barely twenty.”

“Seventeen.”