Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

said. “Our meetings are rarely accidental.”
    “There might be a reason. I am still deciding.”
    The paper rose again. “Inform me when you make up your mind.”
    “I would prefer to learn what I want by seeking Summerhays’s counsel, you see, but he has gone to the coast. So I am left with you, even though I expect you to get tedious on me.”
    “Counsel? The great, omnipotent Castleford, the man who assumes his judgment surpasses all others’, and who rises above ennui only to meddle in men’s affairs like Zeus on a holiday, would seek another’s counsel? I am delighted Summerhays is out of reach, if it means I am treated to this honor. I am all ears.”
    “It would be counsel from Summerhays alone. With you, I would only need the answer to a question.”
    “Ask away.”
    Castleford called for some wine first. He made sure to get Hawkeswell’s favorite. He trusted the claret would inspire some gossip and also soothe Hawkeswell’s tendency to a quick temper. After it was brought and poured, he angled toward the other chair for a tête-à-tête.
    “I have met her, finally, despite your attempts to deny me the pleasure.”
    Hawkeswell frowned, perplexed the way he often was. The man at times had trouble understanding plain talk. Since it only happened with Castleford, it made no sense, but there it was. “Met her? Who is she?”
    “Daphne Joyes, of course. I understand all your speeches now. About how it would distress your wife if I did anything untoward with anyone in that house, and how I was not allowed to enter it, et cetera, et cetera.”
    “I meant every word. I trust you behaved when you met her?”
    Castleford ignored the prompt. “She was not what I expected. Not an aging harpy, the way you made her sound.”
    “No one ever said she was a harpy or old.” Hawkeswell shrugged. “Formidable, yes. Strong-willed too. But not a harpy.”
    “No one ever said she was stunningly beautiful either.”
    “There was no reason to.” Hawkeswell was all innocence while he drank his wine.
    No, there was no reason to, but it had not been an accident. “It is a wonder you are so protective of her, after the role she played in your wife’s history. If I were you, I would find it hard to reconcile myself to the woman at all, let alone endeavor to keep her a secret from the likes of me.”
    “I endeavored at nothing of the kind. Not every word uttered and every idea thought has you at its center, Castleford. I know that is a shocking notion, but you would be more bearable if you accepted its truth. As for Mrs. Joyes, I confess that I found her irritating at first meeting, especially after she threatened to shoot me. No doubt you found her somewhat annoying too.”
    Annoying did not quite fit his reaction that night, but Castleford just smiled and let Hawkeswell take it for whatever response he might.
    “And, if one wants to be frank about it, I initially found the woman a bit suspicious too,” Hawkeswell said, setting the newspaper aside and warming to the wine and the subject. “There is a vagueness to her. For example, that is a very nice property for the widow of an army captain. I mentioned it to Verity, and it only provoked an argument between us.”
    “But no explanation?”
    “They have that odd rule and know little of one another’s pasts as a result. Something else I suggested to Verity as perhaps self-serving on Mrs. Joyes’s part. That caused another argument. They are all very defensive of one another.”
    “So, like a good, well-trained husband, you mentioned no more suspicions and had no more arguments.”
    “I simply ceased thinking about it, being distracted by domestic bliss. Something you will never understand or even know.”
    “Did that bliss make you like Mrs. Joyes more too?”
    “Perhaps. It is true that I favor her much more now. I am grateful for the friendship she extended to Verity when—well, when my wife felt she needed a friend.”
    Now they were down to it. “Do you