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

favor her in an admired acquaintance sort of way, or favor her like she is the sister of your wife?”
    Hawkeswell frowned deeply. “That is a deucedly odd question. What is this about?”
    Castleford rearranged himself. Forearms on knees, he leaned close to his friend’s chair. “Here is the thing. I am going to seduce Mrs. Joyes.”
    Hawkeswell jolted straight. “Are you indeed!”
    “Most certainly.” Decidedly. Thoroughly.
    Hawkeswell conquered his astonishment. He chewed over the revelation. “I am not really surprised, just taken aback by your announcement. She is a lovely woman. But—”
    “What a worthless word that is—lovely. Daphne Joyes is exquisite .”
    “She may be exquisite, but I find her a little . . . cold.” He shrugged.
    “Perhaps she does not take to your manner. I, on the other hand, have seen her much the opposite of cold.”
    “Really?” Hawkeswell was the one to angle closer now, truly all ears.
    “Anyway, it is my intention to have her. However, first I need to know if you are feeling so protective that you would do something inconvenient, like call me out over it. You seem to have taken efforts to warn me off.”
    Hawkeswell’s expression fell to one almost stunned. “I am touched, Castleford. I am not joking when I say that either. That you would pass on an exquisite woman if it meant we faced each other on the field of honor—”
    Castleford decided not to clarify that he had not actually said that he would pass. “So?”
    Hawkeswell thought it over for a good while. “She may be like a sister to my wife, but she is not one in fact. I have no standing to call you out,” he said.
    “I am happy you see it that way.”
    “I should try to talk you out of this, though.”
    “Consider it done and spare us both.”
    Hawkeswell opened his mouth to argue, thought better of it, and drank more wine. “When? I need to be prepared on the domestic front for when Verity hears of it.”
    “Soon. A week . . . ten days at most. I only need to get her up to London first.”
    “You are supremely confident. So confident that you have not asked for my word not to warn her through my wife.”
    “There is no need to warn her. She already knows.”
    Hawkeswell’s eyebrows rose high. “You actually announced your intentions?”
    “Not exactly. But she knows.”
    Hawkeswell scrutinized him, then grinned. “You already tried, didn’t you? You tried and failed . Don’t act exasperated by an absurd suggestion. I know you, and I have it right.” He slapped his knee in frustration. “Damnation, it is hell that Summerhays is not in town. We could lay bets on this and have a fine time watching the week you predict turn into a year. Or never .”
    “It may take you a year to get an exquisite woman into bed, but I assure you it will be a week in my case.” Or two, perhaps. Three at the outside. But a year was ridiculous, and never was out of the question.
    “Then you must have an ace in your hand that I do not know about.”
    “Only my charm.”
    Hawkeswell thought that was hilarious. He laughed so rudely that he turned red. Wiping his eyes of tears, he poured himself more wine. “We shall see how far your sodden charm gets you with this woman, Castleford.”
     
     
    D aphne parted the carriage blinds a bit and looked out. She noted glumly that they were already passing Hyde Park.
    Beside her Katherine angled her head just enough so the slice of light coming in would not find her face. Not that anything much would, with the bonnet Katherine had worn. Its deep brim obscured all views except one face on, and a lace cap beneath the bonnet hid a good deal of that prospect too.
    Daphne closed the curtain again. “No one is going to see you, I promise. You will be in this hired coach right up to the door, then inside in a blink. The servants will all be strangers and not take any note of you.”
    “I am not afraid of being seen,” Katherine said. “I do not care for towns, that is