Her Notorious Viscount by Jenna Petersen Read Free Book Online

that boiled out of control in Jane’s chest to burn even hotter.
    “You may continue to try, Jane,” he said softly. “But you might do better to accept what has happened. And accept help. You do not have to continue on as a companion to Lady Ridgefield. At the very least, I could sponsor another Season for you, I could—”
    Jane turned her back, and the action silenced him midsentence. “I did not come here for your false charity, Patrick. I came to review my father’s papers once more. In fact, I would like to take them with me, so that I will have access to them at all times.”
    Patrick sighed. “I have told you before, those items belong to the estate. You may make as many copies of the information as you like and visit as often as you care to for examination. But I cannot allow my uncle’s papers to leave this house.”
    Jane spun on him, fists shaking at her sides. All the emotion she normally tried to control was alive at that moment. Transformed into the powerful hatred she had developed for the man before her. He was a person she had once thought of as a friend. But now she could see only his detestable qualities.
    “Fine,” she finally managed through clenched teeth. She wanted to say so much more, but feared Patrick would use his power to keep her from reading over her father’s papers at all if she continued to press the issue.
    “Then I will have Jenkins show you to the archive. I assume when you are finished with your work, you will not want to see me, but if you do I shall be in my office. Good day.” Her cousin turned and quietly exited the room.
    As Jane waited for the butler who used to serve her to come and collect her, she paced the small parlor restlessly. Her cousin’s words echoed in her head. Patrick had told her to accept help. He meant his own, of course, but that was not a scenario she would ever allow herself to become a part of.
    However, another man had offered his help. With a price, of course, but if Nicholas could find her brother…perhaps he was right that the ends would justify the means.
    And how hard could it be to “train” a man to be a gentleman?
    She shut her eyes as she thought of Nicholas Stoneworth. An image of him came far too quickly, standing in the cool moonlight, his bright blue eyes glittering with sensual promise and debauchery.
    It would likely be impossible to transform him into the kind of man who would be welcome in the ballrooms of the best of the ton . But he didn’t have to know that. She only had to help him until Marcus was found. Then she could renege on their bargain. That was not honorable, perhaps, but neither was asking a lady to pay for the help of a gentleman.
    She didn’t have any choice. With Patrick keeping her from any kind of private investigation and without money for any other search, Jane needed Nicholas Stoneworth.
    And as long as he needed her in return, then she would have a little bit of power. She could only hope it would be enough.

    Jane stood at the back door of Nicholas’s town home, rapping on the hard surface. She shivered, though the spring night’s breeze was far from brisk. Nervousness caused the motion.
    The door came open and a disapproving female servant stared at her. From the apron she wore, she appeared to be a cook.
    “Another one?” she snapped with a cluck of her tongue.
    Brow wrinkling with confusion, Jane said, “I am here to see your master. Will you tell him that Jane Fenton has returned?”
    The cook turned her back with another harrumph. “Not my job to show his hussies around.”
    Jane took a step inside, though she hadn’t yet been invited. “Madam, I am not a hussy, I am—”
    “You again.”
    She looked up as the butler who had shown her in the night before came down the three steps into the kitchen.
    “G-good evening,” she stammered, thrown off by the tall, thin man’s utter disdain. “I have come to see your master.”
    “Clearly, but I’m afraid I cannot allow that. Lord