The Devil You Know by Victoria Vane Read Free Book Online Page A

trying.” DeVere
    laughed.
    “Well I shan’t try any longer, or I’d be as great an addle-pate
    as Reggie. You are sure he’s ruined?” Ned asked.
    “O’Kelly had his vowels to the tune of three thousand,” said
    DeVere.
    Ned gave a low whistle. “He is surely finished then. While the
    estate is well-managed—largely due to Diana’s involvement—it
    is not a vast property. I don’t believe they receive more than sev-
    en or eight hundred a year income from it. A thousand pounds,
    tops.”
    “A bloody fool and his money…” DeVere shrugged.
    “But you know the poor devil never stood a chance amongst
    that company.”
    “Nevertheless, the weakest men doth the greatest fools make.
    In truth, I’m amazed such a fine specimen of womanhood mar-
    ried such a buffoon.”
    “In her defense, Reginald was hardly Diana’s choice. He was
    some distant relation on her father’s side, the marriage contrived
    purely to keep the lands in the family. Reggie’s title even came
    to him by Diana, secured by a private act of parliament. Yet he
    has proven a sad husband, especially for such a fine woman as
    Diana.”
    “Yet she maintains fidelity?” DeVere asked with a feigned
    nonchalance.
    “Don’t even think it, my friend.” Ned glowered. “She is An-
    nalee’s cousin, and I won’t see her reputation besmirched.”
    “Come now, Ned. She is a woman grown, and I am the very
    soul of discretion.”
    “Is that why you presently flaunt your mistress before your
    friends?”
    DeVere made an exasperated sound. “I didn’t invite Caro. She
    just took it upon herself to come here, though it’s probably my
    fault for not delivering her congé before I left London.”
    “You have no intentions in that quarter then?”
    “Gad, no!” DeVere scoffed. “Marry the slut? She’s little better
    than Mrs. Hayes’ whores, albeit a loftier one. But since she’s here,
    I’ll avail myself of Caro...for now.”
    “Try as you may, you’ll not debauch Diana, DeVere. She’s a
    virtuous woman.”
    36
    Victoria Vane
    The corner of DeVere’s lip kicked up. “Damn me if that
    doesn’t sound like a challenge, Ned. Would you care to strike a
    wager on it?”
    “I’m not about to let you seduce her. I’ll see you hung first.”
    “Who said anything about seduction? I swear to you I won’t
    lay a hand on her...unless of course, she comes to me.”
    “You think Diana would come to your bed?” Ned threw his
    head back and laughed. “You’re mad! First of all, she would never
    break her marriage vows. Secondly, she’s certainly deduced by
    now what a whoremonger you are. She wouldn’t touch you with
    gloves, my friend.”
    DeVere felt his interest growing. “Then it’s a safe bet, is it not?
    Make it a gentleman’s wager, twenty guineas.”
    “It’s not about the money, and you know it. It’s the damned
    principle of the thing. I refuse to wager on any woman’s virtue.
    It’s just not done—not by a gentleman,” Ned rebuked.
    “Have it your way, then,” DeVere said with a blithe shrug.
    “But know this, Ned, ifby some lucky turn of fortune, I should
    be offered the bounty of a certain Baroness, you may be certain I
    will not demur.”
    Suppressing a smile, DeVere considered what the papers se-
    creted in his breast pocket might truly be worth.
    Dressed
    ***
    scantily as she was, Diana hesitated at the door when
    she heard the low rumble of male voices within. Not in the habit
    of listening at keyholes, she would have returned to her chamber
    had not Reggie’s name been clearly distinguishable.
    “Ruined?” She stifled a gasp and almost dropped the candle
    that trembled in her hand. Three thousand guineas? Good God! She
    leaned against the wall to keep from slithering to the floor.
    She considered making her presence known and openly con-
    fronting Edward and DeVere but knew that they would feel it
    necessary to hide or obscure the truth from her under the pre-
    posterous pretext of protecting her delicate,