The Earl's Revenge by Allison Lane Read Free Book Online

healthy respect for Richard’s odd sense of trouble. It had warned him of impending disaster more than once, allowing him to sidestep perilous situations. If Richard believed that leaving town was necessary, then he would seriously consider it.
    “Is there no clue to who might be behind this campaign?”
    Richard shook his head. “If someone is fleecing people in your name, there could be any number of men who have a grievance. I will do what I can to find the culprit. Perhaps I can trace some of these rumors back to a source. But you had best retire for your own safety.”
    That was blunt enough. “Very well. I will have to receive an urgent summons to straighten out an estate problem. Unfortunately, too many people know that my estates rarely have problems.”
    “Is there none that could use supervision?” asked Richard in surprise – and envy.
    Mark’s frown suddenly eased. “Treselyan. I have meant to visit there for years, but it is a minor property somewhere in Cornwall and the journey never seemed worth the effort. It only runs a few sheep.”
    “Perfect.”
    “I am dining with the Marchmonts tonight. It is as good a place as any to announce my departure. Will you be attending?”
    “Ralph is my cousin, you might recall. Of course.”
    That evening, Bridgeport presented himself at Marchmont’s house on Curzon Street. He generally avoided dinner parties, for they offered too many opportunities for tête-à-têtes . That was the negative side of his chosen way of life. It was inevitable that the guest list would include ladies with whom he had had affairs. Since it was invariably he who terminated a liaison, there were always old connections who hoped – in vain – to rekindle his interest. Thus he found himself eschewing more and more society entertainments.
    He was getting too old for this life.
    The thought flashed through his mind without warning, shocking him as much as the unwarranted rumor attack. But it was true. He had enjoyed little of his public life for some time. Even Jeanette, his official mistress and the most accomplished seductress he had ever met, no longer satisfied him. His upcoming exile began to look attractive. He could use it to cut all current affairs, decide what he wanted to do in the future, relax from the pressure of town living, and further his private activities. Why had he not considered rustication earlier? It might even revive the spark that had been missing lately.
    The guest list contained as many annoyances as he had anticipated. He managed to avoid entanglements by striking up a discussion of the Peninsular War with Major Daniels, Captain Hardaway, and others. Lady Marchmont was unhappy about so many gentlemen ignoring the ladies, but Carrington deflected her from breaking it up.
    Mark was not so lucky at dinner. He was seated beside the widowed Mrs. Woodleigh, with whom he had been enjoying a casual liaison for the past month. Outside of bed, she was a totty-headed widgeon who rarely stopped talking. Within minutes his head was pounding.
    “You should have visited Hyde Park this morning,” she twittered between nibbles of fish. "The most delicious sight. I was riding with Lord Marcus Uppington – the poor dear seems to have the most shocking tendre for me, though I cannot abide such a callow youth. Mature strength is so much more appealing.” She batted her lashes and simpered like a schoolgirl. “But you wouldn’t believe who we saw! Lord Oaksford was walking with Miss Severton – I had no idea he was dangling after her! He must have been up before dawn to have achieved such sartorial splendor by nine. Or perhaps he had not yet been to bed. Gentlemen keep the most shocking hours!” Her glance this time was openly seductive. “Miss Severton was fine as five-pence as well, turned out smartly enough for Almack’s – though you would not know that, I wager, having very naughtily skipped every assembly so far this Season.” She sipped wine with hardly a pause