The Gentleman's Quest by Deborah Simmons Read Free Book Online Page A

about my reputation,” Hero said. And neither her name or her future were of any consequence. To anyone.
    “But you’re his niece,” Mr Marchant protested.
    “Of sorts,” Hero said, though she did not elaborate. What was between her and Augustus Raven stayed between them. “He’s more concerned with his collections than people, which is why we should go to Cheswick.”
    Mr Marchant sent her another speculative glance. “Let me make sure that I understand you correctly. Onthe basis of a fragment of an old letter that might never have even been sent, you want to go searching for a book that could have been lost, destroyed or hidden beyond reach more than a century ago?”
    “Exactly.”
     
    Kit sat facing his guest, unsure what to make of her as he watched her pick at her supper. She didn’t look addled and had proposed her mad scheme without batting an eyelash. But how else could he explain such a proposal?
    And yet, Kit had been tempted to agree, to bow to an urge to take action against the unseen foe, rather than kick his heels at Oakfield as he had been, brooding and impotent. But recent events had made him vow to become more responsible, not less so. And chasing after a snippet of torn paper with Augustus Raven’s niece was not exactly sensible behavior, especially after the ride to Oakfield had left him feeling a bit too close to the young woman for comfort.
    Kit reached for his glass of wine, flush with the memory of Miss Ingram leaning close, her slender form pressed against his back, her thighs bumping against his own, and her throaty voice whispering in his ear.
    He had ridden double with Sydony many a time in their younger days, but that, he had discovered, was not the same. During the quick trip to the abandoned church, they had been in too much danger for him to think about it, but on the longer jaunt to Oakfield, the difference became very apparent. And it was one morereason not to travel unaccompanied with Miss Ingram, her assurances notwithstanding.
    Of course, in the eyes of society, the damage was already done. They had been alone together for some time, enough to ruin any proper female. In fact, most young women would be having hysterics or fainting dead away at the very thought, yet Miss Ingram, as always, remained composed. Kit shot a glance at her, but her color wasn’t even high. Throughout the meal, she had said little, affirming what he already knew: Miss Ingram played her cards very close to her chest.
    Kit frowned thoughtfully. He’d never been the suspicious type; that was Sydony’s job. But after all his sister’s wild theories had proven true, he’d begun to view the world differently. Instead of accepting everything at face value, he questioned what lurked beneath the surface. And as he looked across the table at his guest, he felt a twinge of doubt.
    Hero Ingram could either be the most composed woman he’d ever met, or she could have some other reason for not turning a hair when her carriage was attacked. Perhaps she’d been unafraid because there was nothing to fear. Were the riders her uncle’s men, intent upon forcing his hand? But there was no denying the ball that had whizzed past his shoulder, Kit thought, shaking his head.
    Another possibility, even more insidious, kept nagging at his thoughts. After all, what did he really know of the woman before him? Was she even who she claimed to be? Some of her comments had been so jarring as to make him wonder about her relationship with Augustus Raven.
    The letter she presented to Kit could have been written by anyone. Those who accompanied her had been odd, at best, and seemed to have disappeared, along with the carriage. Although he’d sent Hob’s young helper Jack out to the road, the boy had found no sign of it.
    Hob hadn’t returned, either, and Kit frowned at the darkness outside the windows. It had been just such a night as this when everyone in the household had been picked off. One by one, they had been lured away