Her Wicked Viscount by Robecca Austin

Author:Robecca Austin [Austin, Robecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Colorful Pen Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

A round of knocks rattled against the front door. Ava looked at Mrs. Quinn. No one knew she was here, and Daniel did not mention visitors. Had Ashton found her?

No. She shook her head. Her brother wouldn’t look for her unless he was demanding she marry—he had demanded it. Had he already secured her a husband?

What if it was a messenger sent to inform her that her father was dead? Ava paled and looked toward the door as the knocker drummed again.

“I’ll get it,” Mrs. Quinn said, dusting flour from her hands and walking around the counter.

Ava nodded as the other woman left the kitchen. A few heartbeats later, the housekeeper opened the door enough to greet the caller.

“How may I help you?”

“Ma’am.”

“My lord is not in residence.”

“I’m here to see Lady Hamilton, ma’am.”

There was a pause. Ava assumed the housekeeper weighed denying Ava’s presence and confirming it.

“I have a message for her, ma’am,” the caller insisted.

“Well then, you can give it to me, and I’ll see she gets it.”

“Sorry, ma’am, but Mr. Montgomery will have my head if I don’t deliver it directly.”

“Mr. Montgomery sent you?” Ava pulled the door open wider.

“Yes, my lady,” the boy said, tipping the peak of his cap.

She turned to Mrs. Quinn. “It is all right. I am expecting a message from Mr. Montgomery.” With Daniel’s proposal and her decision to find some measure of pleasure in their relationship, she had forgotten the gaming house’s owner’s promise to help find her father.

Mrs. Quinn looked at the boy one last time before nodding. “Very well. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

The boy’s hands were astonishingly clean when he produced a folded piece of paper. She peered into mischievous hazel eyes before taking the note and reading it. “He wants me to meet him now?”

“It would be best, my lady, and I’m to wait to escort you.”

He looked little more than seventeen and she doubted he would be much protection. Waiting on the street behind the boy was a hired hack. The carriage was without a crest or identifying marks, but like the boy, it looked tidy.

“What’s your name?”

“You can call me whatever you like, my lady, but my friends call me Conroy.”

She frowned. “It is well into the afternoon.”

“Mr. Montgomery preferred to conduct business during his unusual business hours.”

“But it’s Sunday.” She bit her lip. No respectable businessman conducted…

The boy smiled, flashing a single dimple that was sure to cause many heartbreaks. “And the gentlemen are sure to be begging forgiveness before returning to sinning this evening.”

Ava blushed. The early time meant she was less likely to be spotted by any gentleman of consequence, especially one that might recognize her from their last visit.

Ava shook her head. “I will be right back,” she said, returning to the house.

“Is everything all right?” Mrs. Quinn asked, examining the freshly baked meat pies. She had barely finished placing the last pie on a plate when the boys plucked one each and bit into the warm crust.

Preston and Monty were always eating, and Mrs.

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