How to Ruin a Reputation (Rakes Beyond Redemption) by Scott Bronwyn

Author:Scott, Bronwyn [Scott, Bronwyn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-01T03:00:00+00:00

*

Ashe was prompt, early even. He was the one waiting for her in the office. Sitting behind the big polished desk, he looked every inch the peer’s son. Even though time had been short, Genevra noticed he’d managed to change into clean attire.

Looking at him, one would not guess he’d been in a carriage accident a scant two hours ago. She hoped she looked as well put together. There’d been time only to change her dress and re-pin her hair.

‘Was your talk with the groom satisfactory?’ Genevra took the seat on the visitor’s side of the desk, feeling very much the supplicant come to beg crumbs from his lordship’s largesse. She would not be intimidated by the big desk and the handsome man sitting behind it. For heaven’s sake, she was a businesswoman. But all her mental protestations could not deny the flutter in her stomach when she looked at Ashe Bedevere.

‘Somewhat,’ he replied enigmatically. His tones were cool, exuding authority.

He was going to be stubborn, she just knew it.

‘I don’t think the wheel was an accident, Genevra.’ Oh, this was serious. He wasn’t calling her Neva. She braced for the storm that was sure to come.

‘The groom said the gig was in good shape when he harnessed the horse. The groom confirmed what you’d told me, that you had used the gig quite regularly and it had not been sitting idle. The groom also said no one had been near it this morning except himself. Which makes sense...’ here Ashe paused with a chuckle of derisive laughter ‘...since we no longer employ a full complement of grooms.’

Genevra furrowed her brow. ‘All that seems to support the wheel was an accident, which, I might remind you, is the exact opposite of what you postulated moments ago.’

‘You Americans are too impatient. Let me finish.’ Ashe waved a long, elegant hand. ‘What it means is that someone tampered with the wheel while we were in the village. The gig was out of view during part of our visit. It would have been easy enough to do. There would have been no one around, everyone was gathered with us.’

‘All right.’ Genevra folded her hands in her lap. ‘If that’s true, why would someone do it?’ She thought Ashe was seeing villains where there weren’t any.

His conclusion was somewhat extreme.

Ashe fixed her with one of his hard stares. ‘You’re the one with a jilted suitor and fifty-one per cent controlling interest in an estate. Why don’t you tell me?’

‘Henry? You think Henry did this?’ Genevra said in disbelief. ‘He was at a business meeting all day. I doubt he knows the mechanics of a carriage wheel to begin with. Your cousin’s a book man. He’s hardly the type to get his hands dirty.’

‘He’s the type to pay someone to do it for him,’ Ashe said succinctly. ‘I don’t think Henry did it himself, but I think he is likely behind it.’

Genevra shook her head. ‘You’re seeing the worst because you don’t like him.’

It was absurd really.

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