Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) by Maureen Driscoll

Author:Maureen Driscoll [Driscoll, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Charles Francis laughed so hard that Hal thought he would choke on his breakfast. Then he laughed so long that Hal wished he would.

“What you won’t do to win a bet! I say, Kellington, most chaps would’ve conceded by now. You’re going to a lot of trouble for one bloody little kiss. Just pay me and you can give up this charade. Or have you fallen for the charms of our sweet little colonial?”

Hal thought perhaps he was in the process of doing that very thing, not that he’d admit it to Francis. This had stopped being about the bet a long time ago. He wished he’d never made the stupid wager, although he never would have gotten to know Mel if he hadn’t. “Francis, a woman is missing, presumed dead.”

“A whore.”

“Yes, but a woman nonetheless. You knew Miss LaRue. Aren’t you even the least bit curious as to where she is?”

“Not really, Hal. Oh, don’t look at me that way. You look too much like Lynwood when you try to get serious and mature.”

“Leave my brother out of this.”

“I wouldn’t dream of bringing him into it. All I’m saying is you’re not acting like yourself lately. You missed the most amusing contretemps the other night between Wallingford’s wife and mistress. It almost made the Norbys’ ball worth attending. Almost. The rest of it was a dreadful bore.”

“Then why were you there?”

“It was the place to be at that moment. If I don’t at least look like I’m in the market for a wife the pater will cut me off without a sou. He means it this time. No idle threats for me. And while I truly doubt Mama would let him, I would still be dragged all the way to the country and be forced to listen to a dreadfully boring lecture. Better I stay here, attend the odd ball and musicale, then spend the rest of my nights more enjoyably. What say we go to Dill’s tonight, then on to Madame Thurmond’s?”

Hal considered it. Perhaps time away from Melanie Sutton was exactly what he needed. She had her Mr. Parker. Let him help her solve the disappearance of Miss LaRue. Then he pictured Mel and Parker doing exactly that. “I cannot join you tonight. I have plans.”

Francis shook his head in disappointment. “Don’t tell me…you and the colonial will be scouring the East End for clues. How absolutely droll. The chaps at White’s will love this.”

“There’s no need to tell the chaps at White’s anything,” said Hal, irritated. “Can you find nothing better to do than gossip?”

“Yes. I can win blunt at the tables and fuck. Both of which are much more fun than gossiping. But I’m man enough to fit all three activities into one evening.”

“Well, you can do it without me tonight,” said Hal.

“As you wish. But I do hope you can have a laugh about this when you finally get over the charms of the colonial.”

“Her name is Miss Sutton. And you’d be wise to start calling her that.

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