Reunited With Her Viscount Protector (Lords And Their Ladies Book 6) by Mary Brendan

Author:Mary Brendan [Brendan, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Romance, London Society, England & Britain, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Sensual Story Theme, Lords And Their Ladies Series, Young Widow, Family & Domestic Life, Former Sweethearts
Publisher: Harlequin Historical; Original Edition
Published: 2019-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The speeding curricle was abruptly brought to a halt outside the Stag and Hounds. Immediately Jack threw the reins to his tiger, then jumped down. ‘Get out.’ He beckoned curtly to his passenger.

‘But...I don’t understand...’ Bewildered, Peter Mansfield swung a glance between the Viscount and the tavern doorway. Some rough-looking sorts were congregated there. But they remained idle, as though gentlemen of means pulling up in this seedy district were not an uncommon sight.

‘I promised to find you a bed for the night,’ Jack drawled. ‘You’ll find one in there that should suit. It’s a bawdy house. Have you brought your bible?’ he tacked on sarcastically. He’d come round to dislodge his unwanted passenger with a rough tug, but managed to refrain from hurrying Mansfield towards the entrance with a shove.

‘I will receive you tomorrow morning at ten o’clock to discuss various matters. Vale House, Bruton Square. In the meantime you will stay away from Mrs Fenton.’

‘What’s the meaning of this?’ Peter fumed indignantly, steadying himself after his rough handling. ‘I’ll visit her if I wish. You cannot prevent me seeing the child.’

‘We will talk of that tomorrow.’ Jack jerked a nod at the tavern in dismissal.

Peter puffed out his chest and stood his ground. When the Viscount had escorted him from Dawn’s house, promising him a bed for the night, he’d believed the man was offering hospitality in his Mayfair mansion and had readily gone with him. But the curricle had headed fast in the opposite direction, towards the eastern outskirts of town. En route the Viscount had ignored every one of his questions. In fact, it was only on reaching his destination that Lord Sterling had bestowed on him a look, or a word.

Peter guessed that Dawn was the man’s strumpet, but that mattered as little to him as did the child’s welfare. He’d come to London to foster his own interests and had been handed on a plate a most wonderful way to do so.

Dawn had never liked him and had opposed his marriage to Eleanor, whereas Thomas Fenton had been easily exploited. Now it seemed his widow might be, too. Dawn would be mortified if salacious gossip started about her. Lord Sterling wouldn’t relish it being known either that he’d been discovered in flagrante when about to take a bride. Of course his ego and reputation would survive any amount of tattle, but Dawn—respectable madam that she was—was a different matter entirely. His Lordship seemed protective of her, so Peter knew he had a useful advantage. The master of Croxley Grange was now the most influential landowner in the area. And Peter needed such a friend to protect his interests along the Essex coast.

‘See he is well looked after.’ Jack tossed some coins to the pimps lounging by the door. He grunted in sour amusement as the vicar licked his lips having spotted a comely harlot. She’d emerged from the portal at the sound of gold hitting the cobbles.

‘Say goodnight to Mrs Fenton for me, won’t you?’ Peter called slyly as the Viscount sprang aboard the curricle and set it in motion.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.