Rogues to Riches (Books 1-6) by Ridley Erica

Author:Ridley, Erica
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WebMotion
Published: 2019-07-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Bond Street. The fashionable heart of London. Hawk stood at the edge of the bustling district and stepped forward into its midst.

Early spring sunlight glistened off of store windows. Street sweepers cleared the way for bright-cheeked ladies in sumptuous gowns. Metal wheels and the smart clop of hooves met on wet cobblestone. Fancy carriages, elegant clothes, French perfumes…

If he allowed himself to dream, Hawk could almost let himself believe he was still a part of this world.

Now, only his title belonged.

He straightened his worn gloves and shoved them out of sight behind his back. He walked with his head held high, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. As if he were here to actually shop, rather than slowly pay off a long overdue account created by his father.

Not that Hawk was completely innocent of all such expenditures. One must clothe oneself, although a new jacket or a fresh pair of trousers every few years wasn’t the sort of purchase that would impress anyone strolling on Bond Street.

He kept his eyes forward, trained on no one in particular. He needed to let the tailor know the account was late but not forgotten. Hawk would pay as much as he could as soon as he could—sooner, if he could talk a few more investors into hurrying the port’s development along.

He exchanged smiles and polite words with everyone who tossed him a greeting. Most were too intent on their own shopping expeditions to notice Lord Hawkridge’s hands were as empty as his pockets.

That suited him perfectly. Hawk tortured himself over his financial difficulties enough quite on his own, thank you very much. He dreaded becoming town gossip. Another empty title among the relentlessly mocked ton caricatures.

At least it had not yet come to that.

Just as he reached the door to the tailor, it swung open from the inside and a familiar, well-dressed gentleman strolled out.

Hawk straightened involuntarily, although the last person on this earth he was likely to bamboozle was Mr. Grenville. He would know at a glance that Hawk wasn’t on Bond Street for an idle bout of shopping.

Yet he didn’t hide his face. Normally, London’s most enigmatic secret-keeper would be the last person Hawk wish to run into, but today it just so happened that he possessed a few secrets Hawk would do anything to unlock.

Mr. Grenville was Dahlia’s brother. Dahlia was Hawk’s sister-in-law… and the bosom friend and business partner of Hawk’s former paramour Miss Faith Digby.

Grenville would know everything there was to know.

If Hawk wished to learn more about Faith, he could not ask for a richer source. Grenville’s fame came not just from the wealth of his knowledge but his legendary discretion. Far more important men than Hawk paid handsomely to keep their secrets well out of the public eye.

Not that Mr. Grenville was anything so common as a blackmailer. Men of power sought him out, confided their worst indiscretions, so that he could make all potential problems disappear. Hawk had no idea how

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