The Viscount's Seduction_A Regency Romance by Alina K. Field

Author:Alina K. Field [Field, Alina K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Havenlock Press
Published: 2017-09-11T18:00:00+00:00

Bakeley pulled aside the curtain of the town carriage. They’d turned down a street in Knightsbridge lined with modest homes. “This is not the way to the Home Office, Father.”

“We’re not going to the Home Office. We’re meeting with Farnsworth at another location.”

So now, at least, he had a name.

Charley lifted his head from his doze. “Who is Farnsworth?”

“A colleague recently returned to town.”

“A former colleague.” Bakeley waited for his father to correct him, upbraid him, or otherwise reveal that he was in fact not at all the poor sick man who had retired from the spying business, that he was still quite actively employed, but with a better cover.

Shaldon smiled. “And as it happens, Farnsworth is your godfather, Charles, though I don’t wonder you don’t remember. And by the way, you look like the devil today.”

Charley grinned. “Thank you, Father.”

Bakeley fought the irritation rising. “He did not mean it to be a compliment.”

“I suppose you were with your lady friend last night,” Shaldon said.

Charley said nothing. He also had learned to wait out the paternal pauses.

And…of course, Bakeley was present and not supposed to know Charley’s affair was more spying.

“It will take its toll. Only compare how fresh your brother looks, and that after two sleepless days.”

Charley smirked. “And his wedding night.”

“And I did not shirk my duty last night. Perhaps it’s time we find you a bride, Charley.”

“By your schedule, I have a few more years before becoming leg-shackled. And I do believe it is I who spotted your bride and turned her over to you.”

Shaldon’s cane cracked. “You are bickering like a child, Charles.” The carriage came to a stop. “I don’t think we want you with us in your current state.”

Charley started to grin and swiped a hand across his mouth to hide it.

Shaldon climbed out of the carriage first.

“Curse you, Charley,” Bakeley said. “This is one of his traps. If I don’t return by nightfall, send runners to search for me.”

“I confess, I’m relieved. And after all, this concerns your lady, does it not?”

“So he says.”

“Bakeley,” Shaldon called.

Bakeley gritted his teeth. “There’s another matter of Sirena’s I’m looking into. Can you meet me later at White’s?”

Charley yawned.

“You did disrupt my wedding night.”

“It ran into the morning, did it? No wonder you’re looking so refreshed and pleased. You shall have to tell me all about it. Or...not.” He laughed. “Stop glowering. Yes. I’ll meet you there.”

The carriage drove off and the front door opened. A strapping footman greeted them, eying them up and down, and when they’d passed his examination, leading them up a set of stairs.

A man rose from an armchair near the front window. He was younger than Shaldon, shorter than his visitors, with a wiry physique and dark hair streaked with iron gray.

“Lord Shaldon.” He bowed. “Lord Bakeley.”

“Be seated.” Shaldon waved both of them into chairs, exactly as if he were the lord of this manor.

The room was a study or library, and from the disorderly arrangement of books and periodicals, clearly a gentlemen’s room.

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