Harlequin Historical June 2019, Box Set 1 of 2 by Christine Merrill

Author:Christine Merrill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘Are you teasing me?’

Owen shook his head, concentrating on peeling an apple for Phoebe. ‘One sure-fire way to stop that rag digging up more dirt from either of our pasts is to give them something new to write about.’

‘So we’ll give them a new scandal.’

‘Of our own making. What do you think of my daring plan?’

‘I thought that only men were allowed to dine at Crockford’s?’

‘They are.’ He finished cutting the apple into thin slivers, laying it out like a fan on the plate the way she liked it. ‘Would you like some stilton with that?’

‘No, thank you. Well, just a smidgen. Do you intend that I dress up as a man? Or do you plan to smuggle me in?’

Owen guffawed. ‘I’d very much like to see you in breeches…’

‘Owen!’

‘You wouldn’t fool anyone, Phoebe,’ he said, looking quite unabashed. ‘You will go as yourself. It will be our first formal appearance in society as Mr and Mrs Harrington.’

‘Yes, but how?’

‘Before we got married, I told you that I was a bit of a “name” in the city? Well, another man who has an eye for investments is William Crockford—Crocky to those who think he is their friend. In his case, the “investors” are the poor deluded souls who play at the tables. They say he can predict to the pound and to the hour when a man will come into his inheritance, and that’s how he times the invitations to grace his tables. He has become one of the wealthiest men in London by knowing how to calculate odds. He also likes to see the money he makes working for him. And I can help him with that.’

Phoebe frowned. ‘Didn’t you say that you never give investment tips?’

‘I’m happy to make an exception if it suits our purpose.’

‘You’ll bribe him!’ She clapped her hands together gleefully. ‘Really? And then he’ll let me eat in the restaurant?’

‘If I also have a word in the ear of the most esteemed member of the club too, I reckon so.’

‘And who is that?’

‘The Duke of Wellington.’

Phoebe choked on her apple. ‘You are acquainted with the Iron Duke?’

‘Our paths have crossed.’

‘Goodness. I had no idea you moved in such circles.’

‘We were never exactly friends, but London is a small village.’

‘Did you ever come across the Earl of Fearnoch—not Eloise’s husband, but his brother, the previous earl?’

‘He was a bit of a loose fish by all accounts. Not my set. I was feckless, Phoebe, but I was never a libertine.’

‘I never thought for a moment that you were.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Do you mean that Alexander’s brother was?’

‘And his father, too. He has a cousin, Raymond Sinclair, who seems to be trying his best to keep up the family tradition. Rumour has their coat of arms features a codpiece. I’ve never met your sister’s husband though—which is odd.’

‘Alexander spent all of his time working abroad until he married Eloise. He was something in the Admiralty.’

‘That explains it. The family won’t be strangers to scandal though, will they? No, I don’t mean that as a consolation,’ Owen added hastily, ‘just a fact.

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