The Gentleman and the Rogue by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon

Author:Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon [Dee, Bonnie & Devon, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: erotic MM, Romance MM
ISBN: 9781607375517
Goodreads: 7871930
Publisher: Loose ID
Published: 2010-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

80

Smoke from hundreds of chimneys hung in a pall over the metropolis, which grew on the banks of the River Sheaf.

“It's no London,” Jem said with a sniff.

“No,” Alan agreed. “No Paris or Rome, either.”

“Are you taking the piss, sir?” He glared at his benefactor.

“Maybe a little. Don't be a snob, Jem. Every man believes his home is the center of the world.”

They rolled forward over more bumpy, badly rutted road. Jem smelled the familiar sewage scent of river water long before they reached the bridge and crossed over it into the city.

The carriage wheels clattered now over brick and cobblestone. He had to raise his voice to speak to Alan. “Do you have an address for this Mr. Schivvers, sir, or will we need to do some hunting?”

“I shall have to ask the direction, but I have an address in Derwent, not far from here. We'll find an inn on the road and make a plan to find her.”

Jem hesitated. “Could it be the girl's fine where she is?”

Alan's brows went up, almost as if he knew Jem hated the idea of adding to their household.

So Jem hastily added, “Even the worst of men can be gentle to their daughters.”

“If he thinks of her as such.” The grim look on Alan's face would freeze a river on a hot day in August.

Jem nodded. “If he dips his wick with young ones, we got no choice about it.”

“None. But you're right. I won't disrupt her life if she's well cared for.”

“Could be, sir,” Jem said hopefully. “He's got the groats to give her a good upbringing.”

But the look on Alan's face remained cold. “I know Schivvers. I don't know his plans for her, but I am certain he wouldn't take on a girl out of charity or kindness.” Alan stretched out his legs and wiggled in his seat. “I wish there was a way I might observe her without his awareness of my presence.”

“Easy enough. I take a look and report to you.” Jem scratched his chin. “Best shave and wash some of the road's dirt off me. Don't want to get run out of the place looking as disreputable as a man who's escaped from the treadmill.”

Alan remained silent and staring ahead.

Jem understood and grew impatient. “I swear upon my granny's grave to give a true report.

You think I see a whelp being mistreated I'd lie about it?”

“Not exactly.” Alan said and fell silent. The horses walked along slowly, and he did nothing to speed them on their way. Alan didn't trust him, still.

Jem wanted to bellow at the man, beg him to forgive his mistakes in the past and swear he wouldn't lie or steal again, but then Alan was explaining his hesitation. “I am not certain that we would have the same notions of what constitutes proper behavior on the part of a child's guardian.”

Jem got it now. His master accused him not of being a liar, but of being an ignorant child-beating bastard. Well, true enough, he didn't have the sensibilities of a gentleman.

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