Beauty and the Earl Read Free Page A

Violet asked.
    He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
    “Will it only be you, or will your wife also read them?” When he continued to stare, apparently not understanding what she meant, she shrugged. “There may be delicate matters and—”
    “Do not hold back,” Lady Rothcastle interrupted. “I know the situation may be very dire and I want the truth of it, unvarnished.”
    The duke didn’t seem as certain as his wife that she was ready for unvarnished truth, but he didn’t argue.
    “Your solicitor is Mr. Green, whose office is on Cross Circle, yes?”
    Now it was Violet’s eyes which went wide. “Y-Yes, Your Grace. But how—”
    “You are not the only one who knows and hears things,” the duke said softly, his bright blue gaze holding hers. “I will direct all monies to him, under your name.”
    Violet hesitated, for the expression on the duke’s face was unreadable, almost as if he knew something he held back. Something about her. But no one knew anything about her. Not anything she didn’t choose to share.
    “That is agreeable,” she managed to choke out. “And now I shall go. I’ll send word if I am able to—” She hesitated and shot another look to the duchess.
    The other woman arched a brow. “If you are able to raise the interest of Lord Windbury, do send us word. Good day, Miss Milford.”
    Violet knew when she was being dismissed, so she bobbed out a curtsey and exited the home. Outside, her carriage waited, along with Gregson, whose expression was actually relieved.
    “I didn’t relish the idea of busting into that fortress,” he grunted as he helped her up and closed the door behind her.
    Violet settled into the comfortable seat and closed her eyes. A fortress. She wouldn’t exactly call the beautiful home of her hosts that, but it did put certain images to mind of unwinnable battlegrounds.
    She only wondered if Lord Windbury would be one of them.
    “I think I might need help,” she murmured.
    Luckily, she knew just the person for the job.
     
     
    Olivia Cranfield poured a brandy from the sidebar of the small home Violet shared with her and sighed.  
    “Damn, I was hoping the Rothcastles had invited you to their home to make you their secret lover!”
    Violet laughed as she rolled her eyes. “Good God, Olivia, you couldn’t have believed that.”
    Olivia smiled as she took a sip of her drink. “One could hope. Just imagine the scandal, and you in the middle of it.”
    Violet shook her head. Olivia did love a scandal.  
    “Well, it wasn’t that, but I’d say hiring a courtesan in order to seduce and spy on Lord Windbury is certainly scandal enough, even though no one will know about it.”
    “It is shocking,” Olivia conceded as she sat down across from Violet. “But lucrative.” Her friend’s face grew more serious. “You won’t really run away to the country when it’s over, will you?”
    Violet smiled. Olivia teased, but no one knew better than her friend what was at stake for her. “I will. But you may visit me if you think you could bear the boredom.”
    Olivia sighed. “You deserve happiness and boredom, if that is what you choose. You and Peter.”
    Violet tried hard not to think of what images her friend’s words put into her head. She was not free yet.  
    She waved her hand to dismiss the subject. “So, as I said, this is an important mission. But not an easy one. He’s a hard man to reach, as a great many courtesans have discovered over the last eighteen months.”
    “He might not keep a woman,” Olivia said with a smile. “But he does please them. I’ve heard very good things about his prowess, so at least you can have fun.”
    Violet considered that. Yes, she had heard the same whispers about Windbury…Liam. That he made absolutely no connection with any woman he took to his bed, but that he was highly passionate and talented.  
    “ They are letting a place for me in Bath and covering my expenses while I’m there.” Violet bit her