Shadowed by Sin Read Free Page A

ruin or murder? Have you heard of something that I have not?”
    “Did you not hear about the man floating in the bloody river a few months ago?” Hell, she’d surprised herself with the language, but she doubted Benedict would comment on her choice of words.
    “Yes, I heard. In fact, I only just found out about it this afternoon.”
    “The details around the death are sketchy. They have no suspects, and it’s supposed whoever the vagabond is, has probably retreated from London by now.”
    “Suppose it wasn’t a vagabond, and it was a peer?”
    “Now that would truly be a scandal, Ben. Do you think it was a member of one of those clubs I hear Papa discussing with guests? There are always those kinds of deals going on. At least that is what I’ve gathered from my eavesdropping, which I am aware is terribly wrong and ill-mannered, but sometimes there really isn’t anything to do at night besides reading. Drat. Ben, what am I to do with these thoughts of intrigue and murder?”
    Ben sighed, as he always did when he grew weary of her questions, although, he raised a brow at her mention of eavesdropping.
    “I apologize if I’m being a bother. I’ll say no more on the matter,” Estelle added with a frown.
    “It’s not that, Estelle. Here, I want you to read this and tell me your thoughts.”
    Estelle took the invitation and read it. Why in the world did the words Cuthbert and Hawthorne Hall sound so familiar? Cuthbert…who do I know with that name?
    “So…do you think you want to attend?” he asked.
    “I suppose, but do you know them?”
    “I went to university with their son George, and at best he was only an acquaintance. Our affiliation ended there. However, there’s a matter of the other things I’ve heard over the years. Estelle, the reason I bring this up now is because there’s a bit of a complication with this trip.”
    He paused and then turned his head away from her.
    Estelle couldn’t understand why he seemed so worried. “What sort of complication, Ben? You’re worrying me.”
    “There was a letter sent to my father today by the Earl of Hawthorne. He’s being blackmailed after witnessing something he shouldn’t have and if he does not come into information within a fortnight, he will be framed as the murderer of the man found floating down the river.”
    Estelle hadn’t meant to gasp so loudly but finding the courage not to was even more difficult.
    “You cannot be serious. Blackmail. How absurd! But why?”
    “I do not know for certain; but all I know is that my father would never do anything to jeopardize his family in the least. The Earl of Hawthorne is up to no good and I will not tolerate his interference, which leads to my next question. If we go to this masque or whatever the Countess of Hawthorne wants to address it as, I may drift away from your side. It is my intention to use that opportunity to investigate from within the earl’s home. I hope you will agree with what I intend to do, but would certainly understand if you wish to decline the invitation.”
    “I refuse to bow out. We are in this together, Benedict. Our families will become one soon enough that we must learn to work together. If there is anything I can do to aid you, I want to help.”
    “I thank you for your support, dear, but I do not want to endanger you either. There will be times I must slip away, and when that is the case, I do not want you to follow. Should the earl suspect that I am there for other reasons than his son’s entertainment, who knows what they are capable of doing? One man has ended up in the river. How many others have there been and never been found? I do not want you to get that close, and should you ever stumble on anything so horrifying, you are to inform me immediately. The second I know you are no longer safe amongst the guests; you will be on the next coach home.” The intensity in his voice wavered and she observed the flurry of emotions crossing his face; anger, fear, sadness,