Sin With a Scoundrel: The Husband Hunters Club Read Free Page A

broad shoulders as Tina came toward him. Her hand was swallowed by his larger hand, and a whispering, treacherous thought told her it was not quite as overwhelming a sensation as it had been this morning when her hand was taken by Richard Eversham.
    She dismissed the thought. She had known Horace forever, and they would make the ideal couple. His blond hair was a perfect contrast to her own dark tresses, and his tall, compact body and broad shoulders were just right for her smaller stature and soft curves. The thought of marrying anyone else was unthinkable. Ridiculous. Thank goodness she’d grasped her courage in both hands and approached Mr. Eversham.
    And she had no doubt she had chosen the right man to teach her all she needed to know to go husband hunting. Horace was fond of her—in fact she could tell he was by the smile that was in his eyes right now as he gazed down at her—but that wasn’t enough. He had to love her passionately, enough to give up his free-and-easy ways and marry her.
    Tina slipped off her gloves. “I must go and freshen up. I’ll be down in a minute. Will you stay for tea, Horace?”
    “Of course he will!” said the irrepressible Charles. “Or maybe a whiskey?”
    Horace smiled at Tina’s frown. “Tea would be delightful. Although I must be on my way soon. I have an appointment I mustn’t miss.”
    “Will you ring then, Charles? I’ll be down shortly.”
    Charles pulled the bell rope, and Tina gave Horace a little smile before she turned away.
    Horace watched her leave, thinking she was becoming a fine figure of a woman. No longer the little girl he used to tease. He was surprised at her curves, nicely on display in her blue silk gown. Why hadn’t he noticed them before? Probably because she’d always been like a sister to him. If things were different, he might have thought about bedding her. As it was, she’d be saving her virtue for a suitable husband. The Smythes were very right and proper about things like that—something Horace found secretly amusing.
    Maybe when she was married he might think of a dalliance with her. She’d be more worldly then and probably bored with her husband, up for some lustful dalliance with an old friend. Horace had always found married women far more grateful for one’s efforts.
    “M aria?”
    A maid in her early thirties, the same height as Tina but considerably more buxom, turned from tidying the room. “Yes, miss.”
    “Master Charles and Lord Horace are taking tea in the drawing room. Help me with my hair, will you, before I join them?”
    She sat at her dressing table and Maria removed her bonnet and began to slip the pins from her long ebony hair.
    “Do you know when my parents will be back, Maria?”
    Maria hid a smile. “Not for some time, miss,” she answered. “Lady Carol said they would be back for dinner, but cook is to keep it warm if they are late and not to keep you and Master Charles waiting.”
    She knew her mistress was hoping they wouldn’t be back too soon. When they were younger, Miss Tina and Master Charles had always found some mischief or other to get into when their mother and father were busy. And Lord Horace had been their companion a good many times in that mischief. Of course, Miss Tina thought herself far too grown-up now for childish mischief although she still enjoyed the company of both her brother and Lord Horace. And lately, Maria had begun to realize that Miss Tina’s interest in Lord Horace was changing. Deepening. Turning toward thoughts of marriage.
    And that had Maria worried. Despite his outwardly affable and easygoing nature, Lord Horace reminded her of a man she’d known once, who had a darker side when he was opposed. Miss Tina was a strong-willed young woman with a great zest for life. She needed a companion to complement her rather than go head-to-head with her, as she feared would be the case with Lord Horace.
    And then there was the time when Lord Horace had found Maria alone in a corridor