Stephanie Laurens Rogues' Reform Bundle Read Free

countenance.
    Jason’s gaze lifted to his face. “Do you plan to attend?”
    Frederick grimaced. “Not exactly my style. That last time was distinctly too licentious for my taste.”
    A smile of complete understanding suffused Jason’s features. “You should not let your misogyny spoil your enjoyment of life, my friend.”
    Frederick snorted. “Permit me to inform His Grace of Eversleigh that His Grace enjoys himself far too much.”
    Jason chuckled. “Perhaps you’re right. But they haven’t opened Lester Hall for some years now, have they? That last effort was at Jack’s hunting box.”
    â€œOld Lester’s been under the weather, so I’d heard.” Frederick dropped into his armchair. “They all thought his time had come, but Gerald was in Manton’s last week and gave me to understand the old man had pulled clear.”
    â€œHmm. Seems he’s sufficiently recovered to have no objection to his sons opening his house for him.” Jason reread the brief missive, then shrugged. “Doubtful that I’d find a candidate suitable to take to wife there.”
    â€œHighly unlikely.” Frederick shuddered and closed his eyes. “I can still recall the peculiar scent of that woman in purple who pursued me so doggedly at their last affair.”
    Smiling, Jason made to lay aside the note. Instead, his hand halted halfway to the pile of discarded invitations, then slowly returned until the missive was once more before him. Staring at the note, he frowned.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œThe sister.” Jason’s frown deepened. “There was a sister. Younger than Jack or Harry, but, if I recall aright, older than Gerald.”
    Frederick frowned, too. “That’s right,” he eventually conceded. “Haven’t sighted her since the last time we were at Lester Hall—which must be all of six years ago. Slip of a thing, if I’m thinking of the right one. Tended to hug the shadows.”
    Jason’s brows rose. “Hardly surprising given the usual tone of entertainments at Lester Hall. I don’t believe I’ve ever met her.”
    When he made no further remark, Frederick turned to stare at him, eyes widening as he took in Jason’s pensive expression. “You aren’t thinking…?”
    â€œWhy not?” Jason looked up. “Jack Lester’s sister might suit me very well.”
    â€œJack and Harry as brothers-in-law? Good God! The Montgomerys will never be the same.”
    â€œThe Montgomerys are liable to be only too thankful to see me wed regardless.” Jason tapped the crisp parchment with a manicured fingernail. “Aside from anything else, at least the Lester men won’t expect me to turn myself into a monk if I marry their sister.”
    Frederick shifted. “Perhaps she’s already married.”
    â€œPerhaps,” Jason conceded. “But somehow I think not. I rather suspect it is she who runs Lester Hall.”
    â€œOh? Why so?”
    â€œBecause,” Jason said, reaching over to drop the invitation into Frederick’s hand, “some woman penned this invitation. Not an older woman, and not a schoolgirl but yet a lady bred. And, as we know, neither Jack, Harry nor Gerald has yet been caught in parson’s mousetrap. So what other young lady would reside at Lester Hall?”
    Reluctantly, Frederick acknowledged the likely truth of his friend’s deduction. “So you plan to go down?”
    â€œI rather think I will,” Jason mused. “However,” he added, “I intend to consult the oracle before we commit ourselves.”
    â€œOracle?” asked Frederick, then, rather more forcefully. “ We ?”
    â€œThe oracle that masquerades as my aunt Agatha,” Jason replied. “She’s sure to know if the Lester chit is unwed and suitable—she knows damned near everything else in this world.” He turned