Read Online Arabella by Anne Herries - Free Book Online

to the house of the unkind guardian to whom she had been sent in order to conceal her shame from the world.  And her child had been left to starve and die.  Gervase would never forgive his father and great-aunt for the cruelty they had shown Helen and her child.  And he could not forgive himself for not being there when his sister and nephew had needed him.  The grief and pain their deaths had inflicted dwelt within him now and seldom let him rest.
                  Sometimes the hatred he felt for Harry Sylvester burned in him so fiercely that he was tempted to take a horse whip and thrash him – to see him bloodied and spent on the ground at his feet, and then to kill him.  It would be easy to pay someone to plunge a knife in Sylvester's back as Jack had suggested.  Gervase had seen the rogue drinking too heavily night after night at the gaming tables.  A simple matter then to have him followed and… but that would bring Gervase down to Sylvester's level.
                  Devil take his conscience!  Gervase's humour was partially restored as he regretted the principles that would not let him take unfair advantage.  He would do better to be more like Jack… who was seldom troubled by the right or wrongs of his actions.
                  A smile touched his lips as he thought of his friend's frustration the previous evening.  Jack had made no headway with his pursuit of Lady Eliza.  That lady had made it clear that she was more than willing to renew her relationship with Gervase – but that was out of the question!
                  At the beginning of their liaison, he had made it clear that he would not tolerate betrayal of any kind.  Lady Eliza had taken Sylvester into her circle, and therefore Gervase had broken with her.  He suspected that she might have invited his enemy into her confidence as well as her boudoir – if not her bed.  As far as he was concerned, that was the finish of their relationship, though he continued to acknowledge her whenever they met.
                  She had never been a passionate lover, but she was intelligent and he had enjoyed her company.  It was inconvenient more than anything else, Gervase thought as he made his way to the mews where his horses were stabled.  He must either look for another mistress or remain celibate, for his taste did not run to whores.
                  On occasion he was persuaded to accompany a party of friends to one of the high-class brothels that flourished in St James and the fringes of Mayfair.  Madame Elizabeth le Prince had run her Maison de Tolerance in Great Marlborough Street until a year or so earlier, when she had moved to South Molten Street.
                  Her house was particularly elegant, styled in the French manner and intended to pander to the more discerning.  She was patronised by nobility, though even the wealthy winced at the extortionate prices she charged for her girls.  However, since sometimes she numbered wellborn ladies amongst them, she was entitled to charge for their services.
                  Gervase preferred a private arrangement.  He would in time seek out a lady, who would accept his protection, though for the moment he had seen no one who appealed.  Except that wilful red-haired wench from the country…
                  He smiled as he recalled the spark of temper in her eyes when he'd foisted himself on her and her friends the previous evening.  She had wanted to strike him, restraining herself only because they were in company.  What a pleasure it would be to tame such a fiery beauty!
                  It was a pity she must marry a wealthy cit before she indulged herself in an affair, he mused as a groom led out his horse and helped him to mount.  The first man to bed her would be a fortunate fellow.  He was almost tempted …but no, that was going too far.  Gervase had no desire for