Read Online Behind the Marquess's Mask (The Lords of Whitehall Book 1) by Kristen McLean - Free Book Online Page B
Book: Behind the Marquess's Mask (The Lords of Whitehall Book 1) by Kristen McLean
Read Free Book Online
Authors: Kristen McLean
Ads: Link
grimly, “we know.”
Grey’s scowl darkened as realization dawned. “Oh, no. Oh, hell no!”
“Ainsley,” Saint Brides said soberly, “if you don’t, the girl may not live to see a fortnight now that all of London knows she is alive and well.”
Grey’s eyes narrowed. “That should have been avoided.”
Saint Brides scowled at Matthews. “If someone had noticed the bloody dossier was missing and had a mind to inform me about it, this whole fiasco would have been avoided.” He turned back to Grey. “But you are right. In our defense, we thought the threat eliminated weeks ago. As it happens, we caught the wrong man. It was only recently we realized our mistake.”
“Your mistakes are not my responsibility,” Grey said, rising from his chair.
“No, they are not,” Saint Brides agreed. “Nevertheless, if it were left to me, Grenville’s only child would be dead because I haven’t any other men who can stick close enough to her. I shall take the blame for not having more gentlemen operatives at my disposal. However, if you withdraw your assistance, you are just as guilty as I.”
Grey forced a smile edged with self-disgust. “I am already guilty of countless deaths, Saint Brides. I am an assassin.”
“And a servant of England, one we must utilize.”
“I am also a rake, remember?” Grey reminded him bitterly. “We have spent years building up my name so none would question an alibi of spending a week God knows where with I don’t remember whom. If I begin to direct my attentions toward a lady such as Grenville’s daughter, it will either be my reputation destroyed or hers.”
“Whitehall has controlled gossip in London for as long as I can remember,” Matthews argued defensively. “Keeping back speculation should be simple as long as you behave yourself.”
Grey turned to face Matthews coolly. “There is nothing you can do to stop the vipers, Matthews. Don’t be a fool by making promises you cannot keep.” Then he turned back to Saint Brides. “You either will lose my reputation and, thereby, most of my usefulness, or you will lose Grenville, because I sure as hell will not marry the chit if society decides I am beyond redemption.”
“You would be dishonorable?” Saint Brides asked.
“Without compromising her, I shall not feel honor bound to marry her. Society be hanged,” Grey said frankly.
Saint Brides scowled for a long moment at Grey, probably weighing his options and figuring percentages of the likeliest outcomes. Finally, he looked at Matthews.
“Do your damnedest with those gossip columns, Matthews. Get men on Fleet Street if you haven’t already. And have a few stories circulating by tomorrow noon that the Marquess of A has been seen sitting with Lady K without so much as brushing his leg against hers. The man was absolutely genteel.”
“How the hell did you—”
“Come now, Ainsley; I know everything,” Saint Brides said. “And Matthews, if anyone asks, Ainsley has no current mistress, and he was solely in France this past year on matters of state and some business regarding preparation for his immediate future.”
Grey stared blankly at Saint Brides. “You have gone mad.”
“It is merely precautionary, Ainsley. If push comes to shove, we need Grenville’s influence in Parliament more than we need your skills here.” Saint Brides’s brows knit. “I hope I needn’t mention we also hope for your continued support on that quarter.”
Grey ground his teeth. “No, you don’t. As it happens, we share similar political views typically, but my support cannot be bought. It never could.”
Saint Brides gave into a rare smile, lending him a surprisingly boyish charm fitting his age. “That’s nearly all I respect about you, Ainsley. I may not agree with your temper or questionable sense of honor, but hell if you don’t stand by what you believe in.”
Grey cocked a brow. “Indeed.”
Chapter 5
G rey was feeling much less the privileged marquess the
Grey’s scowl darkened as realization dawned. “Oh, no. Oh, hell no!”
“Ainsley,” Saint Brides said soberly, “if you don’t, the girl may not live to see a fortnight now that all of London knows she is alive and well.”
Grey’s eyes narrowed. “That should have been avoided.”
Saint Brides scowled at Matthews. “If someone had noticed the bloody dossier was missing and had a mind to inform me about it, this whole fiasco would have been avoided.” He turned back to Grey. “But you are right. In our defense, we thought the threat eliminated weeks ago. As it happens, we caught the wrong man. It was only recently we realized our mistake.”
“Your mistakes are not my responsibility,” Grey said, rising from his chair.
“No, they are not,” Saint Brides agreed. “Nevertheless, if it were left to me, Grenville’s only child would be dead because I haven’t any other men who can stick close enough to her. I shall take the blame for not having more gentlemen operatives at my disposal. However, if you withdraw your assistance, you are just as guilty as I.”
Grey forced a smile edged with self-disgust. “I am already guilty of countless deaths, Saint Brides. I am an assassin.”
“And a servant of England, one we must utilize.”
“I am also a rake, remember?” Grey reminded him bitterly. “We have spent years building up my name so none would question an alibi of spending a week God knows where with I don’t remember whom. If I begin to direct my attentions toward a lady such as Grenville’s daughter, it will either be my reputation destroyed or hers.”
“Whitehall has controlled gossip in London for as long as I can remember,” Matthews argued defensively. “Keeping back speculation should be simple as long as you behave yourself.”
Grey turned to face Matthews coolly. “There is nothing you can do to stop the vipers, Matthews. Don’t be a fool by making promises you cannot keep.” Then he turned back to Saint Brides. “You either will lose my reputation and, thereby, most of my usefulness, or you will lose Grenville, because I sure as hell will not marry the chit if society decides I am beyond redemption.”
“You would be dishonorable?” Saint Brides asked.
“Without compromising her, I shall not feel honor bound to marry her. Society be hanged,” Grey said frankly.
Saint Brides scowled for a long moment at Grey, probably weighing his options and figuring percentages of the likeliest outcomes. Finally, he looked at Matthews.
“Do your damnedest with those gossip columns, Matthews. Get men on Fleet Street if you haven’t already. And have a few stories circulating by tomorrow noon that the Marquess of A has been seen sitting with Lady K without so much as brushing his leg against hers. The man was absolutely genteel.”
“How the hell did you—”
“Come now, Ainsley; I know everything,” Saint Brides said. “And Matthews, if anyone asks, Ainsley has no current mistress, and he was solely in France this past year on matters of state and some business regarding preparation for his immediate future.”
Grey stared blankly at Saint Brides. “You have gone mad.”
“It is merely precautionary, Ainsley. If push comes to shove, we need Grenville’s influence in Parliament more than we need your skills here.” Saint Brides’s brows knit. “I hope I needn’t mention we also hope for your continued support on that quarter.”
Grey ground his teeth. “No, you don’t. As it happens, we share similar political views typically, but my support cannot be bought. It never could.”
Saint Brides gave into a rare smile, lending him a surprisingly boyish charm fitting his age. “That’s nearly all I respect about you, Ainsley. I may not agree with your temper or questionable sense of honor, but hell if you don’t stand by what you believe in.”
Grey cocked a brow. “Indeed.”
Chapter 5
G rey was feeling much less the privileged marquess the