Read Online Hanover Square Affair, The by Ashley Gardner - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ashley Gardner
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shake my head. “I would think you’d want to stay out of such a sordid business.”
He turned to me, hands restlessly cradling his glass. “I will tell you a secret, Lacey. The answer to why I traipse about the world like a vagabond and come home with these interesting trinkets. The reason I elbowed my way to the top of society and take mistresses of exotic and unusual backgrounds.”
I finished for him. “Because you are hopelessly bored.”
Grenville shot me a look of surprise and then laughed. “Am I so readable?”
“It is what I would do, if I had the means.”
“You have uncanny perception, you know, Lacey. I discovered that shortly after I met you. I also discovered that anything you are involved in is certain to be interesting. That is why I brought you here and am plying you with brandy. I am making a rude attempt to satisfy my curiosity.”
“So I thought.”
I knew full well that Grenville’s interest in me was entirely selfish. He sought to entertain himself, and paid me back by smoothing my way into a society that would normally have ignored me. I supposed I should be grateful, but what I mostly felt was irritation.
Colonel Brandon had been another man who’d smoothed my way for me, in this case, into an army commission when I’d had no money to purchase it. He’d convinced me to volunteer as an officer, which I could do as the son of a gentleman, and his influence slid me into the rank of cornet when one came open. I’d clawed my own way up the next few ranks to captain, moving more slowly than others because of my lack of wealth, but Brandon’s influence, and money, certainly had helped me.
And then, in the end, he had completely and utterly betrayed me. The look on his face when I’d returned from the mission in which I was to have died had forever shattered any remnant of love and respect between us. Poor Louisa, blaming herself, had tried to sow the seeds of forgiveness, but neither of us had let her.
Small wonder that I never wanted to depend upon anyone again. I barely knew Grenville, despite the interesting circumstances of our first meeting. He must have the acquaintance of scores of officers from the Peninsular campaign, not to mention Waterloo, but he’d fixed his interest upon me.
Grenville confirmed my thoughts even as I had them. “I admit that I collect people,” he said, “much as I collect art. I am interested in people like you, people who have lived. I’ve only played at living.”
“You have explored Africa and much of the Amazon,” I reminded him.
“A rich man relieving his ennui. You, on the other hand, have lived your life.”
I warmed the goblet in my palm. “Yet, I would gladly trade with you.”
Grenville shook his head. “You would not, in truth. I have done things that I regret.”
“As have all of us.”
Grenville fixed an intense gaze on me, but I could see that he saw something beyond me. “Have you?”
I simply drank my brandy. Grenville did not know the half of what I regretted, and I was not going to tell him.
*** *** ***
The afternoon had clouded over, and by the time I reached Hanover Square for my appointment with Horne, the sky was dark, rain spattering in little droplets. I descended from the hackney and knocked on the door, hoping the butler would hasten to answer.
I’d decided after speaking with Grenville to ask Horne point blank about Jane Thornton and her maid. If he were innocent, then he would have nothing to fear from me—I’d apologize and leave him alone. If he were not innocent, I’d put him to the question until I knew Jane’s whereabouts. If she were in his house, I’d get her out of it, using violence if necessary. If she were elsewhere, I’d damn well make the man take me to her.
I was tired of polite evasiveness and roundabout methods. It was my nature to act. If I offended the man and he called me out, then he did. I’d borrow a pistol from Grenville and let Horne shoot at me while I fired into the
He turned to me, hands restlessly cradling his glass. “I will tell you a secret, Lacey. The answer to why I traipse about the world like a vagabond and come home with these interesting trinkets. The reason I elbowed my way to the top of society and take mistresses of exotic and unusual backgrounds.”
I finished for him. “Because you are hopelessly bored.”
Grenville shot me a look of surprise and then laughed. “Am I so readable?”
“It is what I would do, if I had the means.”
“You have uncanny perception, you know, Lacey. I discovered that shortly after I met you. I also discovered that anything you are involved in is certain to be interesting. That is why I brought you here and am plying you with brandy. I am making a rude attempt to satisfy my curiosity.”
“So I thought.”
I knew full well that Grenville’s interest in me was entirely selfish. He sought to entertain himself, and paid me back by smoothing my way into a society that would normally have ignored me. I supposed I should be grateful, but what I mostly felt was irritation.
Colonel Brandon had been another man who’d smoothed my way for me, in this case, into an army commission when I’d had no money to purchase it. He’d convinced me to volunteer as an officer, which I could do as the son of a gentleman, and his influence slid me into the rank of cornet when one came open. I’d clawed my own way up the next few ranks to captain, moving more slowly than others because of my lack of wealth, but Brandon’s influence, and money, certainly had helped me.
And then, in the end, he had completely and utterly betrayed me. The look on his face when I’d returned from the mission in which I was to have died had forever shattered any remnant of love and respect between us. Poor Louisa, blaming herself, had tried to sow the seeds of forgiveness, but neither of us had let her.
Small wonder that I never wanted to depend upon anyone again. I barely knew Grenville, despite the interesting circumstances of our first meeting. He must have the acquaintance of scores of officers from the Peninsular campaign, not to mention Waterloo, but he’d fixed his interest upon me.
Grenville confirmed my thoughts even as I had them. “I admit that I collect people,” he said, “much as I collect art. I am interested in people like you, people who have lived. I’ve only played at living.”
“You have explored Africa and much of the Amazon,” I reminded him.
“A rich man relieving his ennui. You, on the other hand, have lived your life.”
I warmed the goblet in my palm. “Yet, I would gladly trade with you.”
Grenville shook his head. “You would not, in truth. I have done things that I regret.”
“As have all of us.”
Grenville fixed an intense gaze on me, but I could see that he saw something beyond me. “Have you?”
I simply drank my brandy. Grenville did not know the half of what I regretted, and I was not going to tell him.
*** *** ***
The afternoon had clouded over, and by the time I reached Hanover Square for my appointment with Horne, the sky was dark, rain spattering in little droplets. I descended from the hackney and knocked on the door, hoping the butler would hasten to answer.
I’d decided after speaking with Grenville to ask Horne point blank about Jane Thornton and her maid. If he were innocent, then he would have nothing to fear from me—I’d apologize and leave him alone. If he were not innocent, I’d put him to the question until I knew Jane’s whereabouts. If she were in his house, I’d get her out of it, using violence if necessary. If she were elsewhere, I’d damn well make the man take me to her.
I was tired of polite evasiveness and roundabout methods. It was my nature to act. If I offended the man and he called me out, then he did. I’d borrow a pistol from Grenville and let Horne shoot at me while I fired into the
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