Read Online Lady Beware by Jo Beverley - Free Book Online

longer.”
    Eleanor sighed, but said, “Yes. You failed to help Dog Cave a decade ago, so now you must make reparation.”
    â€œYou know me too well.”
    â€œOf course, and I agree, except that it’s really Dare’s job. He harmed him. Without malice, that goes without saying, but he did.”
    â€œDare won’t be up to it for some weeks, so I and the others must hold the fort.”
    â€œAnd do what?” Thea asked.
    â€œPut right the wrong. If Darien wants to be accepted in society, we’ll make it so.”
    Just like that. Thea put her cup and saucer on the table because her hands were trembling with relief. She’d come here for information, but now it seemed she was saved. With the Rogues on his side, including the honorary Rogues like the Duke of St. Raven, plus some assistance from her family, Lord Darien could have no need of a mock betrothal.
    What’s more, she now had a threat to hang over his head. Pester her and she would tell all, turning all these allies into enemies.
    â€œI gather he’s still known as Canem Cave today,” Eleanor said to her husband. “Why, if that was the problem?”
    â€œPerhaps he was clever enough to turn it to his advantage.”
    â€œIs he clever?”
    â€œReally good officers generally are, and his military reputation is remarkable. So, what’s our plan?” He seemed mainly to be consulting the wallpaper. “Darien must have friends from the army, but many will be like him, away from England until recently. We need people who carry weight in the ton.”
    â€œThat absolves me of duties,” Eleanor said.
    â€œTry to hide your glee, my love.” Nicholas took Eleanor’s hand, perhaps without even realizing it. Thea was a little embarrassed by the physical connection between the couple.
    â€œGood thing the Rogues are already here to support Dare,” he carried on. “They’ll have to stay a while. The Members of Parliament are stuck anyway as long as the debates go on. We have a lot of firepower, but even so, we can’t shove Darien down throats by force. We need to seduce the ladies and convert the men.”
    â€œI gather he’s handsome,” Eleanor said.
    â€œOh, do you?” Nicholas teased.
    â€œIn a threatening sort of way.”
    â€œOften the most dangerous with you foolish women….”
    In their teasing they were taking something for granted. “But what if he is a true Cave?” Thea asked. “What if he’s evil? What if he plans some vile attack on Dare and my family because of a petty incident over ten years gone?”
    Nicholas turned to look at her. “Then,” he said, as if discussing the weather, “we destroy him.”
    Thea left the house relieved of some of her burdens, but wondering what force she had unleashed. Against all her will, the story of schoolboy torment had stirred pity for that misfit boy.
    She’d never gone to school, and Dare’s stories of Harrow had made it seem like fun. She’d heard enough different versions, however, to know that a boy’s school could be hell. Sometimes the boys even rose in armed rebellion against their cruel oppressors. That was why Nicholas Delaney had formed the Company of Rogues.
    For protection.
    Horatio Cave had lacked all protection.
    A runt.
    Poorly prepared for school.
    Grown up needing to be a vicious fighter.
    She hardened her heart. This all made him more of a threat to her, not less.
    Thea returned to the house to find a message asking her to visit her mother’s boudoir. Fearing bad news about Dare, she shed her outer clothing and hurried. When she passed a certain mirror, however, she paused.
    This corridor received little daylight, so it still held the oppressive atmosphere of the night before, but how different she looked. Her periwinkle blue gown rose high in the neck and was edged with a fashionable white ruff. “Head on a plate,” Dare