Read Online Lady Beware by Jo Beverley - Free Book Online Page B

locale, and just as dangerous.
    â€œFrom their mother,” the duchess said. “An Italian. Magdalen something, I think. An opera singer. Or an opera dancer.”
    Thea noted the difference between an artist and a whore. “Was she accepted in society?”
    â€œOh, no.”
    â€œOpera dancer, then.”
    â€œI don’t know how you young people know about these things,” the duchess complained, but then she added, “I suppose we did, too. But Lady Darien might have been a singer. Merely marrying the Vile Viscount would put her beyond the pale, and she was a foreigner as well. One wonders why she married him. He was never handsome and always unfit for decent company. His brother was worse, believe it or not. Richard Cave had to flee the country. Cheating at cards, and then he killed someone. Not like Mary Wilmott. Some person similar to himself in some back alley. I believe he fled right into the French Revolution and ended up guillotined, which could be seen as some sort of divine justice.”
    â€œAnd wasn’t a previous viscount called ‘Devil’?” Maria asked. “It really is a sorry saga and won’t be easy to overcome, especially with Sweet Mary Wilmott hanging around Darien’s neck like the albatross.”
    â€œThen we must cut it off,” the duchess said. “Such a silly poem. Opium, they say.”
    She fell silent, and Thea knew she wasn’t thinking of Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” but about Dare. It was only afternoon. They wouldn’t be at Brideswell yet, but the effects of being without the drug would be biting him. At his worst, in the early days, he’d been tormented by wild visions.
    The duchess shook herself. “I’m sure Darien is an excellent man. His military record is exemplary.”
    Maria coughed.
    â€œAnd what does that mean?” the duchess demanded.
    â€œWe have to face facts, Sarah. He was dashing, daring, and often very effective, but he was no more a pattern card of military propriety than Van. When Wellington tagged him Mad Dog he wasn’t being entirely complimentary.”
    â€œHe did us a kindness, Maria, and we will be kind in return. I assume you and Vandeimen are willing to help?”
    â€œOf course. But it must be approached carefully.”
    The duchess refilled cups. “Surely the endorsement of people such as ourselves will be sufficient.”
    â€œYou are above all doubt, Sarah, but I, of course, am a foolish woman under the sway of a wild, but handsome, young man.” It was said dryly and with amusement, but it was true.
    Thea stirred sugar into her tea. “The Rogues will help. I visited the Delaneys and they said so.”
    â€œGood news,” her mother said, but frowned a little. “Why rush off to visit there, dear?”
    â€œBecause of something Mara said. She detected antagonism between Dare and Darien, and Dare told her there’d been a quarrel between them at Harrow.”
    â€œDarien quarreled with Dare?” Maria asked. “That’s quite an achievement.”
    Thea related what she’d been told, and her mother frowned.
    â€œThat was not well done of Dare, and he should certainly have repaired the damage. He could have invited the poor boy to Long Chart in the summer.”
    That was an image to alarm Thea.
    â€œHowever,” her mother continued, “if the Rogues are on our side, success is assured. They can recruit from such a wide range of ladies and gentlemen that no one will detect bias. Sporting men, politicians, diplomats, patrons of the arts and sciences….”
    â€œDon’t many people know about the Rogues?” Thea asked.
    â€œNot in that way. That there was a schoolboy group, yes. That they are closely bound still, no. And then there are the connections, like St. Raven, Vandeimen, and Hawkinville.”
    â€œHow clever,” Maria approved. “It truly will look like an