The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

Bachelors, you have been warned…”

Elation filled her with the words. She hadn’t had a chance to actually see the pamphlet before their runners collected it yesterday and began to distribute it, but it was just perfect, striking the right chord between warning and threat.

Etta was a genius with words. An absolute genius, for if this didn’t scare all of the scoundrels out there, Livie didn’t know what would. “This is marvelous!” She glanced toward her family, noting the expressions of consternation on their faces. “What? You don’t agree?”

“Are you serious, Livie?” her eldest brother Alexander exclaimed, his blue eyes narrowing as he peered at her in undisguised stupefaction as he stalked over to a chair and sat down to her father’s right. “This…gazette thing, is going to be nothing more than a gossip rag, seeking to disparage many of us with lies and nonsense.”

“That is not true, Alex!” Livie defended as she took the spare seat across from him. “It clearly states it will target only men who seek to hurt or use innocent ladies.”

“Well, we don’t know who they’re seeking to target first, do we?” her middle brother, Griffith, spoke as both he and Justin sat, too.

“Indeed,” Justin added. “It could even be one of us who’s critiqued, couldn’t it? And such a thing would ruin my career prospects, not to mention taint all of you.”

“Exactly!” Alex nodded his head. “No one knows who is to be targeted.”

“And that worries you all, does it?” Livie asked, eyeing them as she raised her coffee cup while the footman brought over the coffeepot.

“It would worry any man, my dear,” her father said as he, too, raised his cup for a refill.

“It should worry only those who are scoundrels, should it not?” Livie turned to her father. “I think it is well overdue that men are held to account for their actions when it comes to ruining young ladies.”

“If this gazette reports the truth of things, then yes, I agree,” her father conceded. “But as Alexander said, who knows what they will report?”

“I’m certain it shall be the truth,” Livie declared.

“You’re always far too optimistic for your own good, sister,” Alex said, shaking his head.

“And you, brother,” Livie countered, “are always far too pessimistic.”

Alexander was the brother with whom she either got along well or had the worst fights with. And inevitably, if they fought, it was based on their diametrically opposed beliefs of the good in others. Livie tried to always see the best in people, whereas Alex could only ever see the worst.

“In any event,” her father spoke. “I daresay it will be an interesting fortnight until the thing is published, while Society has a grand old time speculating about who will be the first three bachelors to be critiqued.”

“I’m looking forward to such speculation.” Livie took a sip of her coffee and relished the very idea. “It’s about time Society starts to gossip about the gentlemen instead of the ladies. And brothers, you should have nothing to fear, unless of course you have ruined any innocent young ladies in your past.” She pointedly looked across the table at the three of them, who all shook their heads vehemently with denials springing from their mouths like a tap.

She was somewhat amused at the look of displeasure in all three of their handsome faces. Sitting there, frowning, they all looked very much like their father, even if their temperaments were nothing alike at all.

Alexander, being the eldest, was the epitome of what a future duke should be; refined, conservative, and very traditional when it came to certain things. Livie had expected him to be somewhat critical of the gazette, along with her father, as they were very similar in nature. But Griff and Justin were completely opposite, as both were much more lighthearted and enjoyed a good laugh.

Griff was particularly carefree, with a reputation for being a dashing flirt with the ladies and extremely gifted at games of chance, much to her father and Alexander’s displeasure.

Justin, on the other hand, was the more studious of the two, with a desire to become a doctor and help others. Which is why he’d been pursuing a career in medicine, and by all accounts would make a fine doctor when he graduated at the end of the year.

Her father, and Alex of course, had initially been resistant to the idea of having a doctor in the family. It wasn’t usually done for a duke’s son to go into such an occupation, but Justin had convinced them of his passion for such an endeavor and when he’d also gotten their godmother’s approval, there was little resistance left in either her father or Alex. After all, though her father and brother would happily stand up to anyone in Society, Aunt Demelza was an entirely different story.

“Well, let us hope you are correct and they do list only those who are scoundrels,” Griff said. “For I have my doubts, because who knows what sort of story and lies a new publication, and I do use the term loosely, will conjure up to ensure sales?”

“They’re bound to,” Justin declared. “They won’t be able to help themselves.”

“Shall we place a wager on it then?” The idea came to Livie in a flash, and she could see the interest in all of her brothers’ eyes at the notion. “If you’re all so certain the gazette will lie.”

“Go on,” Griff said.

Livie thought for a second. “How about, if any details about the men the publication critiques are proven to be lies, then I will ensure Aunt Demelza never tries to play matchmaker for any of you again.”

Keen interest radiated from them.

“You could do that?” Justin’s interest turned to suspicion. “How? You know our godmother is determined to see us married.”

“Contrary to our wishes,” Griff added.

“Leave the hows to me,” Livie placated. “Just know I will do it if I lose.”

“And what if we’re wrong?” Alex spoke up. “What if we lose the bet?”

“If it