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

“Once we confirm he is the scoundrel, then yes, I think Bremmley should know his future son-in-law’s financial position,” Livie said. “I think I shall have a chat with Daverell myself tonight at the Countess of Milbury’s ball.”

“Oh good, you are going,” Etta said. “Last night was such a bore without you, though it was highly gratifying to hear everyone wildly speculating about who are going to be the first lot of bachelors to be critiqued in the gazette. Daverell seemed rather peeved that such conversation was overshadowing his engagement announcement.”

“Excuse me, my ladies,” Livie’s butler, Dalton, spoke from the doorway. “A very distressed Lady Chilton is at the door requesting to speak with you, Lady Olivia. I didn’t wish to turn her away given her upset, even though it is certainly not the time of day to be calling upon anyone. In fact, it is particularly uncouth to do so.” He stared pointedly at Etta, still annoyed with her for daring to attend the residence so early for breakfast, even though it was a regular occurrence.

Livie herself glanced up at the grandfather clock standing beside the side table in the breakfast room, noting it was ten o’clock in the morning, and that, yes, such a visit at this hour was wholly unexpected from anyone. However, Livie imagined Lady Chilton must be desperate to find out what had happened last night with the blackmail attempt. “Thank you, Dalton. Please show her into the sitting room and tell her I shall be there shortly.”

“Yes, my lady,” the ever-efficient Dalton said with a bow, before turning on his heel and striding from the room.

“Well, I shall take my leave then and see what else I can uncover about Daverell before tonight.” Etta pushed back from the chair and stood. “Particularly as I imagine he will be one of the three bachelors we’ll be critiquing in the first edition.”

“If we can confirm he was the scoundrel to seduce and ruin Alice,” Livie agreed. “Are the other two critiques, on Lord Stanford and Sir Percival, ready to be printed?”

“Yes,” Etta confirmed. “I have both articles written and edited, and each are delightfully scandalous, filled with the confirmed secrets our informants have managed to uncover.”

“And what has been uncovered?”

“Well, it seems that Lord Stanford, who is on the hunt for a wealthy bride, is already married.”

“Married? Surely not,” Livie exclaimed. Such a thing was not only immoral but illegal too.

“Indeed, he is,” Etta verified. “It took a great deal of effort, but our informants tracked down an entry in the marriage registry at Bethnal Green, confirming the man married over ten years ago. Turns out, he ran off with a maid, then married her in secret and has kept her hidden in the country ever since, with their two children. His family isn’t even aware of the union, as his father would have cut him off.”

“And he’s now trying to commit bigamy by seeking to wed another? What a scoundrel!” Such willful deceit was just the thing that made Livie’s blood boil. “Publishing such news in the gazette will certainly save some unsuspecting lady from becoming unlawfully wed to such a man.”

“The very purpose of our mission,” Etta agreed.

“What of Sir Percival?” Livie asked.

“You wouldn’t believe it but Sir Percival has an addiction to keeping mistresses…”

“How does one have an addiction to keeping mistresses?” Livie was particularly curious, especially as Sir Percival himself was a rather weedy looking man, with a pinched mouth, stuck in a perpetual frown.

“I think having seven mistresses, at the same time, qualifies one as having an addiction,” Etta replied.

“Seven mistresses?” The number was staggering. “How does a man keep that many mistresses? How does he even have time to visit them all?”

“He allocates one day each week, for each woman, and sticks to his schedule like clockwork.”

“Good Lord… I wouldn’t have thought he had the stamina to keep that many women…” Livie shook her head.

Etta laughed. “Apparently he does. And it seems he’s running out of funds rather quickly, with so many households under his protection, hence why he is also looking for a wealthy bride.”

“The secrets people try to keep always amaze me,” Livie said. “If everyone is excited by the teaser pamphlet, they will be in ecstasy after they devour the first edition with all of that information inside. Especially if Daverell is included.”

“It’s going to be the most popular publication in England,” Etta said. “My father will be furious that his gossip column will be overtaken as the leader of news relating to Society’s scandals. And hopefully, I can find out all of the dirt on Daverell, so he can be included too.”

“Take care when investigating him, Etta. The man may well have pushed Alice from the ledge, and he has even more to lose now if the truth comes to light.” She would have to heed her own words when speaking with him.

“I shall,” Etta promised as she took her leave, while Livie pushed back her chair and made her way to the sitting room.

Inside, seated on the lounge and appearing unusually nervous, was Lady Chilton. She was dressed in an exquisitely tailored midnight black velvet dress, with a matching black bonnet and kid leather gloves. But rather than the usual confidence radiating from the woman, her posture was slightly hunched and her hands were twisting nervously in her lap.

She caught sight of Livie leaning upon her cane in the doorway and stood straightaway. “Oh my goodness, I was not able to sleep a wink last night. Please tell me you retrieved the journal and that Alice’s legacy will not be tarnished further than it already has?”

“I’m afraid not.” Walking over, Livie sat down beside Lady Chilton and told her some of what had occurred last night at the cemetery.

Shock replaced the fear on the woman’s face, and she grabbed Livie’s hands tightly with her own. “You were shot at? Oh my goodness! I never would have allowed you to go in my place if