Heiress in Red Silk by Hunter, Madeline (read aloud books txt) 📕

only to arrive like this and be turned away. A husband or father might interfere, or her new friend might prove not to be a friend at all.

Kevin would spare her much of that, but there was only so much he could do. She had not lived in society, but she knew it could be cruel. The more people learned about her, the less they would want her in their circles. Daughter of a tenant farmer might be the least of it. If word ever was spread about her time working at Mrs. Darling’s brothel, she doubted anyone would talk to her again.

Not for the first time during the last few days, she weighed the likelihood of that happening. She had been a servant, and they are rarely noticed. In that white cap and shapeless sack dress, she was hardly impressive. Nor did she spend much time among the women once their trade began. She completed her duties prior to that, and only attended one of them if there was a special need for more fuel or something else.

And yet, she had not been invisible, had she? Who knew if one day some man who had indeed noticed her saw her in the park and recognized her? It could happen. She dared not assume it couldn’t.

The servant did not come for her. Minerva did. She descended the staircase, her dark hair a little disheveled and her ensemble quite plain. “Forgive me for having you wait. I was just back from an investigation.”

She brought Rosamund into the library and sent for some tea.

“I look odd, I know. Unkempt. Had it been anyone but you, I would have begged off, so I wouldn’t be seen. I knew you would understand, though.” Minerva poked some errant locks back into her hair while she spoke.

“Do you often go off on investigations?”

“Usually I have agents who do it at my direction. But today’s assignment needed a woman of a certain age and manner, so I decided I should go myself. I’m supposed to be a reformer with good breeding but little concern for her appearance. Did I succeed in the ruse?”

Rosamund took in the hair and the boring brown dress and half boots. “I would believe it.”

“Fortunately, the family in question did as well. I confirmed what I had suspected and can report to my patron in full.”

“Is it an interesting problem?”

The tea arrived and Minerva poured them both some. “A unique one. My patron suspected her husband has an entire second family. I learned today that indeed he does.”

“Right here in London? That is bold.”

“Many men assume that a quiet wife is a stupid wife. Unfortunately for this man, his quiet wife is as sharp as a sword and missed nothing. She turned a blind eye for years, and would have continued to do so, except she suspected he had taken a final step that was unexpected. One that would change everything.”

Rosamund pondered what that could have been. A final step—“Did he marry the other woman too?”

“Very good. I will have to watch myself around you, lest my indiscretions tell you more than I intended. I have no idea why he did it, although I have a few theories. All that matters is that when my patron confronts him with this, she will have knowledge that will ensure he listens very carefully to her for the first time in their marriage.”

“How interesting your life is.”

“Not as interesting as one that hops packets to France. Tell me about your journey.”

Rosamund had come for other conversation. She did not want to be rude, so she described some of what she had seen.

“Did Kevin behave himself?” Minerva asked.

Rosamund felt her face getting hot. “What do you mean?”

“Did he avoid being rude to this Forestier man you mentioned? To you? To the hotel servants and packet crew?”

“He wasn’t rude, that I saw. I can’t swear what happened while I was shopping and he was about on his own.”

Minerva glanced over, then looked more directly. Her head angled back and her lids lowered. Rosamund fussed with her teacup.

Another cup clattered when it was set down. “The rogue.”

Rosamund’s mouth dried. “Why would you say that? I explained he was not rude.”

“He seduced you. I can see it in your eyes. He seduced you to make you pliable to his demands about that invention.” Her eyes flared with hot lights. “Chase knows. He had dinner with Kevin last night and was very odd when he returned and I asked about the journey’s success. Very vague. He didn’t tell me about you two because he knows that I will—”

“Please. I was not—I hardly resisted much. Not at all, to be honest. However, it has made me wonder about some things. We are thinking of getting married, you see, and now I need to know more about him.”

“Married? Kevin?” Minerva sank back on the cushion, astonished. “What happened to that man you had me investigate? That Charles fellow?”

“I met with him. It was not the same.”

Minerva’s expression grew serious. “It is not wise to turn immediately to another when one person disappoints you. Least of all to Kevin Radnor.”

“I am still deciding. However, for me such a match is fairly wise, I think. Nothing else will change who I am quite so thoroughly.”

“Ah. Yes, of course. How unkind of me to imply you have not considered this fully. You are being far wiser than I am, it appears. And more practical.” She lifted the teapot to pour again. “What do you want to learn about him? I daresay you may know him better than I do now.”

“I want to know about the late duke’s death.”

“I told you that it was determined to be an accident.”

“You also said the family did not agree with that. Is an accident what you and Chase decided?”

Minerva hesitated. “No. We are convinced it was not.”

“And Kevin?”

“I never spoke with him about it, but Chase did. Kevin was there, at the estate. He says it was the day before