Page 17 of A Night of Forever
All of them were the sons of fathers who had believed they had the right to do anything they wished to anyone. Sons of fathers who had kidnapped and almost undoubtedly raped Victoria. And yet all of these men, his friends, had grown into honorable, fine, decent men. All except him.
He’d thought, when the clues to their villain led them to Angelo and the Top Hat, London’s finest molly house, that his sordid past would be revealed. It hadn’t been. Not yet. But it could be a card Victoria was yet to play. Angelo had known about Arend’s past, so it was almost certain Victoria did too.
He wondered, icy dread freezing the blood in his veins, if he’d have the strength to deny Victoria anything if she threatened to tell his friends—these fine, honorable men—what he had done to survive.
Was that why Victoria was leaving her vengeance against him until last?
He poured another glass of brandy and tossed it straight down. Only then did he realize both men were staring at him. “Did I miss something?”
“I said,” Philip said, “that with Hadley away, I’m more than happy to watch your back. You’re distracted.” He looked pointedly at the glass in Arend’s hand. “You’re also getting close and you are probing, which makes you a target. Even when you’re not distracted, you take too many risks.”
“At the moment life is a risk for us all,” Arend said.
“You more than most.” But Hadley’s pained expression faded into resignation. “Tell the others. Let them help you, and for God’s sake be careful.”
“I will.” Arend waved him away. “Now, go to your lady and bother her instead of me.”
Philip waited only until the door closed behind Hadley before continuing the conversation.
“How are you going to find out if Isobel is in Victoria’s pocket, so to speak?”
Arend gazed into the fireplace through hooded eyes. “I’m still working on that.” He lifted the decanter. “More?”
“Please.” Philip held out his glass to be refilled. “May I offer a suggestion?”
Arend nodded as liquid splashed into Philip’s glass. “At this point I’m out of ideas and I’d like to present the others with a real plan.” He refilled his own glass, replaced the decanter on the table, and leaned back in his chair. “The floor is yours.”
“Your betrothal,” Philip said, as if he weighed each word before he released it, “is a perfect foil. Seduce her. Take her to your bed. Make Isobel fall in love with you. Then, even if she is in league with Victoria, she’ll desert Victoria for the man she loves. If she’s not in league with Victoria, the worst you’ve done is make another woman lose her heart to you.”
It was far from being the worst. “The men will call me out and the women will skin me alive.”
Philip snorted. “You were the one who said time was running out. All I know is that, due to Victoria, my sister almost ended up in an Arabian harem. I’d hate to think what else that bitch has planned. We need to discover what she is up to. An experienced man like you can turn any woman’s head. Make Isobel fall in love with you. A woman in love will do anything.”
A woman in love. What would it be like to have Isobel really love him?
“After all,” Philip said, “what’s the worst that could happen? Marriage?”
Both men shuddered reflexively.
“She’s beautiful.” Philip plowed on. “Young. Rich. What more could a man want in a wife? If she’s in league with Victoria, you walk away with a clear conscience. You certainly wouldn’t have to marry her then, no matter what had occurred between you.” He winked. “I’d call that a riskless strategy.”
Seduce Isobel. A slow smile shaped Arend’s lips and a familiar desire stirred within him. This was a plan he could fathom. It would be a challenge. He’d never seduced an innocent before. Part of him hoped that if she was as innocent as she appeared, she’d slap his face and run away. If, however, she succumbed to his charms, then—innocent or not—she had the potential to be turned into an ally.
The seduction of Isobel was now a definite plan.
Arend had never felt more invigorated in his life.
Tonight he’d learn her decision regarding their betrothal. Tomorrow he’d let her help him with the journals. After that, if Victoria tried to retrieve or destroy the journals, he would know who was feeding her the intelligence.
And then Lady Isobel would learn the price of betrayal.
Chapter 6
Long after Arend took his leave, Isobel remained sitting on the bench. Even the beauty of the park, with its graceful swans, playing children, and chirping birds, didn’t penetrate her thoughts. All that ran through her mind was the reality of the danger she would be in if she accepted Arend’s proposal.
She had no illusions about what Victoria would do should she find out Isobel was acting against her.
She scoffed at Arend’s comment about reservations. Of course she had reservations. Grave ones. A number of them. The greatest of all was her fear for her life.
