Page 10 of One Night of Scandal
She put the rock back down and moved around the table so they could put some distance between themselves and other guests. “I hadn’t planned to come tonight, but then decided it was worth trying to learn anything I could about our…project.”
He nodded twice, slowly. “Yes, our project. We should perhaps develop a strategy for tomorrow night. I will ensure Pennington will be there.”
“Excellent, I do think he is our best hope for delving deeper into things. We need to find out how he heard this rumor.”
“Agreed. He typically likes to talk, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Viola didn’t disagree, but she wouldn’t leave things to chance alone. “And if he’s being closemouthed, we’ll pour ale down his throat until he speaks.”
Mr. Barrett’s dark eyes widened very briefly. “You wish to get him drunk?” He kept his voice low.
Viola lifted a shoulder. “If we must.”
“Diabolical,” he said. “I like it. Tell me, Lady Viola, have you ever been drunk? It seems as though you must have, given your frequent visits to the Wicked Duke.”
“I am careful not to overimbibe. Indeed, I rarely finish an entire mug of Colehaven’s marvelous ale.” She shook her head with regret. “It’s a crime.”
He laughed. “Indeed.”
“To answer your question, yes. I have been drunk.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but not in anger or disgust. “That is not a question you should ask a lady.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I should have said, ‘Tell me, Tavistock, have you ever been drunk?’” His eyes glowed with mirth, and she felt herself responding to his good humor.
She angled her head to a saucy tilt. “No.”
“So you’ve been drunk as Lady Viola, not as Tavistock.” He studied her intently, and her toes had the audacity to curl in her slippers. “Fascinating.”
“Only once—just to see what it was like.”
“You are a woman dedicated to investigation, it seems.”
She was more than impressed with his estimation. She was…flattered. “That is an excellent way to describe me.” She tried to think of how she would describe him and wasn’t sure. Not yet. But they’d be spending plenty of time together, probably. Unless they unraveled the entire mystery tomorrow night.
She realized she didn’t particularly want to. It might be fun to be on the hunt with Mr. Barrett.
No, that was madness. He was not her friend—or anything else—just a necessary partner who shared her objective of learning the truth.
“So, we’ll move forward with our operation tomorrow evening,” Mr. Barrett said. “We have meetings at Westminster tomorrow, and I’ll bring Pennington when they conclude.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Eagerly. Because of the investigation, and only because of the investigation.
“See you then.” He inclined his head and turned from her. As he walked away, she saw Grandmama staring in her direction. The dowager notched her chin in the way that meant,Do come here.
Viola steeled herself to hear about the bachelors in attendance. Meanwhile, she’d think about talking to Pennington tomorrow and not how much she was looking forward to seeing Jack Barrett again.
Chapter 4
“Don’t you think Falworth is being unreasonable?” Jack asked, still angry about the encounter he and Pennington had just had at Westminster.
They alighted from the hack in front of the Wicked Duke, Pennington stepping down first and Jack following. “I don’t know if he’s beingunreasonable,” Pennington said. “He’s entitled to his opinion, and he doesn’t see a problem with our current voting laws.”
“Bah,” Jack grumbled as they walked into the tavern.
A loud refrain of “Barrett! Pennington!” greeted them, and Jack relaxed. Walking into the Wicked Duke always felt somewhat like coming home. It was familiar and comfortable, though it lacked his father, whom he was overdue to visit. It had been too long, particularly since he only lived in Isleworth, a mere ten miles away.
“What news today, gentlemen?” This came from Lady Viola—Jack wasn’t sure he could ever think of the “man” as Tavistock now—who sat at a table near the front window.
Seeing her as a man again was jarring, particularly after how lovely she’d looked last night. She was a beautiful woman, with golden-blonde hair, vivid blue eyes, and a face that could never be mistaken for masculine. And yet she managed to fool everyone with the addition of fake sideburns. It was more than that, he realized as he scrutinized her now. She held her mouth differently, somehow diminishing the lush bow shape of her lips. She was also careful to hood her eyes, letting her lids droop much of the time. It was an astonishing transformation and undoubtedly required impressive discipline.
