Page 110 of Her Beast

The comment irritated him for some reason. “Yes, she is beautiful, but she is more than just her face and body,” he said sharply. “She’s also clever, witty, and so full of life that”—he broke off when the other man chuckled.

Malcolm groaned when he realized just how easily he’d risen to the bait. “Christ,” he muttered, throwing himself into his chair.

“I only spoke to her for a few minutes but I could see all that and more. She’s delightful.”

Malcolm preened like an idiot at his friend’s praise, as ifhehad anything to do with why Julia Harlow was the way she was.

“So, to what do I owe the honor of your presence tonight, my friend?”

“Curiosity,” Smith admitted without any shame. He reached into his exquisitely cut evening coat and brought out a piece of paper. “I also wanted to give this to you.”

Malcolm eyed the paper with no little apprehension. “Do I want to know what that is?”

“It’s about Miss Harlow’s brother—her twin.”

Malcolm gave an undignified squawk. “How in hell do you know about him?Ionly found out about the man’s existence tonight at dinner.”

“Yes, well, my information gathering network is better than yours.”

Malcolm snatched the paper out of his hand. It held several addresses, one for Richard Harlow and the other two for men he’d never heard of.

“What’s this for?”

“Joe Bacon said you wanted to know about the girl’s bargain with her father—the reason why she has agreed to marry Basingstoke.”

“I asked him to find me something on thatdaysago and he’s come up with nothing.”

Smith gave him an insufferable smile. “You should have come tome, my dear Malcolm.”

“What did you learn?” he asked grimly.

“Your Miss Harlow is marrying Basingstoke so her father will transfer ownership of the house where her brother has lived all his life.”

Malcolm frowned. “That’swhat he promised her to make her marry that bastard?”

Smith nodded.

“And she’s notmyMiss Harlow,” he added.

Smith merely smiled.

“What are the other two names for?”

“The girl isn’t a fool and she insisted on having the agreement drawn up and signed—”

“Her brother lacks capacity to engage in a contract—not if what she says about him is true—and Harlow would know that!”

Smith nodded. “Yes. It will be easy for Harlow’s lawyers to void the contract.”

“Christ! The man is so crooked he can’t even deal straight with his own daughter.”

“It’s worse than that. Are you sure you want to hear it?”

“No, I’m sure I don’t. But, go ahead and tell me.”

“He’s already got a buyer for the property—Brookfield, it’s called, a small but pleasant manor, apparently—and he’s putting his son into the care of a man named Doctor Benjamin Patterson. Patterson operates several homes that hide society’s, er,secretsfor a premium price.”

Malcolm let out a stream of choice curse words.

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