A Scandalous Portrait: Rose Room Rogues ~ Book One

by Hutton, Callie

  He took her hand in his and linked their fingers. “There is nothing ordinary about you, sweeting.”

  Wishing to move the subject off herself, she said, “I believe you were to meet with your Home Office contact after our return from Grafton Manor. With all that happened, I’ve forgotten to ask you about it. Did you pass your information along?”

  Hunt shifted to rest his foot on his knee, giving Diana much needed breathing space. “I did. Sir Phillip was quite pleased with the information I was able to pass along to him.”

  “What next? Did he say what he would do?”

  He placed his arm across the back of the seat and leaned in close. “Yes. Sir Phillip has commissioned me to search Melrose’s house for documentation he can take to the Prime Minister.”

  Diana’s eyes grew wide. “How very exciting. How do you plan to do that?”

  He sat back. “Arrangements that you need not concern yourself with are in play. I hope to have it all finished and be done with the entire matter by next week. We do have a wedding to plan.”

  “Um, just a minute. We are not planning a wedding. I accepted this ring with the condition that we would court for a while and see if we suited.”

  “We are courting. We’ve been to the theater and now on a drive through Hyde Park.”

  “Two events does not a courtship make.”

  “Darling, we have been friends most of our lives. The purpose of courtship is for the man and woman to learn about each other. I doubt there is anything about you I don’t know, and vice versa.”

  She shifted so she could share her displeasure by glaring at him. “Are you going back on our deal, my lord?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t know. I keep hearing rumors and comments, and I don’t like what I’m hearing. I hate to revisit the subject again, Diana, but we have very little choice in this matter.” He placed his knuckle under her chin and tilted her head up. “What are your reservations? Truly. I want to hear them.”

  Diana looked out the side of the carriage. They were growing close to Hyde Park and no conversation would be private once they arrived. “I don’t want to be a man’s penance. I don’t want to be married to someone who is always waiting to see what trouble I will get into next. I don’t want a marriage where I am considered a fumbling, troublesome woman. Someone who will never be a true partner because she has to be watched and guarded at all times, lest she lose one of the children, or burn down the house.”

  “We will have a nanny to watch the children.”

  She turned back to him. “This is not funny, Hunt. You know deep in your heart you never wanted to marry me. I will not be a wife, but an albatross.”

  “Stop. And wait just a minute. I’ve let you go a bit too far with this. You are not my penance or an albatross. I agree that marrying you was not in my original plans, but plans change.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. “I want this, Diana. Not because I’m being forced, but because I want you. You with all your faults, foibles and propensity for getting into trouble.”

  “Why?” She was genuinely confused.

  “Because I have come to realize the type of woman I thought I wanted bores me to death. One thing I can say about you, sweetheart, is there will never be a boring moment in my life.”

  “And that is enough?”

  “Yes. That is enough. Well, aside from the fact that I desire you so much I cannot think of anything else most of the time.”

  She studied him for a minute. He meant it. He was not marrying her for penance, honor, or to stop gossip. He really wanted to marry her.

  “Very well. We can plan the wedding.”

  He pulled her in for a satisfying, but short kiss since they had arrived at the park.

  “One more thing, Hunt,” she said.

  He kissed her hand. “What is that, my love?”

  “When do we break into Melrose’s house?”

  Hunt dropped his head to his chest and groaned.

  16

  Diana pulled her black gloves on and stuffed her hair into the black cap she’d borrowed from one of the footmen. She smiled, remembering the argument she’d had with Hunt when she announced she was going with him to search Lord Melrose’s house.

  “You are not going with me to search Melrose’s house, Diana,” Hunt had said after she made her intentions known during their carriage ride.

  “Why not?”

  Hunt squeezed the bridge of his nose. “It’s too dangerous, and there is no need for you to involve yourself in this matter.”

  “I was with you when Lord Melrose spoke with Grafton’s footman. In fact, if memory serves, I was the one that brought their conversation to your attention. Therefore, I am already involved.”

  He gave her a dismissive wave of the hand. “Perhaps that is so, but it is too dangerous.” He turned to her. “This is government business that I have been doing for years. Sensitive matters. The fewer people involved the better the outcome.”

  She sniffed. “Did your contact know that I was the one who discovered the traitorous lord?”

  “Yes. It did happen to slip out.”

  “And?”

  “And he didn’t seemed pleased, although in all honestly I did not receive the reprimand I expected. Again, I must restate this is too dangerous.”

  She glared at him. “No more dangerous than it is for you.”

  “I am a man.”

  Her brows rose. “And?”

  “And I can handle myself in a scuffle.” He shook his head. “If I have to worry about your safety, it takes away from my ability to protect myself.”

  “Hogwash. I know how careful you are about everything, and if you are planning on entering Melrose’s house, you have it all worked out.” She narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t that so?”

  He hesitated. “Something could go wrong. No plans are perfect.” He glanced to the side and waved to a carriage full of women. Thankfully, the women continued and didn’t wave them down. The young girls in the carriage fluttered their eyelashes and twirled their parasols. Hunt ignored them.

  He is taken.

  Returning to the conversation, she said, “What is the plan?”

  “You don’t need to know.”

  “Very well.” She raised her chin. “Then I shall wait in my carriage outside your house and follow you wherever you go. I shall probably starve while I await your presence since I dare not leave to eat. People will begin to notice me. Scandal will follow. There will probably be a write-up in the newspaper.”

  Hunt threw up his hands. “All right. You may go.”

  “When?”

  “I am not certain yet, I’m waiting for word from my valet. He has a contact in Melrose’s house who will leave the back door open once they all retire for the night.”

  “Will that be wise with the chance that Melrose might wander around and find us?”

  Hunt shook his head and offered her a look that indicated her comment was precisely why he didn’t want her to go with him. “No. I have arranged with my brothers to keep the man at The Rose Room until I send word that I am finished.”

  “Well done, my lord.”

  Smirking at how she’d gotten Hunt to see things her way, Diana headed down the stairs to the back door to await Hunt’s arrival. They’d decided he would leave his carriage parked a block away and meet her at her back door and escort her to the carriage. Even though it was after midnight, there was still a good amount of traffic on the streets with members of the ton out and about. They’d decided his carriage parked in front of her house would only start up unnecessary speculation and rumors.

  “What the devil are you wearing?” Hunt scowled at her, his hands on his hips.

  “Trousers.”

  “I can see your legs.”

  She looked down at herself. “Yes, I believe you are correct.” She looked up. “Very observant, my lord.”

  Hunt shook his head and took her arm. “Don’t ever wear those in public.”

  She hurried to keep
up with his stride. “Actually, I wear them when I have the opportunity to ride in the country. It’s so much more comfortable than balancing in a side-saddle.”

  “You ride astride?” His voice was so high he squeaked.

  “I do. Less dangerous when you take those high jumps.”

  She wasn’t quite sure what he mumbled but most likely she was probably better off not knowing.

  He practically tossed her into the carriage, followed her in and slammed the door.

  “Really, Hunt, you’re tossing me around like I’m some sort of rag doll.” She adjusted her shirt and tucked an errant curl into her hat.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  The carriage started their journey and Hunt leaned forward. “You will do exactly as I say when we arrive at Melrose’s house. No arguing, suggesting, or going your own way. Agreed?”

  She lifted her chin. “That sounds rather tyrannical. I thought we were partners in this.”

  Hunt leaned forward. “We are not partners. You are here because you wheedled your way in.”

  “What if I don’t agree with those terms?”

  He grinned and pulled out a rope from under his seat. “I will tie you up and leave you in the carriage. My driver has instructions to drive around the area with you inside until I come out of the house.”

  Diana huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Despot.”

  “Just so.”

  They both grew silent as the carriage came a halt. “Melrose’s house is about a block and a half from here. We will walk close to the houses, avoiding the streetlights. With us both dressed in black we should be virtually invisible. Oh, and remember to keep your face pointed toward the buildings.”

  Diana’s heart sped up at what they were about to do. Despite the best plan Hunt had, as he mentioned before, something could always go wrong. What would happen if they were caught? Would they be arrested? Could they end up in jail? She shivered as Hunt held out his hand to assist her from the carriage.

  Another benefit to wearing trousers. She really did not need assistance getting into and out of carriages. It was too bad women were banned from wearing such things.

  Hunt held her hand as they made their way up the street. He turned them into an alley and made his way up the steps to a back door. He placed his hand on the door latch, turned it and it opened. He pulled her inside.

  Diana took a deep breath. This was it.

  * * *

  Hunt stopped once they were inside and the door closed. He had to get his mind off Diana’s legs encased so detectably in those trousers and onto the job he needed to perform. He had to find written information that would tie Melrose to the anarchists. Then his job—this assignment—would be finished.

  Diana could then plan the wedding, and he would make the arrangements for their wedding trip. Again, his mind drifted to matters other than what they were doing. Bringing Diana along, with her scandalous outfit and familiar scent, was definitely making this assignment more difficult. They needed to search Melrose’s library—the most likely place where any papers were stored—and get out.

  Marcus’s contact had provided Hunt with a rough sketch of the floor where the library was situated. Taking Diana’s hand again, he led her up the back stairs to the first floor.

  He counted down three doors and then opened the fourth. The library. They entered quietly, and he closed and locked the door. Just in case someone wandered around at night and tried to access the library. They might think it odd that the library was locked, but it would give them time to decide what to do to avoid being caught.

  The room was dark, but someone left a small oil lamp lit. Hopefully that was a usual thing to do and any wandering servant would not think it odd to see a bit of light coming from under the door. It was his experience that servants were so well-worked they rarely left their beds once they arrived there.

  “You start with the books on the shelves over there.” Hunt waved in the general direction of the south wall. “I will go through his desk and also look for a safe where he might have papers.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief when Diana nodded and walked away from him. She picked up the oil lamp and placed it on the floor where she sat and began to pull books out.

  He doubted very much if there were papers hidden in the books, but it was a way to keep Diana in sight and out of trouble while he searched the desk.

  He’d brought a small lantern—the same one he used when he searched Mallory’s gallery. It wasn’t a great deal of light, but with his excellent night vision, he was able to read fairly well.

  After about an hour and a half, Hunt pulled out papers from the safe he’d found behind a shelf of books. His training in lock picking paid off again when he was able to get into the safe.

  He stared down at the papers, and his lips tightened. Not only was Melrose involved with the anarchists, two MPs were named in a letter Melrose had received.

  Hunt folded up the documents and tucked them into his jacket. He closed the safe and straightened up the desk as much as possible, so it didn’t look searched.

  “Diana,” he called in a loud whisper.

  “What? I hope you found something since my muscles are getting sore from pulling out books and flipping through them. I must have gone through a hundred books.”

  “Well, you can stop. I found what I was looking for.”

  Diana shoved a book back onto the shelf and stood. “Thank goodness. This spying stuff isn’t as exciting as I thought it would be.”

  “Things are rarely as exciting as one thinks they will be.” He joined her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Thank you for your help.”

  “What help? You found what you were looking for.”

  His eyes drifted down to her legs. Damn, why did she have to wear those trousers? Slowly he bent his head and brought his mouth to hers. When his tongue nudged her lips, instead of pulling back, she moved closer and opened her mouth.

  He wrapped her in his arms and groaned when she shifted, pressing her soft breasts against his chest. No need to wear a corset when one was dressed in trousers. Hunt grasped her chin to tilt her head and take the kiss deeper. Diana was right along with him.

  He smiled at her slight moan of disappointment as he pulled back. “We are pushing our luck here, sweetheart. It’s best we leave as quickly as possible.”

  She nodded and took his hand. After he made a quick visual sweep of the room, he opened the door, looked out, and pulled her forward.

  They quickly left the house and hurried down the pavement to where the carriage was parked. Hunt helped Diana in and they were off.

  Diana looked out the window and frowned. “Where are we going? This is not the way to my house.”

  “That is correct. I have to stop at The Rose Room and let my brothers know that they can release Melrose now.”

  Her eyebrows flew to her hairline. “Are they holding him prisoner?”

  Hunt laughed. “Not at all. They are just making sure he is enjoying himself enough that he has no interest in leaving.”

  They arrived at the club within fifteen minutes. Hunt turned to Diana. “I will be right out.”

  “Wait!” She scuttled forward on her seat. “I want to see the club.”

  “No,” Hunt said. “Women are not allowed. Decent women, that is.”

  “You mean there are other women in there. Indecent women?”

  Hunt leaned back in his seat. Knowing Diana, this would be a longer conversation than he would have liked. “Yes. Women from the demimonde and mistresses are allowed.”

  “That’s not very fair.”

  “Not so much fair as necessary. Any woman who wants to protect her name would never enter a gambling hell to begin with. Especially since they are not legal.”

  “If they are illegal, how do you stay open?”

  “There are ways that I don’t want to go into right now. I am ready to be done with this assignment. Just wait here for a minute, please. I will speak with my brothers and b
e right back.”

  Diana opened her mouth to reply, but Hunt hurried off. He shouted back to his driver. “Don’t let her out of the carriage.”

  There was no doubt in his mind that Diana would attempt to sneak into the club, so he needed to make this a fast mission. He sighed, afraid he would spend the rest of his life thwarting Diana’s plans to harm herself in some way.

  He would have to get her with child post haste to keep her busy at home. Just knowing her as well as he did, Diana would not be one to hand over her child to a nanny and governess to raise. He knew as much as she loved her grandmama, she had missed out on the love and attention of a mother.

  Then he smiled at how much pleasure would be gained in the effort to produce his heir.

  17

  “I don’t understand why you think we should invite these gossipmongers to the wedding breakfast. All they will do is criticize us the entire time. It’s my wedding, and I want a happy, peaceful event.” Diana scowled at Hunt as she scanned the list he’d presented to her of guests to be invited.

  They’d already decided on a small ceremony with only Hunt’s brothers, a couple of his friends, Diana’s father, wife and children, and a few of Diana’s friends, one who would act as a bridesmaid. He had wanted to secure a special license, but with Diana’s father coming from a distance, his wife had made it known it would be an inconvenience to arrive before a month. So, they had the banns read, instead.

  Hunt had cupped her face and rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks. “Sweetheart, we want everyone to know that we are a happy couple, had planned to marry, and are not being forced to do so because of Lord and Lady Grafton’s chicanery.”

  Diana’s brows rose. “I see. And having to put up with slurs, suggestions and eye-rolls during our wedding breakfast will assuage their need for nastiness?”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Let’s just get through this.”

  She looked up at him. “Just get through this? Isn’t every woman entitled to enjoy the day and be pleased with her wedding?” She pulled away from him and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Perhaps we should just make the trek to Gretna Green and be done with it. It’s already a scandal, so adding to it won’t make a bit of difference.”