Page 88 of An Unexpected Earl

But then, Varnham’s appearance wasn’t exactly pristine either. From the state of his dress, he hadn’t lied; he must have just returned home from a night out. Beneath cheeks darkened with morning beard and eyes red from lack of sleep, he wore red from head to toe, including an odd red cap resting on the seat beside him. All red, all white…what on earth went on at those clubs? No wonder Varnham wanted to keep secret what the men did there.

As if reading her mind, he twisted a rueful smile in her direction and stuffed the red cap into his jacket pocket.

They rode on in silence, circling the square. But just as the carriage was about to turn toward the south, Varnham pounded on the ceiling. The carriage slowed and stopped. He opened the door. Miss Humphries quickly exited with a cat-like smile for Varnham and no acknowledgment whatsoever for Amelia.

He closed the door, and the carriage moved on.

“Wait!” Amelia twisted in her seat to stare through the window after Miss Humphries, but the woman walked away, turning off the square and disappearing quickly into the tangle of narrow streets. “Miss Humphries isn’t—”

“She lives nearby and is going home.” His explanation did nothing to ease her wariness. “She has no need to come with us.”

Yet Amelia had need ofher. She couldn’t be seen riding alone in a carriage with a man who wasn’t her relative. “But she said she’d act as my companion.”

“She did.” His voice reverberated with mock empathy. “I’m afraid that was a lie.”

A chill twisted down her spine. “I can’t ride alone with you. I’m unmarried.”

“Oh, but you’re not, Mrs. Northam.”

A piercing jolt flashed through her, momentarily freezing her heart. When it jarred back to life, it wasn’t a pulse that pounded through her but fear.

She rasped out, “How do you know about my marriage?”

No oneknew, except for Freddie and Pearce. And Pearce would never betray her. Which meant…Frederick.Dear God, what have you done?

The look Varnham gave her was one of patronizing pity. In that expression she knew—

“You,” she breathed out, unable to speak above a shocked whisper. A terrifying realization slithered through her. “It’s you who’s been blackmailing my brother.”

“Yes.” He clucked his tongue, as if scolding a child. “Truly, you had no idea?”

“I thought—I thought your brother…”

“Oh, Charles is certainly after your brother. He has an overdeveloped sense of righteousness and patriotism that won’t let him ignore the corruption your brother’s committed. Taking bribes, selling votes, extortion, smuggling…”

“Frederick’s done nothing that other MPs haven’t,” she answered breathlessly, blood pounding through her ears like a hammer. “Most likely including your own brother.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Charles is nothing if not painfully aboveboard in every way. Lord, what a dull brother! Not at all as interesting as yours.” Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “But you’re correct that he had nothing to do with the blackmail. My brother’s arrest of yours is simply an inconvenient coincidence, the charges most certainly to be rescinded.”

The way he said that was painfully polite, wholly pleasant and commonplace, as if they were two acquaintances sharing a quiet conversation about the weather— Dear heavens, he was mad! And all the more terrifying because of it.

Amelia swallowed hard to fight down the rising panic. “But if it wasn’t Frederick’s political corruption that you used against him, then…”

“Then what did I use? Something far worse and more lasting, I assure you.” He smiled arrogantly. “I used you.”

Her hand went to her stomach, as if she could physically press down the churning there. She knew— “My marriage,” she rasped out, her breath growing shallow. “You threatened to reveal my marriage.”

“Not your marriage.” He laughed at the idea. “Yourmoney.”

She gave a strangled laugh. “If you know about my marriage, then you know that I have no money.”

“Oh, so much more than you realize,” he murmured.

The little hairs on her arms stood on end. “What do you mean?”

“Your marriage was all your brother’s doing, to get his hands on your money.”

“You’re mistaken.” After all, hadn’t Frederick told her hundreds of times what a fool she was for losing her fortune, blaming her for Aaron’s duplicity, castigating her for being so naive? “I eloped. My brother was in London and had nothing to do with it.”