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Chapter 246
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The League of Rogues Chapter 247
"Good God," someone muttered. Lucien, perhaps.Charles held his breath, unable to focus, waiting for his friends to judge him, knowing he would deserve it if any of them walked out of this room. An inner torment twisted sharply inside him, because part of him wanted them to. At least then he'd know he was right all along, that he didn't deserve them."I have regretted that decision every day of my life," he said at last. "And I will understand if any of you wish to leave.""Leave?" Jonathan spoke up. "Why would we leave?"Charles finally managed to look at the faces of his friends. There was no derision there, no disgust, no outrage. Only understanding."You challenged a man who beat his wife," Godric said slowly. "That is not something to be ashamed of.""There are other ways to handle men like him," Charles countered."Sometimes I wonder," Cedric said. "But you didn't kill him, your father did.""No, I killed him. If I had kept my temper, none of this would have happened." Ch
The League of Rogues Chapter 248
Charles's heart began to race as he started walking toward the woman in the midnight-blue dress, like a man lost in a most exquisite dream.She'd told him her name was Lily, but had that been the truth? He tried to think of all the ladies who might be acquainted with Lord Sanderson, and yet he knew of no woman like her. A haunting vision, a woman built by God just for him. The crowd thinned as he moved through it, ignoring every call of his name as he tried to catch sight of the woman again. When he reached the veranda, she was gone.Vanished again, as though she had slipped into another realm through a beam of moonlight. Charles opened the veranda door, shivering as he walked out onto the terrace overlooking the gardens. The tall hedges that formed a labyrinth were covered in frost, and the moon rose high above him as he stepped down onto the garden path. Had she come out here? He kept his steps light as he traversed the winding path.Snap! He froze at the sound of a twig breaking
The League of Rogues Chapter 249
"Quite a night, eh?" Cedric clapped Charles on the shoulder as they left the Sanderson home. "Far less painful than I feared.""Quite a night indeed," Charles agreed. He hadn't thought his spirits could be buoyed after the attacks on Phillip and Graham. But coming here tonight and finding Lily Even her name made his blood hum and his head dizzy, as though he'd drunk too much whisky. She had given him a glimpse of hope again."It seems to have pulled you out of your black mood for a while, at least. I saw you danced with a number of fine ladies. I don't suppose any of them caught your fancy?""One flower," he admitted. "Lily Wycliff.""Emily's cousin from the country?" Cedric chuckled. "Well, Godric forbade you from wooing her, so I guess it was only natural that you would. That must have been the blonde beauty you were with during the last waltz."Charles smiled to himself. "That she was." He'd seen stunning women before, that was nothing new. But there was something more to Lily
The League of Rogues Chapter 250
Charles stared at his outfit in the mirror of his bedchamber, his nerves running rampant. He'd woken early, far too early, and had lain in bed for hours planning in detail how he wanted to spend the day with Lily. He'd accounted for Emily's usual games. No doubt the woman would try to play matchmaker and have her own agenda, but Charles was determined to see things through his own way.He looked over his bottle-green waistcoat embroidered with gold stags, his buff breeches and dark-blue coat. Would Lily approve? He'd never thought his appearance questionable before, but now he was doubting every choice he made."My lord?" Davis stood there at his right side, frowning. "Did I choose something incorrectly?"Charles frowned now as well. "No. I'm simply unsure of myself. Do you think I look impressive? If you were a lady, I mean."Davis gave a half smile. "I think you quite handsome, my lord. If I were a lady, that is.""I'm so bloody nervous after all these years.""Nervous, sir? I'
The League of Rogues Chapter 251
The morning room's peach-colored walls glowed with the bright winter sunlight flooding the room through the tall windows. Emily was seated on a chair by a crackling fire, a book in her hands. She beamed at him as he entered, then nodded toward Lily, who was on a couch by the window, also reading. No doubt Emily had wanted them to be seen in this exact way when he entered.Charles cleared his throat, and Lily glanced up, the gaze of her blue eyes caressing him. He wanted to drag her into his arms and kiss her senseless behind the curtains. But no, indulging in brief meaningless passions was what the other Charles would do. He had to be more than that for her.Lily's eyes widened when she saw what he held. Feeling like a bloody fool, he thrust the bouquet out awkwardly."Here." It was the only word he could get out at first. His heart was hammering so loudly he could barely think.Lily blinked. "Pardon?"Charles heard Godric snort behind him. Emily put a hand to her face, trying to
The League of Rogues Chapter 252
Ashton Lennox sat in a chair at Berkley's club, an abandoned glass of brandy hanging precariously from his hand. His thoughts were miles away. He'd done his best to seek out the man he knew as Kilkenny, who Ashton was convinced was one of Hugo's spies, but the man hadn't shown.Ashton had stalked the man like a master hunter would a prize buck for the last month, biding his time and convincing him to at least talk. But it had all led to nothing. Then word arrived of a carriage accident just a block away from the ball that night, and he had quickly deduced what had happened. He'd been played again, chasing phantoms in the dark, just as Hugo no doubt wished him to."There is something I'm not seeing. Some piece of a puzzle, a move upon the chessboard that I missed."He had agents of his own following Hugo and his agents. Spies spying on spies. He had learned much about Hugo and the way he schemed, but there were things that did not add up. He finally understood Hugo's hatred for Charl
The League of Rogues Chapter 253
London, September 1819Jane stood anxiously in the parlor, watching the clock on the mantel. A footman had brought tea in, and she kept wanting to pour herself a cup to calm her nerves. It had been so long since she'd seen her son. At last, her letters to him had finally received an answer. He was coming here to speak with her, to reconcile after his father's death all those years ago.The door to the parlor opened, and her butler escorted her son inside. Her heart leapt at the sight. He'd grown tall and handsome, like his father. But unlike Guy, he had her dark eyes and dark hair, which had pleased her husband Baltus since he'd been dark as well. Still, it hadn't erased the pain in her marriage, knowing that she'd come into her union with Baltus while carrying the child of first love."Hugo," Jane breathed, her lips trembling as she held out her hands. He approached her a little stiffly, but he took her hands in his as they sat down on the settee beside each other."Tea?" she offe
The League of Rogues Chapter 254
"Tell me the truth now." Violet Humphrey stared at Charles with a sharp gaze honed by years of raising rogues for children."Truth? I have no idea what you're talking about." Charles hedged as best he could, but he knew he wouldn't win any argument his mother began."There's a woman." Violet sat perched on a settee with Charles's little sister, Ella, beside her. Ella had a book open in her lap but had not turned a page since this parental inquisition began. Her blonde hair, so much like his, framed her face as she peered blankly at her pages. She was pretty, of course, with eyes more blue than gray, like their mother's, but her features were a more feminine version of their father's. She was small and delicate, but fiercely intelligent and kindhearted."There are plenty of women. YouEllathe cook" Teasing his mother was a favorite hobby of his. Some men collected butterflies and insects; Charles searched for new ways to provoke his mother."Plenty of women? Oh!" She snapped her fan
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