He heard his father inhale deeply before posing the inevitable question. “Searching for what?”
“Evidence that Mr. Smythe might be the man who killed Lord Filminster last month.” Aidan continued to stare at his polished riding boots, not missing the barely audible groan emitted by his father.
“Is that a genuine possibility?”
“It is.”
His father cursed, causing Aidan to flinch in surprise. “I do not know him well, but Smythe is a charming fellow with many friends. His older brother is quite fond of him, from what I hear.”
Aidan thought of the letter he had read from the late Baron of Filminster, which had stated that precise detail. His certainty that Smythe was their man, the one who had bludgeoned the baron to death on the night of the coronation, was growing.
“Miss Smythe is innocent of any wrongdoing. Considering my actions, it is now my duty to protect her. Now … and in the future.”
Lord Moreland slowly shook his head. “And perhaps you can illuminate for me how you came to compromise a young lady of theton. Your mother is correct—it is not how weraised you. The concept of right and wrong …” He growled his disappointment.
“I … lost my head.” Aidan raised his gaze defiantly.
Lord Moreland cocked his head in question. Aidan knew his father and he were close in form and facial features, although Aidan possessed his mother’s rich coloring. His thoughts flittered to the notion of a son who looked like them, but with Gwen’s rich red hair and intense blue eyes.
“You do not usually involve yourself with women?” Lord Moreland’s statement brought Aidan back to their conversation.
“I do not usually meet women like Gwen.”
His father contemplated him before finally responding. “This young woman has made an impression, then?”
Aidan immediately bobbed his head in assent. “She is Venus, with the mind of a scholar.”
“And how exactly did you compromise her? Details would be nice, considering high society is going to be whispering about this all across London this morning.”
“I … we … I was embracing her”—Aidan stopped, recalling how Gwen had finally spat out the details in a similar circumstance—“I had my hands upon herderriereand we were kissing … passionately.”
It was mortifying. He was an errant lad who had been caught stealing cake from the pantry rather than an educated, traveled gentleman of five and twenty.
Lord Moreland rubbed his large hands over his face, mumbling another curse under his breath before speaking. “That is rather damning. Not to mention out of character?”
The last was a question, and Aidan squirmed in his seat while attempting to find the words to explain his roguish actions. “I was overcome. She was ravishing in the moonlight, and when I quoted Manilius, she responded in kind.”
His father pressed his lips together. “She sounds unique.”
Gwen was unique. An original. And soon she would be his. The thought of bedding her was never far from his thoughts since their encounter on the terrace. “She is.”
“And her father might have murdered a peer to protect his inheritance?”
Aidan groaned. “I know. What have I done?”
“I am not entirely certain. The only sure thing is that we have a marriage contract to negotiate. It would be fortuitous if you could refrain from finding evidence of Smythe’s guilt until after the wedding.”
His father’s announcement had Aidan mildly confused, raising an eyebrow in question.
Lord Moreland waved a hand as if his statement was self-explanatory. “I would prefer to break further bad news to your mother in small, digestible pieces. First the wedding. Then the news of an arrest. Not together, if you please. She still needs some time to recover from Lily’s attack.”
Aidan thought this over before finally replying. “I can refrain from investigating Mr. Smythe until after the wedding.”
Lord Moreland nodded. “Which will be soon, considering the scandalous aspect of this arrangement.”
“You are in agreement with my offer?”
“The young lady’s situation with her father does not signify. You must behave as a man of quality. Your decision to embrace an innocent gentlewoman sealed your fate, so we will bear the consequences together.”
