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“Who is she?” Hardy stared over at him until Simon looked away.
“No one. It’s just time.”
“If you say so. I don’t believe you, but what do I know,” Hardy said with a shrug. “Of course, if I was to ask Riley, I would wager a name could be had.”
Simon sighed. Hardy always knew how to get information from him. Riley had also worked for Hardy before joining Simon when he opened Hell. While he could trust Riley, Simon was sure Hardy had something on the man. “It doesn’t matter because she doesn’t want me.”
Hardy whistled. “Then why would you want to give up all this?” he waved his hand around the room.
“It’s time.” Simon cleared this throat. “Enough, all ready. When you get word on Park, let me know. I will be there with you since he was targeting both our hells.”
“Of course.” Hardy scraped back the chair. “Are you sure about selling, lad?”
Before he could let his mind talk him out of this, he answered, “Absolutely.”
“Very well, then.”
Once Hardy left, Simon called Riley into his office. For the past week, Simon had spent his time investigating Richard Park and drinking. Anything to keep his mind off the one thing he wanted.
Damn her! He shouldn’t want her after all that she’d done...but he did. Every night since he left her mother’s house, he’d wondered if she had gone to a ball and gotten herself into another mess. Part of him wanted to find out while the other half cursed his weak heart.
She hadn’t said a word while her mother belittled him. She had never told him her feelings. He was a fool. A damned fool to think that he meant anything to her.
Riley opened the door. “You wanted to see me, King?”
“Yes, sit down.” Simon waved to the chair.
“I have a proposition for you.” Simon rose and then poured two glasses of whisky. After handing the glass to Riley, he said, “I have decided to sell Hell.”
“Why now? You told me Miss Drake doesn’t seem to want marriage. What else are you going to do with your time?”
Simon grimaced at her name. He needed no reminders of the mistake he’d made with her. “I have the estate and the house in London. My brother is insisting I become a respectable man.”
Riley's face fell, but he nodded slowly. “I understand, King. You have more money than you will ever need in a lifetime. It’s time to settle down and find a wife.” He paused with a brief sigh. “I suppose it’s time for me to figure out what to do with all the money I’ve made off you the past ten years. You made me a very wealthy man.”
Simon grinned at him. “You were my rock, Riley. I would never have been successful without the knowledge you had from Hardy and your patience during the rough first years. There is something you could do with all the blunt.”
“Did you want me to buy you out? I don’t want all that responsibility, King. I might be good with the books and keeping the peace on the floor, but I’m no good mingling with the gents. That’s your specialty.”
“What if you could buy a share of Hell?”
“A share?”
“Yes, either a third or a quarter. With Ainsley and Stanton. I’m not certain if they had planned on another to join them or not. I wouldn’t think Stanton would want the entire risk.” Simon went on to explain the little he knew of the plan so far.
After a few moments of contemplation, Rile
y said, “Yes, I would be willing to buy in up to a third.”
Simon smiled. “There is just one catch.”
Riley smirked and shook his head. “Isn’t there always. What is it?”
“I want Ainsley and Stanton to get you into Society.” Simon put up his hand to stop Riley’s interruption. “Hear me out. You are the son of a viscount—”
“A bastard son,” Riley got in.
“And you have more money than you know what to do with,” Simon continued. “You need a good woman to help you move in Society and meet the people who will increase your station.”
