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Will turned at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice. If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought she looked shocked to see the viscount.
“Lady Elizabeth, it is a pleasure to see you again.” Somerton rose and crossed the room to bow over her hand. “It’s been months.”
She smiled tightly. “Since Jennette’s wedding, I believe.”
Somerton nodded. “November, then.”
Will shook his head. Was he really supposed to believe this scene?
“Why are you here, my lord?” she asked softly.
“Renewing an old acquaintance,” he replied.
“You know His Grace?”
“Only slightly. We met as children.”
“How did you know he was here?”
Will watched the two interact and briefly wondered why Elizabeth seemed to be interrogating Somerton.
“Lady Elizabeth,” Somerton said with a smug grin, “everyone knows he is here. Most have just been more polite than I and are giving him a few days to settle in. We both know in a few days, the invitations and calls shall be nonstop.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Then I should let you go. I can only imagine the work you have in front of you.” After a nod to Elizabeth and a quick glance back to Will, Somerton left.
“Do you have any idea what kind of man you just let in this house?”
Chapter 6
Elizabeth fumed as she waited for his reply. The man had no sense of who in Society could help him—and who could damage his reputation beyond repair. Somerton definitely fell into the latter category.
“I take it you don’t approve of Somerton?” William asked as he casually leaned back in his chair.
“The man is dreadful.”
“Why? He didn’t seem that terrible to me.”
Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and breathed in deeply. She had to remember William knew nothing about Society. “Somerton runs with a bad crowd. There are rumors that he has killed several people—”
“Did they deserve to be killed?”
“What?” she asked incredulously.
“There are some people who are killed because they deserve to die. They have killed innocent people or done other heinous things.” William reached for his glass of amber liquid and drank it down. He raised one eyebrow at her in question.
“I do not know the circumstances of the killings.”
His lips drew upward into a smile. “Then you shouldn’t be spreading rumors.”
Elizabeth stomped her foot, then turned and walked away before she said something she regretted. As long as she could remain in the house, she would find time to search the remaining rooms. She strode back into the salon where Victoria sat waiting for her.
“Well? What did he think?” she asked in an eager tone.
Damnation. The man flustered her to the point that she forgot to ask him about the governess and tutor. “I forgot to ask him. We were discussing someone else.”
Victoria shook her head with a small smile. “Who?”
