The Dark Earl by Virginia Henley

is dull as ditchwater these days. It’s just a political club,” James remarked. “There are, however, private hells.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “All exclusive and hush-hush of course.”
    Harry’s eyes widened. “You devil, you’ve been holding out on me! You haven’t actually visited one, have you, James?”
    He riffled the cards in his hand. “As a matter of fact—”
    “Oh, you have !” Harry cried. “Who took you to such a place? Where is it? You must take Rachel and me.”
    “I went with John Montagu, William’s younger brother. It’s at a house right here in Mayfair, and no , I won’t take you.”
    “ Where in Mayfair? And unless you want Father to know what you’ve been up to, you assuredly will take us.”
    James threw his sister a look of desperation. He regretted opening his mouth. “It’s a private establishment, known as Hazard House. If I take you, you’ll both have to disguise yourselves with masks. If anyone learned I’d taken my sister to such a place, I’d be blackballed from polite society.”
    Harry’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll wear a mask and something theatrical and everyone will assume I’m your mistress! Oh, even better, I’ll get a red wig and Rachel and I can be twin demimondes. Only think what that will do to blacken your reputation!”
    “That would bring us unwanted attention. It would be better to wear something inconspicuous,” Rachel suggested. “In any case, I must first learn how to play.”
    “Very well. We’ll put it off until next week, and in the meantime, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
     
     
    Harry arose at five and donned her new emerald green riding habit.
    Rachel roused and asked sleepily, “Wherever are you going?”
    “It’s far better that you don’t know. That way you can give a truthful answer if anyone asks.” Harry opened the door quietly and tiptoed from the room.
    In the stable, Harry told Riley she would saddle Amber. His look told her he was wise to her shenanigans, but she was grateful he kept his warnings to himself.
    When she reached the park, the first glimmer of light penetrated the darkness. Lord Anson and she arrived at the same time, which obscured the fact that she was eager.
    “I admire promptness. I find it a rare trait in a female.”
    And I warrant you know many females. “I pride myself on my rare traits.” She fell in beside him and they trotted through the park to the south exit.
    “One of which, I assume, is riding about London at the crack of dawn.”
    “There’s no traffic at this hour. It’s infinitely safer.” They trotted their mounts past Ranelagh Gardens on their way to the river.
    “That depends upon whom you encounter,” he said flatly.
    A frisson of excitement spiraled through her. “You needn’t warn me that you can be dangerous. I’ve known that since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
    He turned his head to look at her. The first rays of sun revealed that Harry was not wearing black, but emerald green, a color that matched her eyes. “You look radiant.”
    That’s a compliment. I shall return the favor. “And you look like a centaur astride your black hunter. What’s his name?”
    “Victorious.”
    “You didn’t name him to honor the queen,” she said flatly.
    “You are quite perceptive . . . something I’ve known since the first time I laid eyes on you. I named him after a racehorse that won at Newmarket in the last century.”
    Her eyes widened in comprehension. “ Victorious was one of the paintings you swiped from Shugborough!”
    “I didn’t swipe it. I saved it from the vultures.”
    Vultures like my family. “Do you still have it?”
    “I do. In time, I intend to restore all Shugborough’s treasures.”
    “That is so admirable.” Harry hesitated, then confessed, “I fell in love with Shugborough that day.”
    In unison, they began to gallop. As they passed Syon House, she called out, “Did you ever see such a monstrosity in all your