Too Dangerous For a Lady by Jo Beverley

nothing but shadows with the window behind him. “I’m surprised some ambitious heiresses didn’t present the easy option.”
    â€œNorthumberland.”
    â€œWhy is that important?”
    â€œCarsheld Castle is in Northumberland and rich heiresses seem to favor the south. That was part of the reason for our move to Hampshire.” Here they were again, in easy conversation, even about personal matters, perhaps more intimate because of darkness and the late hour.
    He began to pull on his stockings. “I was wondering about that.”
    â€œMother lost patience with the crumbling discomfort of Carsheld and insisted on the move, but she also hoped that in the south my brother Jermyn would tempt a fortune. It almost worked. He was betrothed to twenty thousand pounds when he died from eating bad shellfish.”
    â€œCareless of him. No other brothers?”
    â€œRoger, but he was already dead.” She hadn’t grieved deeply over Jermyn, who’d been selfish and stupid, but herheart still ached for Roger, who’d burned brightly and deserved the name Merryhew.
    He looked at her. “Ah yes, you mentioned him.”
    â€œYou remember?”
    â€œDeceased heroes were significant to me then. Still are,” he added.
    â€œYou must have lost many friends.”
    He didn’t respond to that. Of course not. “Is there a new marquess, or has the title died?”
    â€œThere’s a new one, though they had to hunt up and down the family tree for him. Porteous Merryhew, who before his elevation was some sort of official in the Public Accounts Office. I know it’s horrid to sneer at that.”
    â€œHe must rejoice to be a marquess, even a poor one.”
    â€œI’m sure he did, but he’s become a rich one, damn him.”
    â€œLady Hermione!” he protested, laughter in his voice.
    She had to smile. “I’ve frightened off some suitors with my bold tongue.” Then she heard what she’d said. “I didn’t mean . . .”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œAbsolutely not.” But that was too definite. “I mean that Cousin Porteous has found coal on the Northumberland estate. If only Father had thought to look.”
    â€œAh, no wonder you cursed him. If your father had grown rich that way, the money wouldn’t have been entailed and you and your sister would have inherited his wealth.”
    â€œIt’s maddening to think about. I try not to, but Polly can’t help it.”
    He stretched out his long legs. “Polly?”
    â€œMy sister, Apollonia.”
    â€œNo one ever shortened your name?”
    â€œTo what? Hermy?”
    â€œMinnie,” he teased. “The new marquess doesn’t share his good fortune with his family?”
    â€œWhy should he? We’re strangers. So you see, I have only a tiny portion to tempt the gentlemen.”
    â€œThus you live with your sister and she uses you as a servant.”
    â€œHeavens, no. I live with her, but we do have the normal complement of servants.”
    â€œBut travel in one carriage and stay at a cheap inn?”
    She shook her head. “My turn for questions. Where is your home?”
    â€œLondon as much as anywhere at the moment.”
    His family came from Berkshire, she remembered. Perhaps he’d been disowned. “You’ll return there tomorrow?” she asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWith your ill-gotten gains.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAren’t you at all contrite?”
    â€œNot a bit of it.”
    â€œYou should be.”
    â€œI’m sure you’re right.”
    She desperately wanted him not to be a thief, not to be poor, not to be any of the things he so clearly was. “An impoverished gentleman has many ways to make his fortune, so why turn to crime?”
    â€œWhat profession would you prescribe for me?”
    She couldn’t resist the whimsy and cocked her head in thought. “Not the