Not a Fine Gentleman (Rogue Hearts #6) - Donna Hatch Page 0,4

on her own. Not to mention the murdered man’s family had offered a reward, so every scoundrel after the money will be looking for her.”

A sobering thought. Connor let out his breath and shook his head. How did he get mixed up in these messes? If he refused, the eldest Amesbury family member might meet brutality at the hands of some clumsy reward-seeker who had no scruples about roughing up a lady. If Connor found her and brought her to justice, she faced execution for murder.

Either choice seemed guaranteed to destroy his friendship with that surprisingly honorable family.

“In addition,” Birnie continued. “She won’t be easy to find. According to the report from the night watchman who arrived on the scene, Lady Hennessy pretended to faint right before she bolted.”

Ah. A diversion. The lady appeared to be as resourceful as her brothers. That could complicate tracking her.

“Why aren’t the Amesburys looking for her?” Connor asked. “Surely Grant could find her.”

Birnie ran his hand over his greying hair, making it stand on end. “Most of them don’t know about it yet. Grant and his wife left London early yesterday morning, and messengers have not yet caught up with them. Lord Tarrington is en route to his country house, and it may be some time before we can get word to him. In the meantime, the youngest brother, Christian, has asked that we find Lady Hennessy and bring her home.”

“Has she been formally indicted?” Too restless to sit, Connor stood and paced to the window.

Birnie said, “Yes, she has. The magistrate of that district has issued a warrant. He’d see her hang if he had any say, and who knows what influence he has with the jury. Apparently, he and Lord Hennessy were old friends.”

“This is personal for him.” Connor stared out of the window without seeing the view.

This would be personal for Connor, too. He owed it to Grant Amesbury to at least keep his sister safe from every thug seeking the reward. Once Connor returned her to her family in London, he could step back and let the family deal with her, and with the law.

“Christian Amesbury asked for you, specifically,” Birnie said. “Will you take the assignment?”

The least Connor could do was find their sister so they could keep her safe. She was also one of those upper-crust snobs Connor had vowed would face the law just like ordinary folks. His own father had inadvertently inspired Connor’s need for bringing justice to everyone—especially the so-called beau monde. No member of the nobility should live under a different law than those that governed the rest of the people. She faced transportation at best and hanging at worst, but the Amesburys would never let that happen to their sister. Their fierce devotion to duty was only exceeded by their loyalty to family.

Either way, Connor had two very good reasons for bringing her back to London. He could only hope justice would prevail.

“I’ll find her, sir,” Connor vowed before taking his leave.

Outside, he absently fingered his signet ring as he considered his course of action. Perhaps he should begin at the beginning. First, he’d speak with Christian and find out all he could as well as vow to be fair and respectful of the lady—who might or might not have brutally murdered her own husband. He resisted the urge to shiver.

Of course, the possibility existed that she was innocent, but running made her look decidedly guilty.

Connor presented himself at the front door of the elegant Grecian-style house in Mayfair that belonged to Christian Amesbury. The butler ushered him into a parlor so immaculate and ornate that Connor almost wished he hadn’t cleaned his boots outside the door. An unworthy thought, to be sure. He ought to treat Grant’s family with deference. Moreover, Connor had worked with Christian more than once in the past and had grown to respect him, as well as the gracious and courageous lady whom Christian had married. Genevieve, wasn’t it?

While he waited, Connor eyed a soothing watercolor painting that bore the signature C. Amesbury.

To his surprise, footsteps approached after only the briefest delay.

A stunning couple entered the room. Christian, a blond young man a few years younger than Connor, with the golden looks that probably threw women everywhere into a collective swoon, strode in with his new wife, a petite young lady whose auburn beauty surely left lesser men stammering.

Connor affected a slight but proper bow. “Mr. and Mrs. Amesbury.”

Christian’s smile revealed his relief. “Jackson, thank you for helping