“Absolutely not. They have a strict governess, dozens of maids, and an overabundance of aunts watching over them. They’re never alone. Laxton was telling tales.”

He thought about the last time he’d spoken with his sisters. They’d been assembled in the conservatory with their music teacher. “Oh, come to think of it, the governess quit her post unexpectedly. I’m sure my housekeeper has advertised for another. In the meantime, the girls are very devoted to their music instructor, Miss Beaton, who’s also a sort of companion for them. She’s a sweet-natured, dimpled thing, though she’s a member of that infernal virago club that your brother’s wife patronizes.”

“The Boadicea Club on the Strand.”

“I warned her not to fill my sisters’ heads with incendiary ideas.”

Miss Beaton had already filled his mind with incendiary images. They’d collided in the hallway on one memorable occasion and the feel of her petite curves pressed against him had fueled his fantasies for months.

She certainly wasn’t what he’d expected when he’d engaged a music instructor on the recommendation of his friend the Duke of Ravenwood. He hadn’t been paying attention and had assumed Louis Beaton, the notorious composer, had a son.

Instead, the person who’d arrived at his home had been a curvaceous, bewitchingly green-eyed and dimpled female with a sunny smile that made everyone around her feel at ease. She wore plain gowns and hid her wavy light brown hair under a white lace cap, like a spinster, but she was young and attractive.

Far too attractive. He shouldn’t be thinking about her at all. She was a member of his staff and therefore strictly off-limits.

“My sisters have sufficient supervision. Laxton wants to harm their reputations and I’m going to make him suffer for it.”

“All I’m saying is that there are ways of humiliating Laxton without further humiliating your sisters. More devious, secret ways.”

West had long suspected that his friend dabbled in espionage. Rafe took frequent, and very mysterious, trips abroad. And that stranglehold he’d just used hadn’t been any ordinary hold. Even suffering from a disastrous morning after, West should have been able to break free from the smaller man’s grip.

“Laxton aside, it’s worse than I’d thought. I knew that no respectable and well-bred young lady would have me. I didn’t know that my wicked ways had nearly ruined my sisters.”

“It’s unfortunate that they must pay the price.”

“I swear on my wasted life, Rafe.” West slammed his fist into his palm. “I’m going to find a way to make this right.”

Chapter Two