Page 21 of Gone With the Rogue
Garrett digested that bit of information as he remembered the house where he was raised. It was small—the drawing room, the front lawn, and the back garden. All of it. But it was something that his father had said could never be his. Did it bother Garrett that the house had been turned into a brothel? No. It wouldn’t change his plans.
“I’m not one to judge any man or woman about how they choose to make their living,” Garrett said.
“Most would agree. And while many gentlemen in Society might on occasion have reason to visit such a place, none of them want to be associated with anyone who actually owns one—and they especially don’t want one on their street. I heard the Lord Mayor and a few other gentlemen paid Moorshavan a visit and he and his women were gone the next day.”
“So he should be willing to sell?”
“I don’t know. Others have asked about him, but no one has heard from him since it was discovered what he was doing.”
“Then he’s probably ready to get rid of it.” After being a sojourner for so long, needing a home wasn’t something Garrett could explain. He had stayed in inns as grand as the Holcott-Fortney, run-down taverns with rooms only big enough for a makeshift bed, and slings in the bottom of a ship. Now he wanted his own home. He wanted his first house to be the one his father could never have dreamed of owning, because of the life his father chose to live at the mercy of his wealthy relatives.
“I want the house on Poppinbrook Street,” Garrett said again.
“All right. I can ask around the clubs about the man and see if anyone has heard from him, if you want to buy it and live there.”
“I don’t want to live there,” Garrett said. “I want to tear it down.” It wasn’t something he could rationalize and he didn’t try to. Perhaps it was that in doing so he would also demolish the old guard rule that a man couldn’t be a gentleman and a tradesman. It was time for him to move beyond the past. He was committed to removing every board of it and replacing it with a house that reflected the man he was today.
Garrett nodded. “Yes. See what you can find out.”
Wiley rested his forearm on the horn of his saddle. “I’ll keep you posted.”
Garrett knew Wiley had questions but he kept them to himself. “What do you know about Lady Kitson Fairbright?”
“As much as anyone, I guess. Why are you asking?”
Garrett’s horse snorted and shuddered beneath him. He nudged the mare to start walking again. “I met her here in the park.”
“Hmm.” Wiley brushed his hair again and moved his horse alongside Garrett’s. “I didn’t know she was back in London. I haven’t seen the duke at White’s or heard about him being in Town. Usually everyone is on their best behavior when the Duke of Sprogsfield’s around.”
Garrett wasn’t interested in the duke. “What do you know about Lady Kitson?” he asked again.
Wiley looked away and seemed to ponder what Garrett asked. They passed a lady and gentleman walking and acknowledged them by lifting their hats off in greeting.
“I probably don’t know much more than you, since you saw her. She’s lovely, widowed, and has a son. She and two of her friends are benefactors of a girl’s school in St. James.”
“What else?” Garrett asked, eager to hear something about the intriguing lady that he didn’t already know.
“She’s fond of animals.” Wiley chuckled. “Why don’t you just come out and ask me if she’s available to pursue?”
Fair enough. “Is she?”
“Not from what I understand.”
Garrett’s stomach squeezed and his hands tightened on the reins. “She has a lover?”
“I haven’t heard about one if she does.”
“Then what the devil would make you say she’s unavailable?” Garrett asked, feeling a sudden rise of impatience to know all he could about Lady Kitson.
“Because she brushes off every man who’s tried to openly court her or have a secret affair with her. I’ve heard the talk. Believe me, men have tried. I mean—why wouldn’t they? She beautiful, young, and from what I understand has quite a substantial amount of property in her own right.”
“What are the rumors as to why she rejects all offers?”
Wiley shrugged. “It’s anyone’s guess. Some say it’s because the duke controls her life and forbids it.”
That comment made Garret’s stomach twist. He didn’t like the idea of anyone forbidding Lady Kitson to do anything. And he’d wager a gold coin she wouldn’t like it, either. She wanted to hide something—probably from the duke. Garrett was more determined than ever to find out what it was and to help her.
“Everyone knows how devoted the duke is about all his family following the strict dictates of Society,” Wiley continued. “He’s disowned more than one nephew for not living up to the high standard he expects. ButI think most agree Lady Kitson is involved with only one male and that’s her son.”
