Shade glanced at the Noble Lady, who had resumed talking with Miss Belinder.
"Why should I be wary of her? I don't even know her."
"Her reputation around here isn't very good."
Mr. Bernhardt said quietly:
"I'm not the sort of person who enjoys speaking ill of others behind their backs, but her private life is truly rather chaotic."
"Please rest assured, I'm not some womanizer."
Shade assured him, but Mr. Bernhardt shook his head:
"I'm not telling you to worry about yourself. I'm telling you to worry about Earl Belinder. That Miss Angri Rice likes women."
Shade suddenly understood. The Bloodkin Viscount raised an eyebrow:
"It isn't uncommon for nobles to have unusual preferences. If she only liked one person, no one would say anything. But she isn't devoted to a single lover. Earl Rice has been given quite a headache over it."
"I'll be careful. But your relatives really are something. Captain Rudolf likes gambling, Mrs. Jude loves eating, Baron Chandler is greedy, and Miss Rice is consumed by lust. Could you warn me in advance about Marquis Morrison's flaws?"
Mr. Bernhardt thought carefully.
"That Marquis is relatively normal. He doesn't like cards, his family is harmonious, and there are no rumors of him keeping lovers. He isn't fond of luxuries, either, nor does he have hobbies like Mrs. Jude's."
"But?"
Shade asked. Mr. Bernhardt gently shook his head.
"Yes, but this Marquis enjoys hunting very much."
"That sounds perfectly normal."
"Hunting is normal, but rumors say he likes to kill prey in the most cruel ways. The specimens and heads hanging in his home were all made by his own hands.
"Compared to that, it isn't much. It's only hearsay, yes, hearsay. After all, I'm not from Moon Bay. But I've heard that anyone who has hunted