Scandal of the Season

by Christie Kelley

  She glanced at the fireplace and nodded. “Of course,” she mumbled.

  “What do you want to know?” he asked in a resigned tone.

  “Anything. I know nothing about you. Are your parents alive? Do you have any siblings?”

  He supposed it wouldn’t hurt to give her a small amount of information. “My father is alive and I have a sister who is twenty.”

  “Oh,” she replied flatly.

  How much detail did she need? “Genna, my sister, is engaged to Lord Lindal. They are supposed to marry after Christmas.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him with a little smile. “Something in your voice tells me you are not completely happy about that.”

  The woman was far too smart. “Lindal is a good man.”

  “But…?”

  “I am not certain of her feelings for him.”

  She leaned forward in her chair. “Then you must stop them. You cannot let your sister marry someone if she is unsure of her feelings for him. Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It is vitally important that she love her husband.”

  Thinking back to the comments from his mother, he wondered if love was the answer. Loving her husband had caused her nothing but pain. Perhaps it would be better if Genna married Lindal, then. If she didn’t love him then he could not hurt her.

  “Love is not the answer,” he muttered, staring into the fireplace.

  “Who hurt you so badly?” she whispered.

  He turned his head and glared at her. “No one.”

  She looked as if she were about to question him further on that topic but quickly closed her mouth.

  “And what about you, Miss Seaton?”

  “What about me, Lord Somerton?”

  “I am still curious how a woman of no means goes from selling oranges to living in a home and taking in orphans.”

  She stared at him. Her blue eyes hardening. “I thought you had that all figured out.” She rose from the seat and headed into the bedroom.

  Dammit! Why couldn’t he let her former profession go? Unless it wasn’t her former occupation. He watched the flames lick the firebox. He didn’t want to know the answer to his question. Because he blamed himself for what she’d become. If he had never touched her that night, her life might have turned out completely different.

  He shook his head and walked into the bedroom to find out what she was doing now. He found her behind the screen, attempting to unbutton her dress.

  “Why didn’t you call for a maid?”

  “I can do it,” she mumbled, straining her arms to reach the buttons.

  “No, you cannot.”

  He walked behind the screen and swept her hands out of the way. Just being this close to her sent far too many erotic thoughts into his head. He unbuttoned the small buttons one at a time savoring the hint of lavender on her skin. Desire surged in him as he exposed more of her pearly skin.

  Hearing her swift intake of breath, he wondered if she felt this same tension. She could not want him after what he’d done to her. But it never stopped him from desiring her. He hadn’t stopped thinking about it for days.

  “Are you finished yet,” she asked in a breathy voice.

  He didn’t want to be finished. “Yes.”

  “Would you mind leaving so I may remove my dress?”

  “Of course.” He walked to the linen press and pulled out his own clothing. He should have hired a lady’s maid for her. Hannah said Victoria could use hers but he knew Victoria would not want to bother Hannah just for dressing. Instead, he had no choice but to play lady’s maid.

  “Somerton?”

  “Yes?”

  “Could you get these blasted buttons?”

  At least this time he would be buttoning her and not undressing her. “Very well.”

  Restraining his desire for her, he walked back behind the screen and made quick work of the buttons. He waited for her to turn around. What the bloody hell had he been thinking when he ordered that gown for her? The sapphire blue matched her eyes perfectly. The bodice of the dress curved low displaying just a hint of a valley between her small breasts.

  “Somerton, are you all right?”

  He would never be all right after seeing her in that gown. He had the strangest urge to lock her in the room so no one else would see her.

  “I am perfectly well,” he said a little too harshly.

  She moved past him with a slight shrug. “Very well, then.”

  He stood behind the screen for a moment to collect his breath. She had absolutely no idea what she did to him. And she could never find out. She would hate him for his lusting after her again. Although, he believed she already suspected it.

  After changing into his dinner attire, he held out his arm to escort her to the large salon. They entered the room and a footman handed them both a glass of sherry. Anthony watched as she sipped the liquid vaguely remembering the night she sipped brandy from the bottle at St. George’s Church.

  Hannah approached them both, a secret smile on her face. “Good evening, Mrs. Smith, Lord Somerton.”

  “Lady Farleigh, you look lovely tonight,” Somerton replied.

  Victoria mumbled some response but leveled him with a glare.

  “How was the sleigh ride this afternoon?” Hannah pried.

  “Very nice,” Victoria answered.

  “A touch frigid,” he replied with a brow arched at Victoria.

  “Oh, Somerton,” Hannah said with a soft laugh. “Perhaps you should return her to your room and melt her heart.”

  Victoria tensed.

  Somerton looked over at Victoria with a little grin. “Perhaps I should.”

  Hannah walked away with another light laugh.

  “How dare you embarrass me like that,” Victoria hissed.

  “Haven’t you learned by now that I dare to do just about anything?”

  She pulled her arm out of his grip and walked away. He watched as she realized her mistake. She glanced around and then sulked back toward him.

  “Do not say a word to me,” she whispered. “I am only back with you because I know no one else here.”

  “Do not forget that you are supposed to be my mistress. I believe you should remember that and stop glaring at me.”

  “Of course,” she snapped. “How could I forget about the man who is paying me?”

  He almost chuckled at her waspish tone. “Exactly, Mrs. Smith. You will do what I say and when.”

  “Only if it is part of the act.”

  He escorted her into the dining room and noticed she was sitting near Hardy again. His brows furrowed in confusion. Had Victoria asked that of Hannah when she went to speak with her this afternoon? Hannah would never agree knowing Victoria was his mistress.

  Unless Victoria had confided in Hannah!

  They were going to have a long talk tonight. He would get answers from her.

  Victoria took a forkful of her pheasant and chewed slowly. Anything to avoid too much conversation with Mr. Hardy. Although, she really should engage him to see what she could learn.

  She slid a glance up the table where the exasperating Somerton sat next to Lord Bingham. The old earl could barely keep his eyes open, leaving Somerton with one less person to talk with. He arched a brow at her when he noticed her gaze.

  She wondered who had hurt the man so dreadfully that he couldn’t respect women. A part of her wanted to tell him the truth about her background. But she could not spill her secrets to him when he wasn’t about to spill his.

  “Mrs. Smith, I have heard there will be dancing tonight,” Mr. Hardy said after a sip of wine. “Will you save me a dance?”

  Dancing! Oh, God, she just didn’t belong here. “I am sorry, Mr. Hardy but I cannot.”

  He frowned at her and most likely thought her rude. But it wasn’t incivility that made her say no. She might be able to pretend to be a mistress but she would never be able to pretend to be a proper lady.

  “Perhaps another time,” she added to make him feel better.
<
br />   “I suppose you will save all your dances for Somerton.”

  She could have sworn she heard a slight note of jealousy coming from him. If she could find whatever missive Somerton needed then she could return home sooner. Unfortunately, that meant flirting with Hardy.

  “I hurt my foot this afternoon, Mr. Hardy. I will not be dancing with anyone tonight.”

  “Are you all right?”

  She smiled at him but felt Somerton’s burning gaze from several seats away. “I will be very well. It was just a little twist. I must have lost my footing on a small rock hidden under the snow.”

  “You should stay inside where it is safe.”

  She felt far safer alone in a sleigh with Somerton than sitting next to Hardy in a crowded room. “I shall have to remember that.”

  “Tell me, Mrs. Smith,” he paused and looked up the table as if to determine Somerton was not watching. “How long have you been with Somerton?”

  “Only a few weeks.”

  He leaned in closer to ask her. “Are you happy with him?”

  “Somewhat,” she said trying to be vague. “He does not always please me.”

  “I could please you,” he whispered. “Let me please you, Mrs. Smith.”

  “I shall think upon it.”

  “Do that,” he said with a leer.

  Thankfully, dinner ended before he could proposition her any further. The women walked into the large salon for tea and mulled cider while the men had the brandy and cigars. Lady Farleigh took her spot on the sofa and then patted the seat next to her.

  “Mrs. Smith, please join me.”

  Oh dear, what could Hannah wish to speak with her about? “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Now, Anne, we do need to talk.” She waved her hand at the other women in the room so they would go about their business. “I could not help but notice the tension between you and Lord Somerton.”

  Victoria only nodded slightly at her.

  “I also could not help but notice Mr. Hardy’s glances.” She leaned in closer to Victoria. “Do you have an interest in Mr. Hardy?”

  “I cannot determine much information about the man.” Victoria reached for her cider and wished this conversation and party was over. Inhaling, the spicy scent of the cider lifted her lips upward. This was the one indulgence she made every year at Christmas, no matter how tight the money.

  “Mr. Hardy is a second son. You are far better off with Somerton. He is a much wealthier man.”

  Why was Hannah pushing her toward Somerton? It was obvious that she had been intimate with Somerton so why would she want Victoria to be with him? It made no sense. Unless it was strictly to make her husband feel better about Somerton being here. Perhaps that was the answer.

  “True, but wealth does not always make the man,” Victoria replied. “I might enjoy Mr. Hardy’s company more than Somerton’s. Though, Mr. Hardy doesn’t seem to socialize with anyone here except at the dining table.”

  Hannah laughed softly “And Somerton does? Hardy is only here with some business proposition for my husband.”

  “What type of business proposition?”

  Hannah tilted her head with a frown. “I would not dream of interfering with my husband’s business.”

  “Of course,” Victoria murmured. Believing she had incurred Hannah’s curiosity, Victoria changed the topic to the Christmas decorating Hannah had planned for tomorrow.

  Finally, the men joined them and Lady Farleigh announced the ballroom was open with musicians for dancing and tables for gaming. Somerton strolled to her and offered her his arm in escort. They walked arm in arm and in silence toward the ballroom.

  “Did you enjoy your dinner?” Somerton finally asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

  “Did you not see who I was sitting next to? How could I enjoy my dinner with Hardy leering at me?” Every time she thought of Hardy, she felt nothing but revulsion.

  His brows furrowed. “Did you ask Hannah to seat you next to him?”

  She stopped once they entered the room. “For what purpose?”

  “There are just so many I can think of. Perhaps you are looking for another protector. Someone who would give you more than just a quick tumble and a few pounds.”

  She stiffened. She told herself again that it did not matter what he thought she was because she knew the truth. As much as she wanted to throw the truth back at him, she couldn’t without the risk of him discovering the secrets she’d promised to keep.

  Instead, she decided ignoring him was the best option. She turned her attention to the dancers who had taken the floor. They glided across the dance floor in perfect unison as the musicians played. Oh, how she wished she could dance. To have Somerton hold her close as they crossed the floor would be a dream. The musicians stopped and some couples left the dance floor while others moved onto it.

  Lady Farleigh and Mr. Hardy lined up for a dance. Somerton glanced over at them and then down to her.

  “Dance with me,” he said in a tone far more like an order than a request.

  She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. Why would he imagine she could dance? Was he trying to humiliate her?

  “I cannot.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I cannot dance with you.”

  “I am paying you to be my mistress. As such, you will dance with me.” He started to move them toward the dance floor.

  She stopped and glared up at him. He had to be trying to embarrass her. There could be no other reason for his attitude. “I will not dance with you.”

  He looked down at her and then smirked. “Of course, I should have realized what a good whore you are. Don’t worry, I will pay extra for the dance.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Victoria ran from the room with tears blinding her eyes. His words had cut straight to her heart. Instead of returning to their room where he could easily find her, she sought refuge in the library. She closed the door behind her and walked toward the small fire still glowing in the fireplace.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Smith.”

  She started and then turned to the seat where Lord Ancroft sat with a glass of brandy in his hand. “Good evening, my lord. I had no idea anyone was in here.”

  “Have you been crying?”

  “No,” she said, quickly wiping an errant tear away.

  “Of course not.” He inclined his head toward the seat next to him. “Why aren’t you with Somerton?”

  She sat and looked over at the handsome man. For a quick moment, she wondered what was wrong with her that she found Somerton so irresistible and not this handsome man. Ancroft was kind, personable, and warm. He actually seemed to enjoy talking with her.

  “He said a few unkind words so I decided to steal away for some privacy.”

  Ancroft nodded in understanding. “Somerton is not an easy man.” He stared into the fire. “I wish I knew why he is so indifferent now.”

  “Now?”

  “I should not have said anything.” He lifted up his glass and sipped the brandy slowly. “I apologize. Would you like some brandy or a sherry?”

  “No, thank you.” She straightened out her skirts. “But I would be interested in learning more about Lord Somerton. You implied that he has changed. Did he?”

  Ancroft stared at her for a long moment as if trying to decide what to tell her. “Yes, he was very different. Maybe it was growing up that changed him.”

  “Most people don’t change that drastically.”

  “Something happened to him.” He looked to the fire again. “It was ten years ago. I can’t place the exact date but not far from his birthday. Whatever happened changed him from a man who used to care about people and what they thought of him, to a hard, indifferent man.”

  Ten years ago. She wondered if it was before or after their night together. The times she had seen him before that fateful night, he’d always smiled at her with kindness in his eyes. She hadn’t seen that gentleness once since they had reunited.

  “He won’t tell
you what happened?” she asked quietly.

  “No, I tried a few times and then gave up. Whatever scarred him so terribly is not something he will speak of.”

  “Thank you for telling me what you know, Lord Ancroft.”

  “Don’t fall in love with him. He will only hurt you.”

  She knew she could not fall in love with a man who only wished to hurt her. Lust and desire were not the same as love. But she wished she could help him overcome his demons.

  “I will not do that, my lord. May I ask a favor of you?”

  He drank down the rest of his brandy and looked over at her again. “Of course.”

  “I know you were told who I really am.” She shook her head when he started to protest. “Please, the only thing I ask is that you keep my secret. I could not bear to have my friends know who I am and what I am doing here with Somerton.”

  He closed his eyes and nodded. “I can do that, Miss Seaton.” He opened his eyes with a smile for her. “How is it that we have never met until now?”

  “I honestly don’t know. We have always tended to go to Avis’s home more than anyone else’s home. Now that she, Jennette, and Elizabeth are married, our social time is rather limited.”

  “That must be it, then.”

  “Thank you, Lord Ancroft.”

  He smiled over at her and again she wondered at her fastidious heart. Here was a man who was kind, gentle, and handsome and she felt nothing but friendship for him. There was no tension when he walked in the room as there was with Somerton.

  “Nicholas, are you in here?”

  Speak of the devil and he appears. Victoria kept her eyes on the fireplace as Somerton entered the room.

  “I’m by the fireplace.”

  “Damn shadows, I can’t see a blasted thing.” Somerton took a few more steps toward the light. “Have you seen Victoria? I cannot find her anywhere.”

  Ancroft stood and turned toward Somerton. “Perhaps if you treated her with the kindness she deserved you would not lose her so easily.”

  “What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Ancroft walked past Somerton. “I shall leave you two to figure that out.”