Flirting With Scandal by Jerrica Knight-Catania

Author:Jerrica Knight-Catania
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

SIX

Having a torrid love affair with a valet was not something Esther ever imagined when she was a little girl, acting out romantic scenarios of love and marriage with her little sister. Well, perhaps not romantic, and perhaps not love, even. It was more about there being a high-ranking peer waiting for her at the altar of St. George’s. And of course proud parents sitting in the front row, beaming that their first born had made an advantageous match her first season out.

Come to think of it, that’d been the scenario she’d been dreaming about even a few months ago. Goodness, how things had changed. Now, here she was, darting through the pouring rain toward the mews, her heart racing, not from running, but from the anticipation of what was about to happen. Three excruciating days had passed since she’d made her plea for Timothy to join them in London, but since then, she’d been subjected to a string of dress fittings, luncheons with local ladies who wanted one last visit before they left for the city, shopping trips to town with Leah and Sara Beth for all the necessary fripperies—she’d hardly had a moment to herself, let alone a moment to meet secretly with Timothy. Oh, and never mind everything poor Timothy had had to do. Gabriel had him working harder than ever to prepare his things for the Season.

But today, Esther had had enough. She couldn’t wait anymore to see him, to kiss him again, to feel his hands on her back, so warm and strong and…

She ducked quickly behind a wooden pillar just outside the stables. Blast it all, she’d thought Gabriel had left already, but there he was, mounted on his horse, strutting right past her into the rain. She didn’t dare breathe. Heavens, what would happen if he found her? What would he say? What would he think? Would he tell Mama and Papa? Or worse…Danby?

Her heart raced at the thought. The old man would have her locked away…or something. As she thought about it, she wasn’t at all certain what Danby would do in this situation. To be honest, he was always surprising them. Why, didn’t one of their cousins end up marrying a Scottish smuggler with his blessing?

Esther shook her head of any fanciful thoughts. That smuggler girl had quality relations and came from a good family. Not that Timothy didn’t come from a good family…

Actually, she didn’t know a thing about his family, other than his brother Jimmy. Where were their parents? Were they close? And what did they do? Jimmy wasn’t in service—was it possible their parents were landed gentry, perhaps? Surely that would pass muster with the powers that be.

Esther decided in that moment that perhaps she ought to get to know the man she was about to embark upon a clandestine affair with.

Now that Gabriel was safely out of sight, she darted into the stable in search of her paramour.

Paramour. That word made her want to giggle. Who would

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