Four Weeks of Scandal by Megan Frampton

Author:Megan Frampton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

“There you are!” she exclaimed as he walked in.

She’d asked Mrs. Jennings, who said she hadn’t seen him, and then she had popped into nearly every room of the house, unable to locate him.

And here he was, coming in from outside. If she weren’t bursting to tell him what she’d thought of, she’d wonder where he had been.

“I’ve had an idea,” she said, taking his arm and dragging him to the library.

He came without question, shutting the door behind them as she strode to the desk—the same desk Mr. Higgins had been leaning against only an hour or two earlier.

“What is it, Octavia?” he said.

She bit her lip. “Could you sit down? You’re far too overwhelming standing over there.”

He shrugged, going to sit in the chair opposite. He leaned forward and gazed at her expectantly.

“I was thinking,” she began. “We both believe we own this house.”

“We do,” he said.

“And if we both believe it, then we could both have things happen here before the time for proving it one way or the other is up.”

Now he looked wary. “What is your idea, Octavia?”

“A gambling event,” she exclaimed.

“A gambling event?” he replied in disbelief, his mouth tautening. “Why would I possibly agree to that? And how could you possibly do it here?”

“Even if you don’t agree that it is my right to do so because this is my house”—she took a deep breath—“it is the right thing to do. And it would be remarkably easy to implement, at least what I’ve envisioned.”

“Explain.”

Another deep breath. “Which? What I want to do here, or why it is the right thing to do?”

He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest, jerking his chin toward her. “Either one. Your choice,” he added.

Her cheeks flushed again. “Fine.” She mirrored his posture as she thought.

“The event would be for one night only. I would invite my usual customers to come, promising them a different type of experience than they usually get in London. They’re all in the country anyway, and they’re likely dying of boredom, so this would be the perfect entertainment.”

“You want them to come here and lose enough money so that no matter what happens, you can pay off that Higgins?” His tone was harsh, and she flinched.

“Well, yes. I know you would loan me the money, but then I’d owe you.” She shook her head. “I can’t have that.”

“I would not threaten your person, Octavia.”

“But this is the perfect solution!” Why couldn’t he see it?

“This would be the most efficient way to solve your problems,” he said slowly, leaning back in his chair. “So you can return to London.” He nodded. “In which case, I agree.”

His words were like a splash of cold water in her face. He was doing this just because he wanted her to go?

Some of what she was feeling must have shown in her expression, since he held his hand up. “It is not that I wish to get rid of you,” he said. “It is just that I do not trust that blackguard not to do you damage if you don’t repay him.

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