Lord Ruthven's Bride by Tarah Scott

Author:Tarah Scott [Scott, Tarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, Scottish, Regency, Historical Romance
Amazon: B017TPE1NA
Goodreads: 27797680
Published: 2015-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

From the corner of her eye, Annabelle glimpsed Nick enter the parlor. She started as Lord Ruthven stepped up beside him. Good Lord, what was the viscount doing here? Her father spoke of him coming to Tain to learn about the property his uncle had left him, but Annabelle hadn’t expected to see him at Aeckland Castle. Both men had their sleeves rolled up to their forearms and dust caked their boots. Still, Lord Ruthven’s sleek, dark hair glistened raven black in the sunlight that poured through a nearby window.

He shifted and Annabelle yanked her gaze to the teacup she balanced on her lap. Her heart began to beat fast, but she willed her hand steady and lifted the cup to her lips. She smiled at Lady Hilary who had said something that made the other three ladies in their group laugh. What interest could Ruthven and Nick possibly have in the ladies who were visiting her and Lena?

“Oh my,” Miss Fletcher murmured, “look who is here.”

Lady Hilary’s attention shifted to something behind Annabelle. “I understand he is quite an eligible gentleman,” Lady Hilary said.

Annabelle groaned inwardly as she took another sip of tea. Lena sent her a covert glance over her teacup and telepathed with a roll of her eyes, a newly titled gentleman is always quite an eligible gentleman.

“Tell us, Annabelle,” Lady Hilary said, “what was it like being rescued by such a handsome man?”

“Did you swoon in his arms?” Miss Fletcher said.

Annabelle nearly dropped her cup onto the saucer. “I did not swoon.” Though she had cried when Lord Ruthven lifted her into his arms.

“I would have,” Miss Fletcher said.

Amusement twitched at the corner of Miss Duncan’s mouth. Annabelle had met Miss Duncan only today and liked her immediately.

“I would not mind being rescued by him,” Miss Fletcher said.

Annabelle snapped her attention onto her. “It was not a pleasant experience.”

Miss Fletcher shot the other ladies a knowing look. “No need to pretend, Annabelle.”

“You believe being kidnapped is pleasant?” Annabelle demanded.

“We were very fortunate that Lord Ruthven and Mr. Benning arrived when they did,” Lena cut in.

“Exactly what did happen?” Lady Hilary asked.

Barely an hour had passed since the ladies’ arrival and they’d pounced upon the first opportunity to gossip. Annabelle’s parents had instructed her and Lena to say nothing. Not that she would have given details to Lady Hilary—or Miss Fletcher. They were both terrible gossips and Miss Fletcher, in particular, loved to embellish.

“The newspapers said you were kidnapped in broad daylight right off the street in Inverness,” Miss Fletcher said in a whisper.

“By papers, you mean gossip sheets,” Miss Duncan said.

Miss Fletcher sniffed. “Everyone pretends they don’t read the sheets, but they do. And lest you forget, papers like the Bull report on many subjects. Not just happenings.”

“The Bull is a rag,” Miss Duncan said. “Have they, perchance, written about Lord Harley’s upcoming trial, or shed light on the case in order to ensure that Lord Harley doesn’t escape justice because he is a rich nobleman?”

“Miss Fletcher bristled.

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