Married at Midnight by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss & Jo Beverley & Tanya Anne Crosby & Samantha James

Author:Kathleen E. Woodiwiss & Jo Beverley & Tanya Anne Crosby & Samantha James [Woodiwiss, Kathleen E. & Beverley, Jo & Crosby, Tanya Anne & James, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical Romance, Nineteenth Century, Regency
ISBN: 9781568954011
Google: w7Q5PwAACAAJ
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1996-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 2

An hour later the three of them filed into her father’s study. Though his features were stoic and tightlipped, Victoria knew he’d never been angrier. It wasn’t his way to rage and shout. Indeed, she thought half-hysterically, she almost wished he would!

The dark stranger sat stiffly beside her—only now she knew his identity. He was Miles Grayson, earl of Stonehurst. Clasping her fingers in her lap, Victoria dared to steal a glance at him … oh, and how she wished she had not! His shoulders were as rigid as a soldier’s, his profile as cold as the sea.

Yet she couldn’t deny that Miles Grayson had been remarkably civil, and very decent, thus far. Nor was it Papa’s way to

make a scene. Papa had quietly requested that the earl accompany him to his town house that they might discuss the matter further.

But a man could only be pushed so far …

The proof was in her father.

Victoria’s stomach was churning. She felt very much like a child about to be punished for some misdeed. But this was no childish prank. She’d been caught kissing a gentleman—scandalous behavior in polite society! She reminded herself that

sullying her reputation was what she had intended… yet somehow it had gone terribly awry … she’d never dreamed that

Papa would actually see it…

And she had the awful sensation it wasn’t over yet.

“Now.” Papa’s voice rang out. “I will not ask either of you to explain yourselves, since ‘tis very obvious what the two of you were about.” He turned his formidable gaze to the earl. “The ton is filled with foolish young wastrels who dally whenever and wherever they please and care not a whit about the consequences. Twas my belief that you, sir, were above such outlandish behavior—an honorable, respectable man whom I have held in the highest regard. Frankly, my lord, I am appalled at your behavior.”

Beside her, the earl said nothing. But Victoria did not miss the way one hand clenched into a fist.

Then it was her turn to bear her father’s displeasure as he turned baleful eyes toward her. His tone was stern. “As for you, Victoria, there are no words to express my disappointment.”

Victoria could not bear to look at him. In all her life, she had never been so ashamed. “I-I’m sorry, Papa.” Swallowing, she slowly raised her chin. “But indeed, you are right. The ton is filled with wastrels who dally where they may. Well, I have no wish to marry such a man—”

Her father cut her off with a sound of disgust. “And I would never allow you to marry a scoundrel, Victoria. But you should

not spend your life alone and—”

“I would rather spend my life alone than marry a man who would further his own interests by marrying the daughter of a marquess, for that is what happened to my dear friend Phoebe—her husband chose her for her fortune.” She spoke with heartfelt candor. “I simply have no desire to marry—not Viscount Newton, not Robert Sherwood, not Philip Dunmire.