Scandal Takes a Holiday by Deborah Hale

Author:Deborah Hale
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2017-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

Aaron Turner might not have designs upon her sister’s fortune, Lily reflected as she glanced down the table at him that evening. That did not mean he wanted to wed Iris for love alone.

Love her? Lily stifled a derisive chuckle. Aaron scarcely knew her sister.

He had admired Iris from a distance and been rebuffed when he’d tried to get close to her. She represented the sort of challenge he could not resist. She was the glittering, desirable prize he yearned to snatch out of the hands of despised noblemen, just as his father had done. But what would happen after that delirious rush of triumph wore off, as it was bound to? Would he be happy with a wife who was all but a stranger to him?

Aaron looked up from his dinner just then and his gaze captured Lily’s. Though he did not realize it, the fondness that glowed in his dark eyes belonged to her, not Iris. For the past few days, she had successfully projected her sister’s confident vivacity. But when she and Aaron were together, she had spoken and behaved more like herself than Iris. So much so, that Lily sometimes wondered if he suspected the truth.

So absorbed was she in such thoughts, that the dinner conversation swirled around her, scarcely noticed. Then a remark of Rory Fitzwalter’s to the countess caught her attention.

“You have been quite mysterious about what sort of entertainment you have planned for us this evening, my dear Regina. Put us out of our suspense, I beg you.”

If his sister-in-law detected a nip of sarcasm in Rory’s lilting voice she chose to ignore it. “What do you say to making shades? Would that not be an amusing change from card-playing and dancing?”

Rory chuckled. “You underestimate my appetite for card play, even when there are no high wagers to be won.”

“Or lost,” muttered Lord Killoran, barely loud enough for Lily to hear.

She wondered how the earl’s brother managed to pay his gambling debts, other than with the sort of personal favors he had bartered to Aaron. If Lord Killoran regularly rescued him from debt, no wonder the countess was anxious to find Rory a wealthy wife... or at least one capable of reforming his rakish habits. Miss Brennan might have been up to the challenge but Rory ignored her as steadfastly as Iris had ignored Aaron Turner.

“I should very much enjoy making shades,” Aaron addressed their hostess but did not take his eyes off Lily. “Especially if I can prevail upon Miss Crawford to sit for me. I am not certain I can do justice to her fine profile, but I shall try my best.”

The countess stiffened, as if offended by the captain’s eager approval of her plan. “Surely we can agree on partners after—”

“Thank you, Captain,” Lily hastened to accept his invitation before anyone else could interfere. “If it turns out well, we can make a gift of it to my sister. I am certain she would like that.”

Taking their cue, other members of the party proceeded to pair up, to Lady Killoran’s visible annoyance.

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