Scandalous by Minerva Spencer

Author:Minerva Spencer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2019-08-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

The three days at Lessing Hall passed too quickly for Sarah. Although she spent no time alone with Martín, she saw him most days and every evening at dinner. She loved those evenings, the wonderful conversation around the dinner table, and the after-dinner chess and cards. Lord Ramsay took it upon himself to teach her whist, and the games among the four of them—Lady Ramsay did not care for cards—were loud, raucous events filled with much arguing.

Sarah was a fast learner and felt pleased the evening she and the baron beat the two captains for the first time. It was amusing to see Martín repress his irritation at losing and even more humorous to watch the two men wrangle and try to pin the blame for their loss on each other.

By the morning of their departure Sarah felt more at home at Lessing Hall than she had anywhere since leaving her village.

Mies, Daphne, Sarah, and Rowena occupied the coach, while the baron and Martín rode beside it. Sarah was not surprised to see Martín was an excellent rider and looked as if he were one with his horse.

They stopped for lunch and a change of horses at a charming posting inn, making a very merry party, well acquainted and comfortable with one another by now. Even Martín resisted the urge to bait Mies, instead treating him with the same tolerant contempt he showed everyone except Ramsay.

The carriage reached the outskirts of London just as darkness was falling, and Sarah gawked in wonder as the coach rolled through street after street of the massive city. The buildings and the people seemed to get more attractive and well-tended looking the farther away they got from the river.

Davenport House—the family home of Lord Ramsay—was considerably smaller than Lessing Hall, but infinitely more elegant, something Sarah would not have believed possible.

When Sarah entered her sumptuous suite, she found an enormous tub of hot water and a maid already waiting for her. She left her clothing and hair decisions to the maid and was soon dressed and ready. Although Daphne had not said as much, Sarah assumed they would all meet in the library.

Sarah encountered Mies on the stairs.

“You look divine, Sarah.”

She recoiled at his words and warm look. “Thank you, Mies. You look very nice, too,” she replied coolly, hoping to halt the flow of fulsome compliments. The young Dutchman, with his limited wardrobe, was always the first down to dinner. Martín, by contrast, was generally the last, his time-consuming toilette requiring more time than either of the women’s.

Daphne was still in her traveling clothes and leaning over a mass of books and papers when they entered the library.

“Oh, is it time for dinner?” Daphne frowned at the half dozen books that lay open. “I suppose I should leave this until later.” She looked down at one of the open books and turned a page, as if she were considering sitting down.

“If you make haste I shall tell Lord Ramsay you will be

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