Surrender to Scandal by Kelly Boyce

Author:Kelly Boyce [Boyce, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kelly Boyce
Published: 2015-08-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“You seem more subdued than usual, my lord.”

Lord Glenmor glanced up and smiled, and though the expression never truly reached his eyes, they remained warmly fixed on her and brought on the familiar tingling in her toes that quickly traveled up her legs to pool uncomfortably between them. Judith had been most happy to see him arrive at the musicale and though she had warned herself to avoid him, she could not. He pulled her like a moth dancing about his flame.

“Do I often seem subdued?”

She returned his smile. “You are often much more understated than some of the other gentlemen.”

“I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing.”

She shrugged and came to stand beside him as they stood on the fringes of the crowd invited to the Staythams’ musicale. The performances had left much to be desired, but such was often the case when one imbued one’s family members with more skill than they actually possessed. Judith grew weary of the constant little celebrations and events that went on about town this time of year. One would think with the House of Lords being out of session and the Season not yet begun, London would be quiet and dull, but those who had not settled in their country estates seemed determine to keep the party going year long.

“It is a good thing,” she answered. “Some gentlemen feel the need to strut about brandishing their accomplishments and such like a peacock on full display, but I find such things rather tedious after a while, don’t you?”

“You’re not overly fond of peacocks?”

“Not anymore, no.”

“Ah. Then I suppose I am just the man for you.” He winced. “That is to say—what I meant is that—”

She laughed. “I know what you meant. No need to tumble over your words.”

He joined her laughter and Judith relished the sensation of being insulated within it, just the two of them. But all too soon, the moment passed and they returned their attention to the crowd milling about in front of them.

“I see Lord Pengrin continues his pursuit of Lady Henrietta.”

The joy of the previous moment extinguished as quickly as it had appeared. “Yes, I am afraid he does.”

“You do not approve?”

“I find his motives questionable and his character even more so.” She left it at that. Any further drew perilously close to revealing her own truth. What hope did she have of enlisting Lord Glenmor’s assistance in getting Hen to see Lord Pengrin’s true nature if she revealed her own as less than respectable?

“You speak quite plainly, Miss Sutherland. Have you always done so?”

She glanced down at the floor where her toes pointed out from the deep lilac gown she wore. Another of Lady Henrietta’s cast-offs altered to fit her, to make her more presentable to society and less like a dowdy school marm as Hen had maligned the effect of the rest of her dresses. Judith could not claim to be fully comfortable in such garb, but the thrill at the appreciative gaze Lord Glenmor had given her was worth any discomfort.

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