The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride by Victoria Alexander

Author:Victoria Alexander
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Book - Romance Series
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“It has recently come to my attention that there is a new claim to Lord Hargate’s estate,” Tate said.

“I was under the impression that was a well-kept secret,” Sam said cautiously.

“It is for the most part. I only learned of this a few days ago and only because I have made it my business to keep a close eye on Delilah’s welfare. At least, her financial well-being. I owe her that much,” Tate said, a faint hint of regret in his voice. “I knew all of Lord Hargate’s secrets. Phillip and I were very close. Indeed, I was the executor of his estate after his death.”

“Go on.”

“Phillip could not have an undisclosed heir.” He shrugged in an offhand manner that belied his words. “He was unable to have children.”

“Oh?”

“A childhood illness rendered him incapable of siring children.”

Sam drew his brows together. “Does Lady Hargate know this?”

“No.” Tate shook his head. “Phillip didn’t want her to know.”

“I don’t understand.”

“No, I’m sure you don’t.” Tate blew a long resigned breath. “Appearances, Mr. Russell, are everything in this world. Phillip needed a wife and he chose Delilah for the usual reasons. She was a young woman of good family, well educated, unblemished by scandal, and quite attractive as you may have noticed.”

“She’s lovely.”

“Indeed she is. She was, for all intents and purposes, the perfect wife for him. And he had hoped, that possibly, with the right wife, the doctors might have been wrong.”

“But they weren’t?”

“No. Perhaps if he had been more, I don’t know . . . enthusiastic is as good a word as any I suppose.” Tate considered Sam carefully. “You see, there was another difficulty as well.”

Sam raised a brow. “Oh?”

“Phillip was not . . .” Tate looked off into the distance as if gathering his strength then drew a deep breath. His gaze met Sam’s. “Phillip did not, well, he did not especially like women. They were not his . . . preference, shall we say. He understood his duty to his family and his title but . . . This is awkward, Mr. Russell. Please tell me I do not need to be more explicit.”

Sam stared at the older man. “Probably not.”

“This is not the sort of thing one speaks of, certainly not openly.”

“And Delilah knows nothing of this? Of her husband’s . . .” Sam hesitated. “Preferences?”

“Absolutely not,” Tate said. “Nor did he intend for her ever to know. Although, if he hadn’t died, as the years went on, she might well have surmised the truth. They were only married for five years. Still, one tends not to see what one is not looking for.”

“But she is an intelligent woman.”

“That she is.” Tate chuckled. “It came as something of a surprise to Phillip. He did not expect intelligence, nor do I think he particularly wanted it.”

“I’m sure that made life more difficult for him.”

“You have no idea.” Tate scoffed. “But even if she had suspected, I doubt that she would have said anything. It’s usually easier to keep up a pretense than to face the truth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.