Bargaining With a Rake (A Whisper Of Scandal Novel Book 1) by Julie Johnstone

Author:Julie Johnstone [Johnstone, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2012-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

Road to the Kingsley Estates

Yorkshire, England

Even with the breeze created by the speed of Abigor’s gallop, the midday sun glared down on Harrison’s head. His good mood threatened to evaporate. He hated being hot almost as much as he hated his mother. He kicked Abigor in the hindquarters, and the steed snorted in return but quickened his pace. His beast knew better than to cross him or risk the whip, and after last night, Harrison’s mother knew better too.

With his father’s dying secret, he had the weapon to be the man he was meant to be. Mother could take her shrewish ways and disappear if she didn’t behave.

He grinned as he entered the immaculate grounds of the Kingsley estate. Soon he would be part of all this, and then the men at his club would never be condescending to him again. He would be the one to look down on them, gifting them sometimes with a tale or allowing them to share in a card game.

First things first, though. Gillian’s education as to exactly who reigned as lord and master needed to begin today. He was not concerned about Kingsley trying to stand up to him. In eleven years, the great and mighty duke had not managed to break the hold Harrison’s mother had over him, and she was just a bent-over, beady-eyed woman with a sharp tongue.

God, he loved this feeling of finally having control over his life. He jumped off Abigor and bounded up the steps. Just as he raised his hand to rap on the door, it swung open and a butler, dressed better than he was, damn him, glanced over him once before resting cold gray eyes on his face.

“Help enters at the rear entrance,” the butler said, brushing past to shake out a rug.

“I am not a servant, you fool.”

The butler paused mid-shake and turned to face Harrison. “You’re not the stable master’s new man?”

Harrison clenched his fist at his side. Luckily for this idiot, he didn’t want to ruin a perfectly good shirt. “I am Baron Westonburt, Lady Gillian’s fiancé.”

“I apologize for my mistake,” the butler hastened to reply, but the man did not make a move to show Harrison into the house.

“Go announce me to Lady Gillian and His Grace.” He brushed past the butler and into the foyer. He wanted to break the man’s nose, but what if Kingsley was one of those weak men who opposed violence and decided sacrificing Gillian was actually wrong?

He stopped in his tracks, stunned and pleased by the splendor of the home. Obviously, blackmail had not put the tiniest dent in the Kingsley coffers. Good. He glanced at the arrogant butler. What would the good man say if Harrison swung from one of the enormous chandeliers singing his good fortune for having a mother who followed her brainless husband into the woods eleven years ago? The servant would likely faint dead and show himself to be the fop he really was.

“Lady Gillian is not home at present.

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