Lady Scandal: A Sexy Historical Regency by Larissa Lyons

Author:Larissa Lyons [Lyons, Larissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781949426144
Publisher: Literary Madness
Published: 2020-06-29T23:00:00+00:00

5

An Unplanned Eruption

Oliva watched as the fluffy paw shot out from beneath the sitting room door, tufts of sandy-orange fur protruding from between each razor-sharp claw.

Glad for the distraction from her chaotic thoughts, Olivia told her speeding heart to calm and knelt to rub her index finger across Henry’s front leg.

Her hair flopped forward and beads of water dribbled from the tips. Henry swiped his paw over the droplets, the cat’s antics bringing forth a shaky smile. Good for him. The floor could certainly use a thorough mopping.

Cringing at the strands uncomfortably glued to her neck, she gathered the sodden mass over one shoulder. The smile faded, transforming into a frown at the mess she continued to make—on the floor and of her life.

Because holding a conversation with a cat was preferable to castigating herself or noticing how her drenched dress was plastered to her body, she whispered, “And what exactly do you think they’re discussing now, hmm?”

She’d heard enough to surmise things were going well indeed for her friend and employer.

Racing through the rambling manor to the modest room she’d claimed as hers, with the intent to put her hair and person to rights after that unexpectedly glorious (and guilt-inducing) “walk” in the rain, Olivia couldn’t resist detouring past Juliet’s sitting room.

Now she couldn’t seem to leave. Not that she was eavesdropping, the muted rumbles of Mr. Tanner indistinguishable, for the most part. But when Juliet laughed? Now that had come through the thick door clear enough. How wonderful to hear and know that sweet, sweet Juliet had finally found someone she could be herself with. Someone who she wanted to be with.

Instead of feeling jealous as one might expect of an older, poorer, definitely less creative companion to be, Olivia was in alt on her friend’s behalf.

And in awe of herself—and her recent actions.

In awe? Certainly not! She meant dismayed, disappointed even, at what she’d been doing. The subterfuge. The secrets! So completely unlike her.

But oh how it’d been worth it, a tiny part of her acknowledged. So very worth it.

Heavy, rapid thumps coming from the direction of the stairway heralded a new arrival seconds before she heard the corridor-muted shout. “Lady Juliet!”

Giving Henry’s paw one last pat, she rose and hastened toward the landing to intercept Jacks. “Shhhh.” Olivia motioned toward the sitting room behind her. “We ought not interrupt them, I’m thinking.”

“We ’ave visitors,” he began, only to break off and exclaim, “By the devil! Miz Hales! Ye… Ye look…”

Self-consciously, Olivia raised both hands to the hank of hair residing over one breast like a waterlogged washcloth. She started to wring out the mass, then stopped when several drops plopped to the floor. “I’m a mess. I know.”

“A mess?” Jacks reared back, appraising her from soaked skull to soggy slippers. After noting the muddy streaks trimming the bottom of her once pristine dress, his thoughtful gaze returned to hers. “I’m seein’ more than a mess, I could be fergiven fer thinkin’.”

Double drat! It was apparent, then?

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