Viscount of Vanity: Lords of Scandal by Andresen Tammy

Author:Andresen, Tammy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swift Romance Publishing Corp
Published: 2021-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Gabriella woke to the early-morning sun pouring into the window. She stretched, after what might have been the best sleep of her life, to find that she was alone in the bed.

She lifted her head, hearing the sound of an ax cutting into wood. A few seconds passed and then the sound came again.

Austin was surely chopping wood.

At this hour?

She sat up, clutching the covers to her front as hair spilled about her shoulders. She hadn’t had the opportunity to braid it last night.

Rising from the bed, she washed and dressed, then began twisting her hair into submission as she pinned various sections. Her hair had always been very silky, making it difficult to style, but she tried her best.

After close to an hour, she heard the door open. Was that Austin?

He’d ceased chopping wood as she could no longer hear the methodical beat of his ax.

He slid into the room. “The maid, Annie, is here to make breakfast.”

His skin was flushed from the cool air and the exercise, and his hair was a bit disheveled. He stole her breath. “Could you do up my last few buttons?” She pointed at her back.

“Of course.” He crossed the room. The gentle brush of his fingers made her flesh rise with goose pimples. “We’ve dinner with Chad and Abigail tonight.”

She nodded, looking at his reflection in the looking glass. Part of her wanted to stand up, spin around, and toss her arms about him.

She’d never felt closer to another person than she had last night and now…there was distance between them.

He finished the last button, stepping back. “Our errands were interrupted yesterday. Shall we finish them?”

She nodded. “Let’s.” She did stand then. “Have you given any more thought to when we’ll travel?” She was both excited to start a new life with him and a bit nervous to leave the village where she’d grown up. Here, she had people she could depend on even if many of her memories were filled with sadness.

He quirked a brow. “Are you tired of the cottage?”

She stepped close to him. “Not at all. I’m just…” She reached for his hand, wanting to touch him when she said the next words. “A bit nervous, I suppose.”

He softened, his fingers lacing through hers. “We’ll stay for a week or two. I’ve some legal matters I want to make certain are ironclad before we leave.”

She crinkled her brow. “Legal matters?”

He gave a small sigh. “I’ve heard that your father can be quite cunning. I want to make certain he can never insert himself into your life again.”

She blinked. He was right to worry about her father, she’d just had no idea he was actively working on her behalf. It made something inside her melt. “Why did you go to the village last night if not to drink?”

His hand slipped around her waist. “I need to know more about him so that I can keep you safe from his schemes.”

She lowered her head to his shoulder, breathing in his heady scent.

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