Page 57 of Wickeds Scandal
Alexandra wondered idly if her unclewould have a fit of apoplexy.
Lady Reynolds watched Sutton with a lookof utter hatred on her face before she turned to the Dowager. “Youplanned this,” she hissed.
The Dowager stood calmly amid the chaos,one silver brow raised in question. She barely glanced at Alexandra.“Really, Jeanette, you can’t think I would ever sanction suchdebauchery.”Looking towards Sutton, she composed her face into a mask of offense. “This isquite uncalled for Sutton. And, during your stepmother’s birthdaycelebration. Well, there’s no help for it. You’ll have to do thehonorable thing.”
Lady Reynolds paled. She marched tothe doors of the parlor and slammed them shut.
Mr. Runyon snapped at Alexandra fromacross the room. “I guess Jameson will walk the streets tonight.How will he support his ill wife?”
“No!” Alexandra whispered from behindSutton.
Sutton turned to look down at her.“I will not allow that to happen.”
Alexandra put her hands over herface. The Dowager said her name from across the room.
Lady Reynolds bore down on Alexandra andSutton like a crazed harpy. “Over my dead body will I allow this…this..harlot,who betrayed my cousin’s good faith and honor, to become a member of myfamily.”
Sutton laughed at his stepmother.“Honor? Oh, that’s rich.”
Jeanette’s face mottled and her eyesbugged.
Sutton stepped away from Alexandra, readyto do battle with his stepmother and Archie.
Alexandra rocked back and forth on thecouch. What had she done? Her head throbbed unbearably until shefelt it would split open.
A low growl sounded behind her. Abeefy hand caught underneath her arm, and attempted to pull her over thecouch. Odious Oliver, his eyes bulging with hatred, gave Alexandra’s haira brutal wrench.
Pins fell to the floor as Oliver grippedthe mass of curls and shook Alexandra as a dog would a rabbit.
“You whore.” Spittle formed at thecorner of his mouth. “Just like your mother aren’t you? You filthy,fuckingwhore.”
Miranda cried in alarm from across theroom.
Every eye in the room turned toAlexandra’s position on the couch.
Sutton spun about, returning to the couchso quickly Alexandra barely saw him move. The grip on Alexandra’s hairwas suddenly released as Odious Oliver flew through the air, landing with athud. Several knickknacks, unaccustomed to being rattled from theirperch, fell to the floor and shattered.
Miranda ran to Alexandra’s side, herstrong arms encircling her. She whispered into Alexandra’shair. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t think it would be quite so…dramatic.My poor, dear friend.”
Alexandra, still in shock from heruncle’s attack, reeled with the implications of Miranda’s words. Mirandaand the Dowager…plannedto have her ruined!
Sutton sauntered over to Odious Oliverwho lay mewling like an injured animal. Blood poured from his brokennose. Sutton nudged the man with his foot. “Get out of myhouse. Now.”
“I won’t agree to this marriage! Iam her guardian! She’s to marry Runyon. She has to marryRunyon.” Lord Burke whined and shook his head erratically. Drops ofblood rained across the Dowager’s perfect parlor.
“Marry? Why I wouldn’t take thislittle tramp out to tea now that he’s had her.” Mr. Runyon sneered.He walked jerkily over to Lord Burke’s prostate form on the floor. “Thedeal is off. The betrothal is broken. The entiretonwill beafire with the gossip of this scandal by nightfall.” Mr. Runyon soundedlike shards of ice dropping on marble. “My solicitor will call upon youtomorrow, Lord Burke, to discuss the payment of the debt owed to me.”
Uncle Oliver wailed as if he’d beenstabbed.
Mr. Runyon turned to Alexandra whohid her face in Miranda’s shoulder, desperate to avoid his glacial stare.
Sutton’s large form blocked his path.
Mr. Runyon chuckled, holding up his hands,all signs of his earlier anger, gone. “Don’t worry, Cam, I’m leaving.”
“See that you do. There is an innnot too far away that you can stay at tonight, as you will not spend anothernight under my roof. Tomorrow, you can escort my stepmother back toLondon.”
Jeanette gasped. “But myparty! My guests!”
