Page 3 of Wickeds Scandal
Alexandranodded politely, lowering her eyes so that Lady Dobson couldn’t see the aviddislike in them. “Yes, my lady. I won’t be but a moment. Ifear several of the pins in my hair are coming loose.”
Lady Dobsonglanced at Alexandra’s hair. “I’m not sure all the pins in the world would helpthat. “ The purple turban tsked and walked away.
Alexandraclenched her teeth, willing herself to walk calmly towards the doorway LadyDobson indicated. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the fact thatshe felt like a lamb being led to slaughter. She hated London and hated theoverdressed collection of snobs that constituted theton.Alexandra considered herself most firmly “on the shelf”, and planned on stayingthere. The notion of her uncle marrying her off was ridiculous andlaughable. No man had ever looked at her twice.
Lost in herown thoughts, she didn’t immediately notice the quiet. The music from theballroom sounded mute and distant. She had missed the turn for the LadiesNecessary Room and a dark hall dimly lit with sconces stretched beforeher. Alexandra turned, meaning to go back the way she had come when asmall ping sounded on the marble beneath her feet. She sighed infrustration, knowing a pin restraining her hair had given out. An unrulycurl, delighted with its freedom, spiraled down her back. Another ringletsprang free accompanied by another ping.
“Damnation!”She squinted in the dim light. One runaway pin twinkled on the floor and shegrabbed it. Now where was the other? She looked up and spied aslice of light farther down the corridor with something glinting in it.She moved to collect her other pin and came to a dark paneled door, standingslightly ajar. The crackle of a warm fire greeted her ears.She rubbed her shoulders, chilled from the cooler air of the hallway.Alexandra looked down the hall. Surely no one would mind if she poppedinto the room and warmed up before returning to the ballroom. Curious, shesnuck a peek into the room and gasped in pure pleasure. A library.A beautiful, lovely, library!
She claspedher hands with joy, inhaling the musty smell of paper and ink mixed withleather. Books! Wonderful, wonderful books! Obviously, LordDobson had to be a great reader, for certainly it couldn’t be LadyDobson. That earnest lady lectured Alexandra on the evils of young ladiesbeing too well read from the moment Alexandra first met Lady Dobson. Alexandramoved forward, the hair pins clutched in her hand as she spied the large walnutbookcases lining the room.
Wanderingover to the far wall, she ran her finger over the spines of fine Moroccanleather. Titles jumped out at her, books on history, geology, andscience. Her hand hovered over a large book on farming. Fingersshaking, she pulled her hand down.
Two weeksago the thought of her uncle even remembering she existed, let alone decidingto marry her off, would have been absurd. As she lay dying, Aunt Eloise assuredAlexandra that Helmsby Abbey would belong to her when she reached hertwenty-fifth birthday. Oliver Burke would have no claim to the estate orAlexandra’s small inheritance. Her birthday, two months away, would freeher. She was positive Odious Oliver was oblivious to this fact. Thefamily solicitor, Mr. Meechum, would assist her in getting away from heruncle. She sent a missive to Meechum & Sons just this morningurgently requesting the solicitor’s help.
“Bloodyhell!” Alexandra whispered to the quiet room. It felt good to usesuch foul language. The current circumstances warranted it. Her muchunloved uncle needed money and the only things left to sell were Helmsby Abbeyand Alexandra.
A chillingembrace wrapped around the smooth bare flesh of her arms. Thepossibility of what would happen to the people of Helmsby Abbey, should Oliversell it, filled Alexandra with dread. Too elderly to find otherpositions, Mrs. Cowries, Jameson and Cook would have no where to go shouldOliver turn them out. They depended on Alexandra. UncleOliver dangled the fates of all she loved in this world over herhead. She felt very much like a rabbit caught in a hunter’ssnare. How in the world would she escape without chewing a limb off?
Footsteps,firm and measured, sounded in the hallway. She heard the sound of a man’slaughing baritone as a dark shape hovered outside the library door.
Alexandrafrantically searched for a place to hide herself. Large damask curtainshung from the windows and she slid behind the dense folds. She shook thecurtain, making sure her slippers were covered and pressed herself against thewall. Alexandra held her breath, afraid to stir the curtain as the manmoved into the room.
“Are youhiding from me, Lord Reynolds?” A woman’s husky voice sounded in thehallway. “Making me give chase, you wicked,wickedman.”
TWO
Alexandrastood very still behind the curtain.Lord Reynolds? SatanReynolds?
She heardthe click of the library door as it shut.
“Hello,darling! What a boring party! Lady Halston nearly put me to sleep withher gossip. She finds you quite depraved by the way.”
“LadyHalston should be more concerned about Lord Halston’s wickedness thanmine.” The deep baritone vibrated down Alexandra’s spine. An image ofLord Reynolds as he appeared in the ballroom leapt in front of her. Hisvoice sounded as beautiful as he was.
The womanlaughed lightly. “I adore your depravity. Besides, it certainly hasn’tstopped every mama in London from pushing their simpering daughters atyou.”
“Mmmm.I’m not interested in virgins, simpering or not. I find themtiresome.”
“Yourgrandmother does not. I’m told she interviews young girls by thedozens. Her specifications are quite exacting. She wants youmarried with an heir.”
Alexandrapeered through a small crack in the curtain and snuck a look at thecouple. Lord Reynolds had his back to her. Her eyes traveled down tothe spill of inky black hair over his shoulders. She looked lower.His trousers were indecently tight. She looked away. Ladiesdid not notice such things.
LadyFellowes moved to stand in front of Lord Reynolds, pushing her breasts forwardsuggestively.
LordReynolds lifted a hand. His fingers drummed against the redhead’sbodice. “Caro. You should go back to the ballroom instead oftempting me.” The dark head pressed a kiss against the white fleshmounded over Lady Fellowes’s bodice.
“DoI tempt you, Cam?” Lady Fellowes purred.
Alexandranearly had a fit. She quivered in a mixture of excitement andembarrassment as she shrank back into the curtains. Could she sneak outwhile Lord Reynolds occupied himself with Lady Fellowes? What if they saw heras she tiptoed to the door? She could just imagine waving nonchalantly toLord Reynolds, telling him to ‘carry on’ as she waltzed out.
A muted sighof satisfaction reached Alexandra’s ears. Lady Fellowes clearly relishedwhatever Lord Reynolds was doing to her. Alexandra tried to summon updisgust and revulsion, but instead her own traitorous breasts began to ache inresponse to the sounds she heard. She forced herself to stay still evenas every nerve in her body tingled.Think of something elseAlexandra! Like cleaning out the stables!
The thump ofa body landing on the couch, accompanied by a rustle of clothing piqued hercuriosity.I shall only peek. She popped one eye around the edgeof damask.Good Lord! Lady Fellowes had wrapped her legsaround Satan Reynolds’s torso and she was attempting to wrestle him to thecouch. Lady Fellow’s bright green garters were in shockingcontrast to her pale thighs and stark black gown. She tried to pull LordReynolds’s hand inside her skirts.
“Come benaughty with me.” Lady Fellowes pouted her red lips and swiveled her hips.
LordReynolds smiled indulgently. Long elegant fingers ran down Lady Felloweslegs in appreciation. “I don’t think this is an especially good time forthis, Caro.”
