Page 3 of One Scandal Too Many
Charlotte couldn’t move. She was transfixed as she observed them. Her curiosity had always been her undoing, and in this instance she would find herself completely ruined if they were caught. Still she couldn’t move. “No,” she said firmly. “We are not leaving yet.” She wouldn’t take one step until she saw everything. If that made her wrong, she never wanted to be right again. Charlotte licked her lips and kept her attention focused on the three men. This was decadence that no woman should ever walk away from. No wonder she’d become embroiled in a scandal... apparently Charlotte had a wicked nature she could not ignore. Not that her actual scandal had been wicked in any way. Charlotte had done one tiny favor for her brother, and that made her immoral. Well, why not embrace the concept and discover where it led?
*
Declan Hayes, theMarquess of Easton, kicked off his boots and let them drop near his shirt and cravat. The warm air wasunbearable for late May. The pond would be freezing, but it would cool his heated skin. It wouldn’t be the first time he had taken a dip in this particular pond. Sometimes he’d dived in to cool his ardor when he couldn’t have a particular woman. That hadn’t been an issue he had to handle in quite a while, though. Most women threw themselves at him, and he had to keep them at a distance or he’d find himself leg shackled before he could blink.
He had his choice of lovers and he made sure to be discerning in whom he decided to take to his bed. Still, it had been a while since he had partaken in the sins of the flesh. He had grown bored with being a rake and had given up many of his vices, which was why he’d come home for the first time in a very long time. As a rule he avoided Easton Abbey and the responsibilities of running it. Estate managers were hired for that very reason, and he had an excellent one in his service.
“We might regret this,” the Duke of Amberwood said as he pulled his cravat free. “That water is bound to be bloody cold.”
The Earl of Foxmoore grinned as he slid his shirt over his head. “What you’re saying is you are afraid of a little cold water. I never took you for a coward, Amberwood.” He ran his fingers through his blond hair, leaving it a ruffled mess. “Quit worrying about it. I doubt we will regret a swim. It’ll feel great once we become accustomed to the frigid temperature.”
Declan grinned. The earl and the duke were his two closest chums from school. There wasn’t much they hadn’t done together. They had even traveled to several different countries in their youth. That had been a grand adventure, and they had done plenty they should have regretted. “We have been in far more dire circumstances before. This will be nothing,” he reminded them both.
Amberwood glared at the earl. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Of course you’re not,” Foxmoore agreed, but his tone implied otherwise. “You’re a brave lad, yes you are.” He mocked the duke and then laughed.
The duke glared at him and then leapt toward Foxmoore and they tumbled into the water. Neither had fully removed their clothes. Amberwood had barely removed his boots before he had jumped and then tumbled them both into the pond. Foxmoore surfaced first and spit out water. When the duke’s head popped out, he bounded forward and tackled the earl until they were both wrestling for control. Declan grinned and finished removing his pants, then dived in. Sometimes, even at their age, it was bloody glorious to act like boys still in the schoolroom. A good brawl could be invigorating. At leasthewouldn’t have a pile of wet clothes at the end of it.
They frolicked in the pond for a while until their skin wrinkled and they were properly cooled off. Declan slowly slid out of the water and strolled nude along the bank of the pond. His friends still swam and argued a bit in the pool, but soon they pulled themselves out of the water too.
“Aren’t you the exhibitionist,” Foxmoore drawled. “Good thing we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
Declan shrugged. “It’s my land. I don’t bloody care if anyone sees me in the buff.” Still he should get dressed. Just because it was his property didn’t mean no one would come upon them, and he didn’t want to be caught without a stitch on.
He leaned down to retrieve his shirt, then something caught his attention at the edge of the woods. Declan stilled and casually glanced in that direction as he pulled his shirt over his head. He spotted two people at the edge hiding behind a tree. If he was correct, they were not just any two people, but two women. Maybe girls. Good grief, had they given innocents a show they shouldn’t have been privy to?
One had blonde hair the color of honey, and the other had reddish blonde locks that reminded him of soft pink roses mixed with gold. He couldn’t see their faces, but they were most definitely ladies. They had dresses that were clearly quality, so not of the servant class. Hadn’t he heard that a school had opened up in the castle nearby? It had been an unentailed part of his estate he’d agreed to sell several years ago. It had been too costly to repair, and the Viscount of Havenwood had hoped to restore it for his son’s widow. Declan had never imagined that it would be turned into a school, though. He might come to regret the decision to sell the property.
“What is it?” Foxmoore asked.
“We have voyeurs,” he said quietly. He didn’t want the girls to know he’d noticed them. “Keep your tone down.”
Foxmoore grinned. “Should we give them something to look at?”
Declan glanced at him and rolled his eyes. “I think we’ve already accomplished that feat.” His friend had a recklessness in him that could never be fully curbed. “I do believe we’ve corrupted them thoroughly.”
“Good,” he said and grinned. “I’d hate to have failed to do my duty.” He casually glanced toward the woods. “Do we know who they were?”
“Were?” Declan lifted a brow.
“They’re gone now,” he said. “I think we may have frightened them away.”
“What are we discussing?” Amberwood said. The duke shook his head and water sprayed everywhere from his black hair. He carried his boots in his hands, but he’d donned his shirt. His cravat was stuffed into his boots. “Shouldn’t we return to the abbey?”
Declan nodded. They’d done enough damage for the day. He’d have to pay a call on the school and discuss the studentswith the proprietress. They shouldn’t come so close to his land. Especially if they didn’t want to witness things no innocents should ever observe. He cursed under his breath and finished dressing. The last thing he needed to contend with was innocents, and if he didn’t tread carefully, one of them could lead to the very thing he’d avoided at all costs—marriage. God help the young lady who trapped him into an unwanted union. She would regret it far more than he ever would.
Chapter Two
Late morning sunshineflooded the sitting room, bathing Charlotte in its warmth as she attempted to read. They had lessons with Miss Abernathy in an hour, and they had assigned reading to complete, but Charlotte couldn’t concentrate on the literature. It was the first volume of the Waverly Novels that had caused a sensation when it had been first published. It probably still did in some circles. The historical connotations were actually intriguing, at least Charlotte thought so... if only she could stop picturing that naked man long enough to read more of it.
She’d never seen a completely naked man before. Charlotte hadn’t believed she ever would either. Surely that wasn’t required, even in marriage. He had been a splendid specimen of manly flesh too. She sighed as she recalled every hard plane and delectable muscle she’d been privy enough to gaze upon. Did all men look that impressive? Somehow she doubted they did. He was glorious, and it was unlikely she’d ever forget him.
“Charlotte,” Miss Smith said from the entrance to the sitting room. “Mrs. Havenwood requires you to join her in her study.”
She glanced at Miss Smith and frowned. Mrs. Havenwood rarely summoned them. Jaclyn had gone up to their bedchamber to read, or she’d ask her friend if she knew why the summons had been issued. Her friend always knew the gossip in theschool. Her nosiness knew no bounds, and Charlotte always found it amusing.
“Did she mention why she wished to see me?” Charlotte closed the book and stood quickly. It was best not to keep the head mistress waiting.
