Page 188 of The Scandal You Started
Mary smirked like a cat that got the cream as her son played around her legs. “Well, I suppose this is a good time to disclose what Flyn and I caught Art doing in our study last night.”
“Mary,” Art growled.
“What?” Mother Penny perked up. “What did your brother do?”
“He was kissing Lady Claire Ermina against the bookcase,” Mary practically sang.
Mother Penny spluttered in shock, and Solomon’s mouth dropped to the floor as Patricia’s squeals of laughter filled the room again.
Dominic was hearing it all through water, slow and gurgled, as his pulse throbbed through his stunned body.
“What…” he somehow managed to breathe out. “What did you say?”
Mary pointed a finger at Art. “He compromised Lady Claire, Lord Greymond’s only daughter.”
Lady…Lady Claire. Lady Claire Ermina.TheLady Claire Ermina!
Mother Penny shot up from the sofa, her hands balled in fists. “Art Louis Hussain Thorne, what the bloody damn woods have you done?”
Patricia gasped. “Mama! That was…brilliant. Say it again.”
Art scampered up from the settee, backing away from their stepmother with his palms held up. “I have not compromised her—”
“Had anyone else caught you kissing her, you would have ruined her.”
“Perhaps you should ask Mary and Flyn why they caught me kissing her!” He gestured desperately towards the earl and countess. “They were attempting to make you another grandchild at their own ball.”
Mary blushed and glared, while Flyn rubbed a hand over his grin.
“They are married. They may make children whenever and wherever they wish to. You and Lady Claire cannot,” Mother Penny snapped.
“I wish to marry her!”
Silence ran around the room the way Fredrick ran between his mother and father.
Art sighed heavily, dropping his hands before raking them through his hair. “Bloody woods, I care for her.I am in love with her.” He threw a hand towards the door. “I have been trying to court her since last June, and she cares for me—I know she does, she has admitted that much—but she is damned set on refusing my offer of marriage.” He scowled at Mary. “So yes, I kissed her. But my intentions are honourable.”
“I wish to be kissed with honourable intentions,” Patricia mumbled with a pout, her eyes on Candreas, who immediately lowered his gaze to the floor, but no one else seemed to hear her.
Dominic did, and really, he should have warned her against kissing a gentleman before marriage, but his mind would not, could not veer away from the news about Art and Lady Claire.
With vibrating limbs, he stood from the sofa, and everyone went quiet around him. Art seemed to think Dominic was angry and began spouting in his own defence.
“I–I swear, Vander, I did not compromise her. I will admit I was trying to seduce her, but she gave me her permission. I would never have gone further than a kiss—bloody woods, do not break my nose—oomph.”
Dominic crushed his brother in an embrace.
He’d done it.Avoiding Lady Claire had worked! Art had fallen for her instead. Now the biggest reason keeping Dominic from returning to Rayna was fixed.Finally.
“Uh…” Art said, his hands hanging in the air. “What is this?”
A chuckle flooded out of Dominic, real and happy for the first time in nine months. “A hug, you fool.” He patted his brother’s broad back. “You will need many more of these while you try to win the hand of a woman who is set against marriage.”
Art relaxed into his embrace. “Right. Miss Faez.” He raised his brows when Dominic pulled back. “How do you intend to convince her? Maybe I can attempt something similar.”
Dominic grinned and echoed the words of a wise man. “Do not try to change her mind about marriage. Only show her you are different, that your love is different. Protect her, but do not try to control her. You will never gain her trust doing so. The only way to earn it is by supporting her dreams and loving her fully. Only then will she be willing to meet you halfway.”
“Flyn is nodding his head in approval,” Art mumbled.
