Page 42 of A Scandalous Vow

More likely than not. “I hardly have a pristine name,” he began. “And I’d hate for it to tarnish Lady Staveley’s, should anyone see mecalling.”

“After you brought Miss Benton back to us, your name is golden as far as I’m concerned,” she told him. “I have some fresh biscuits, ifyou’dlike.”

He wasn’t dying for any biscuits, especially after dropping by the Sugar Plum Shoppe earlier for another tin of lavender drops and sampling a few candies himself, but if taking one would help the excitable cook keep his comings and goings a secret, he’d done worse to garner someone’s silence in the past. “How kindyouare.”

She preened slightly as she rushed off to her work table and returned with a warm biscuit on a plate for him. “Thereyougo.”

Marc took a bite and…it actually was a very decent biscuit. Better than his cook’s in any event. “You have outdone yourself,” he said as he wiped a crumb from the corner of his mouth. “Quiteremarkable.”

She grinned up at him. “Oh! Lady Staveleydoeshave guests at the moment, in case you don’t want them toseeyou.”

And just that easily, one biscuit, one compliment and Caroline’s cook was now in his corner. Marc nodded a thanks to the woman. “You are a gem.” Then he quietly made his way to the main part of the house and could hear feminine laughter from inside Caroline’s whiteparlor.

He had no idea who her guests were, but it was probably better to avoid anyone. So Marc silently made his way to the library to pass the time until Caroline was alone once more. But upon entering the room in question, he found Rachel curled up in an overstuffed leather chair, her legs tucked up under her like she was a little girl, and flipping through the pages of some tome inherlap.

She scowled when she noticed him. “I seeyou’rebackagain.”

“I seeyou’reoutside your chambers again,” Marc countered. “A millennia earlier than I would’veallowed.”

Rachel glanced back down at the book in her lap and snorted. “You make it impossible for anyone tolikeyou.”

Andshemade it so easy. “Luckily, I don’t care if anyone likes me or not.” Marc strode further into the room and tugged an old leather tome from a shelf. Bacon’sNovum Organum Scientiarum, which sounded like something Staveley would peruse for a little light reading. Marc turned back around to find Rachel’s hazel eyes level on himoncemore.

“You care if my motherlikesyou.”

She had him there. Marc didn’t even try to hide his smile as he said, “Well, your mother is hardly just anyone, now,isshe?”

“Rachel, Adam sent a letter if you want to read it,” Emma’s little voice sounded from the doorway right before she strode inside the library with a note in her hand. But then she noticed Marc and a very sweet smile spread across her face. “Oh, LordHaversham!”

“Miss Emma.” He smiled backather.

“Oh.” Rachel pushed out of her seat and reached a hand out to her little sister. “Let me see whathesays.”

After Emma handed Rachel the letter from their brother, she turned back to face Marc. “I didn’t know you were visiting. Mama’s in the parlor. I can take youtoher.”

Like she had the other day? Marc would like to avoid a duplicate of that experience, especially as he had no idea who was visiting Caroline at the moment. “Actually,” he began, and reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve the little purple tin he’d gone out of his way for. “I did promise I’d have some lavender drops when I sawyounext.”

Her warm brown eyes twinkled with glee. “Youremembered!”

“Of course I remembered,” he told her. “You don’t think I go around making promises I don’t intend to keep,doyou?”

Rachel glanced up from perusing her brother’s letter to eye Marc briefly. But he paid her no notice at all as he handed the candies to her littlesister.

“Edmund broke his arm?” Rachel mutteredaloud.

“Mmm.” Emma agreed as she popped a lavender drop into her mouth. “Someone said something awful aboutFelicity.”

Rachel frowned at her sister. “Don’t talk with yourmouthfull.”

Which made Emma stick her tongue out inresponse.

This was what Marc had missed being an only child, what Callista had missed too for that matter. At the moment, he wasn’t certain if they both weren’t better off for it due to theircircumstances.

“Oh, Lord Haversham,” Emma began, turning her attention on Marc. “I painted a picture of one of the trick riders today. Do you wanttosee?”

“Is he standing on the horse’s back?” Marc asked, remembering their earlier conversation on thesubject.

“She is,” Emma corrected and Marc couldn’t help but smile at her. She did, in so many ways, remind him of hisdaughter.

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