Read Online A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore - Free Book Online Page B

see? He agrees. He’s trying to make you see sense. Whatever it is, it cannot be that bad.”
Becky plunked her body onto one of the palm-print sofas, gripped her knees, and tried to calm her panic.
“What happened?”
Becky closed her eyes. “I was in bed. In a state of undress. With a gentleman. Engaging in… in…”
Kate raised her hand to stop Becky from stuttering. “I see.” She sounded mildly surprised but not disappointed.
“I… Lady Borrill saw me at the hotel, and I’m certain she went straight to Sophie and Tristan. And Garrett was with them tonight, and they all rushed in and saw…”
“Oh, dear Becky.” Kate settled onto the sofa beside her and slipped an arm over her shoulders. “Garrett and Tristan will be angry at the gentleman, but that is to be expected. It is undoubtedly a wretchedly embarrassing thing to have your brother and cousin witness such a personal, private moment. But once their anger diminishes, all will return to normalcy. Never fear, when Garrett returns home, I will calm him down, and I am certain Sophie will do the same with Tristan.”
“No doubt you will, if it isn’t too late. Jack—the gentleman I was with—suggested a duel.”
Kate stiffened. “Well. If they do plan to duel, it won’t happen until tomorrow, at the very earliest. I shall remind Garrett that his child would like to know his father.”
Tears pricked at Becky’s eyes, and Kate’s hand tightened on her shoulder. Kate would understand. Kate always understood her.
“Who is this gentleman, Becky?” Kate’s voice was soothing, low.
“His name is Jack Fulton. He is the son of a privy councilor and has just returned to England after an absence of many years. Cecelia introduced us, and I was… attracted to him instantly.” Heat crept over her cheeks. “The feeling was mutual. We’ve… met several times. Tonight was the first we were… intimate.”
Kate sighed. “And Lady Borrill saw?”
“Yes,” Becky whispered. “And there were others I didn’t recognize—guests at the hotel…” She’d never fainted before in her life, but the palms printed on the chaise across from her began to drift back and forth across the upholstery. She gripped the arm of the sofa and squeezed her eyes shut.
Kate ground her teeth. “Lady Borrill is a notorious gossip.”
“I know.”
“The witnesses will make it known what happened tonight. There’s no way around it.”
“What am I going to do? Oh, Lord, but this family doesn’t need another scandal. I’m sorry, Kate. I’m so, so sorry.”
She leaned forward and pushed her face into her hands. After all she’d done to her brother, Tristan, Sophie, and Kate. Four years of demure living had done little to soften her guilt over the debacle of her elopement with William.
She’d finally decided to assert herself, to move beyond William’s betrayal and prove to herself that she was a strong woman worthy of affection. She’d failed. Spectacularly.
Kate stroked her hair. “You once said that scandal could never touch you.”
“No,” she said bleakly. “Perhaps it cannot touch me, but it touches the rest of you.”
From the folds of her gown, Kate procured a linen handkerchief. “I’ve told you time and again through the years that guilt is a pointless emotion. It accomplishes nothing at all. It is useless and unproductive, except to cause tremendous damage to those who feel it.”
“It is not only guilt, Kate, but regret. I wish…” Lord, what did she wish? Not that she’d never met Jack, that he hadn’t touched her. Selfishly, she coveted every kiss, every touch, and every word that they had shared, and she couldn’t wish them away, no matter how much guilt and regret sliced through her.
“Do you care for this man? This Mr. Fulton?”
“I do.” Cecelia would frown at her, or maybe she would laugh. But Becky wasn’t admitting to love—that would be as impetuous and silly as falling in love at first sight with William Fisk four years ago. But she did