Read Online It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden - Free Book Online Page A

he was for a few minutes, dazzled by her smile and her eyes and the way her gloved hands pressed together at her bosom . . .
    Then she mentioned Samantha and Benedict, and he remembered everything. He remembered everything he had lost, and every reason that he would never have more of Abigail Weston than a chance meeting in town or in the woods. He knew he ought to regret inviting her to walk anywhere she wanted, but some part of him was too selfish to do that. Just a glimpse, now and then, would do no harm. Sooner or later someone would warn her away from him, and then it wouldn’t matter what he did.
    Still, for some reason he lingered at the counter. He had no right to her attention. The less he knew about her, the better. But knowing wasn’t the same as acting. And she’d bought something very intriguing . . .
    “Have you changed your mind?” asked Mrs. Driscoll curtly. She swept his coins up as though she feared he would take them back.
    “Yes.” He gave her a steady look as he pulled out another coin, even though he could ill afford to spend it. “I would like a copy of that pamphlet.”
    Her eyes narrowed warily. “What pamphlet?”
    “The one you just sold. Fifty Ways to Sin .”
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    A bigail’s curiosity about Mr. Vane, which had been considerable to begin with, waxed feverish after the encounter in the bookshop. That brief glimpse of animation tormented her. It made her think he wasn’t a recluse by nature, but by choice, either his own or one forced upon him. Mrs. Driscoll had been almost rude to him, even though he spoke to her quite civilly. What had happened to make a respectable proprietress all but shun a local landowner? Where was that lost grotto, the one whose discovery had made him feel intrepid? And why had mention of Lady Samantha and her brother doused the light in his eyes? She was so consumed by that question she completely forgot to ask Penelope for the troublesome copy of 50 Ways to Sin .
    She paid close attention to the local gossip relayed by the ladies who came to call on Mama. She had always listened to gossip, and enjoyed some of it exceedingly, but now she gathered every word like a possible clue to the mysterious neighbor.
    Sadly, no one else seemed as interested in him as she was. Even Penelope moved on to more fertile topics, like which eligible young men might retire to Richmond for the summer, a topic that was obviously near and dear to their mother’s heart as well. Eligible young men were discussed at every opportunity, with every lady who came to call on Mrs. Weston. At first Abigail thought this would be sufficient; sooner or later his name was bound to come up. It never did. No one seemed to consider Mr. Vane eligible, which only threw Abigail into deeper puzzlement. Why wouldn’t he be? Contrary to his vague warnings about his unsuitability, he was a handsome gentleman of property—but no one mentioned him.
    But finally, one day while she was helping her mother sort embroidery silks, the butler came into the room and announced, to her astonishment, “Mr. Sebastian Vane to see you, madam.”
    “Ah!” Mama smiled in delight, running one hand over Milo’s fur. “At last. Do show him in, Thomson.”
    Abigail sat mute with shock and unexpected alarm. He was here himself! She hadn’t expected that, after the way he refused to call. It might be a heaven-sent opportunity to sort him out. But he also knew her little secret, about 50 Ways to Sin , and there was no way for her to intercept him before he met Mama. He might not know it was a secret. He might disapprove and be bent on telling Mama. He might have decided she had questionable judgment or morals. She wished there was any way at all she could rush into the hall and have a quick word with him, but then she realized she didn’t know what to say anyway. Please don’t tell my mother I bought a naughty story? Somehow that didn’t seem like a good idea.
    Slowly she got to her feet as the