Read Online Scandal of the Season by Christie Kelley - Free Book Online
Authors: Christie Kelley
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do not forget that I shall see you in your undergarments and will not be pleased to find you wearing ‘serviceable’ things.”
“Bastard,” she hissed as she walked out the door. He grabbed her arm and swung her toward him. His hazel eyes had turned green with anger.
“I am the man who can rip your world apart. Don’t ever forget that.”
She yanked her arm out of his grip. “I am quite certain you will never let me forget it.”
“I won’t,” he whispered.
Anthony opened the door to Lady Whitely’s brothel and walked upstairs after a few nods to the ladies. Several of them looked disappointed that he was heading toward his mother’s private rooms. After a quick knock, he entered the empty room. His mother would hear about his entrance from one of the ladies and follow him quickly.
He wandered the suite of rooms, admiring her style of decorating. While she had most of the house decorated in gaudy reds and burgundies, this room had pale blue wall coverings with white and gold accents. It hardly looked like the bedroom of a brothel owner.
Ten years ago, he had run from this place as if the devil had been chasing him. Now, he found it, and her, far less unpleasant than visiting his childhood home. He only called there to see his sister. His father could rot in hell for all he cared.
“Anthony.”
He turned his head at the soothing sound of his mother’s voice. “Good afternoon, Mother.”
“This is a pleasant surprise.”
“I happened to be near and thought I would call on you.” He sat in the gold velvet chair.
“What is really wrong, Anthony?”
He should have known she would immediately realize he was worrying about something.
He told her about Genna’s visit and lack of enthusiasm toward her upcoming nuptials. “I’m not certain she even loves the man,” he added.
His mother’s brows drew downward into a pained frown. “I wish I could give her some advice.”
“You gave up that right almost twenty years ago,” he said harshly. Sometimes when he least expected it, the anger at her surfaced. While he understood it wasn’t all her fault, it never stopped the resentment from returning.
“I understand that, Anthony. However, it doesn’t mean I can’t yearn for something I will never have.”
She stared down at her silk skirts. At forty-five, she was still a beautiful woman. A few gray strands sprinkled her blond hair and several lines around her eyes were now apparent. But she radiated beauty.
“So why else did you call on me today, Anthony?”
“I will be leaving on Thursday for a house party. So I won’t be able to call for a fortnight.”
She nodded. “Farleigh’s party, no doubt.”
“How did you know…? Never mind, I’m sure I do not want to know how you learned about the party.” Whom his mother slept with was none of his business. He had decided that years ago.
“I hear everything in here,” she said with a small laugh.
Anthony looked around the room and then stood to glance out the window. His gaze slid to Victoria’s home. Was she there now?
“What is really bothering you, my dear?” she asked softly. “Have you thought about what I said?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. I have been thinking that Lord Farber’s oldest might be another option for you. She’s been out for three Seasons and has not taken an interest in anyone.”
“Mother, I will think about Miss Farber and Miss Coddington when I return from the party.”
She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “You are doing another job for Ainsworth.”
“Yes, but I have decided this is my last. But that is not what is bothering me.”
“Then what is it?”
“What do you know of Miss Seaton?” He needed to find out all he could before he depended on her for such an important assignment.
“Miss Seaton?”
“Your neighbor, next door,” he replied.
“Yes, I know of her,” she answered stiffly. “Of course, we don’t socialize. I believe she is the daughter of a vicar.
“Bastard,” she hissed as she walked out the door. He grabbed her arm and swung her toward him. His hazel eyes had turned green with anger.
“I am the man who can rip your world apart. Don’t ever forget that.”
She yanked her arm out of his grip. “I am quite certain you will never let me forget it.”
“I won’t,” he whispered.
Anthony opened the door to Lady Whitely’s brothel and walked upstairs after a few nods to the ladies. Several of them looked disappointed that he was heading toward his mother’s private rooms. After a quick knock, he entered the empty room. His mother would hear about his entrance from one of the ladies and follow him quickly.
He wandered the suite of rooms, admiring her style of decorating. While she had most of the house decorated in gaudy reds and burgundies, this room had pale blue wall coverings with white and gold accents. It hardly looked like the bedroom of a brothel owner.
Ten years ago, he had run from this place as if the devil had been chasing him. Now, he found it, and her, far less unpleasant than visiting his childhood home. He only called there to see his sister. His father could rot in hell for all he cared.
“Anthony.”
He turned his head at the soothing sound of his mother’s voice. “Good afternoon, Mother.”
“This is a pleasant surprise.”
“I happened to be near and thought I would call on you.” He sat in the gold velvet chair.
“What is really wrong, Anthony?”
He should have known she would immediately realize he was worrying about something.
He told her about Genna’s visit and lack of enthusiasm toward her upcoming nuptials. “I’m not certain she even loves the man,” he added.
His mother’s brows drew downward into a pained frown. “I wish I could give her some advice.”
“You gave up that right almost twenty years ago,” he said harshly. Sometimes when he least expected it, the anger at her surfaced. While he understood it wasn’t all her fault, it never stopped the resentment from returning.
“I understand that, Anthony. However, it doesn’t mean I can’t yearn for something I will never have.”
She stared down at her silk skirts. At forty-five, she was still a beautiful woman. A few gray strands sprinkled her blond hair and several lines around her eyes were now apparent. But she radiated beauty.
“So why else did you call on me today, Anthony?”
“I will be leaving on Thursday for a house party. So I won’t be able to call for a fortnight.”
She nodded. “Farleigh’s party, no doubt.”
“How did you know…? Never mind, I’m sure I do not want to know how you learned about the party.” Whom his mother slept with was none of his business. He had decided that years ago.
“I hear everything in here,” she said with a small laugh.
Anthony looked around the room and then stood to glance out the window. His gaze slid to Victoria’s home. Was she there now?
“What is really bothering you, my dear?” she asked softly. “Have you thought about what I said?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. I have been thinking that Lord Farber’s oldest might be another option for you. She’s been out for three Seasons and has not taken an interest in anyone.”
“Mother, I will think about Miss Farber and Miss Coddington when I return from the party.”
She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “You are doing another job for Ainsworth.”
“Yes, but I have decided this is my last. But that is not what is bothering me.”
“Then what is it?”
“What do you know of Miss Seaton?” He needed to find out all he could before he depended on her for such an important assignment.
“Miss Seaton?”
“Your neighbor, next door,” he replied.
“Yes, I know of her,” she answered stiffly. “Of course, we don’t socialize. I believe she is the daughter of a vicar.
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