Read Online Scandal by Carolyn Jewel - Free Book Online

course,” he said. He’d been going around the table, whispering names and occupations to her. “I saw you being introduced to him tonight.”
    â€œYes.” She had no desire to eat. None whatever.
    He nodded, very slightly, in the direction of her brother, who was sitting next to Miss Llewellyn. He was smiling, putting on an excellent show of being delighted with the girl at his side. Her brother’s manners were faultless. “Everyone thought she’d marry last season. Any number of young bucks wooed her.” Tallboys shook his head. “But with her beauty and connections, she might look very high indeed. The woman on Lord Banallt’s left is Lady Harpenden.”
    All Sophie could think was that Lady Harpenden was a lovely blonde who seemed to have no trouble making conversation with anyone around her. She was gay and light and completely comfortable in company so lofty.
    â€œHer husband, Lord Harpenden, is farther down the table. With the dowager countess there. She’ll talk his ear off.”
    â€œThe poor man.” She picked up her spoon and pulled it through her soup, though she did not taste it. If she ate anything, she’d be ill.
    â€œThe gentleman on the dowager countess’s other side is Mr. Underhill. He’s a director at the Bank of England. A notorious snooze. If you’re introduced, whatever you do don’t mention British monetary policy. He’ll lecture you until your brains congeal.”
    Sophie smiled at Tallboys. “I presume you’ve heard the lecture.”
    His expression turned so serious Sophie had a strong urge to giggle. “Took me a week to recover.” He shuddered. “Nightmares for months after.”
    She laughed. “Thank you for the warning.”
    Lady Harpenden let out a peal of laughter. Nearly the entire table looked in her direction. “I suspect she’s set her cap at him.” Mr. Tallboys chuckled. “Should be amusing to watch.”
    Sophie set down her spoon and turned to look at Tallboys. “Amusing? Why is that?” She had no right to be angry at Banallt, but she was. Why should it matter to her if he embarked on a sure-to-result-in-scandal affair? “I should think with his reputation she should have no trouble whatever.”
    â€œAh,” Mr. Tallboys said. The smile faded from his eyes. “I daresay you’re right. But I think all the same she will not succeed.”
    â€œWhy not? She’s quite a lovely woman. Why, she’s even a blonde.”
    â€œTrue.” He chuckled. “In the event, Mrs. Evans, Lord Banallt has been notoriously hard to catch since he was recalled from Paris.”
    Sophie lifted her eyebrows, looking at the earl and Lady Harpenden. Banallt’s eyes slid away from her. Had he been watching her?
    â€œFrom what I’ve heard,” Tallboys continued, “he’s not been interested in any particular woman this last century.” He shrugged. “Although...”
    â€œAlthough?”
    â€œThe rumor is that he’ll marry Miss Llewellyn.” She did not have a good view of Miss Llewellyn from her seat.
    â€œRumor seems to follow him,” she murmured, turning her attention to the gentleman on her left. She passed the remainder of the meal refusing to look in Banallt’s direction. Eventually, the ladies left the men in possession of the table and returned to the salon, where Sophie discovered she liked Banallt’s cousin, Mrs. Llewellyn, a great deal. She was a sensible woman. And Miss Fidelia Llewellyn was breathtaking. If the talk was true, she wasn’t Banallt’s usual sort. She was beautiful, no denying that. Sophie had never heard his name connected with any woman who wasn’t, but she was plainly a lady.
    The arrival of guests who had not been invited to dine increased the noise level in the parlor considerably, despite the fact that the gentlemen had still not yet come in. The news