Read Online Six Degrees of Scandal by Caroline Linden - Free Book Online

could be persuaded to give him another chance, he wasn’t going to let her go, either. “Everything? How Penelope would laugh at that idea. Even I wouldn’t dare claim to know everything .”
    Her lips parted, and for a moment he thought she would burst out laughing. Then the surprise faded from her face, and she seemed to subside in her chair. “How is Penelope?”
    Jamie recognized the dodge, but decided to allow it for the moment. “Quite well, the last I saw her.”
    â€œIs . . . is she happy? With Lord Atherton, I mean. I—I know she was pressured into marrying him because she tried to help me, and I’ve been racked by guilt ever since . . .”
    Ah, right. Penelope had warned him Olivia would probably be worried. A few weeks ago she had inadvertently rescued Olivia from an apparent assignation with Lord Clary, and in revenge, Clary had spread ugly rumors about Penelope that culminated in her hasty marriage to Lord Atherton. Jamie was both appalled by and grateful for his sister’s fearless devotion and loyalty to her friend.
    Penelope also admitted that she might have given Olivia the impression that she was not overly fond of Atherton. Jamie knew the exact opposite was true, but Olivia had undoubtedly been too caught up in her own worries to realize it. He leaned forward, happy that he could dispel one of Olivia’s fears entirely. “Penelope is as happy as I’ve ever seen her, married to the man she loves. When I left them, Atherton had his arms around her and she looked victorious over the world.”
    Olivia’s eyes went wide. “What? The man she loves—no, she despised him only a month ago!”
    Jamie clicked his tongue sadly. “Am I the only one who pays attention? The more vigorously Penelope denies something, the truer it generally is. I daresay she said she hated him, and may have even tried to hate him, but make no mistake: if Penelope hadn’t wanted Atherton, nothing on earthcould have brought about that marriage. My sister would run away with pirates first.”
    For the first time there was no trace of anxiety in Olivia. She looked nonplussed. “Well! I hope you’re right . . .”
    â€œHope!” Jamie snorted. “As if I don’t know my own sister. Let me guess. Pen told you she despised— loathed —Atherton, in great detail and frequency. But somehow she always seemed to be running into him and having yet another interaction she could relate in scathing tones. We both know she would hide behind statues and climb out of windows to avoid someone she actually despised so heartily.”
    Olivia’s lips twitched as if she were fighting off a smile. “But Lord Atherton—does he care for her?”
    â€œI’d say he’s mad for her—as any man would have to be, to marry Penelope.” Olivia gasped indignantly, and Jamie laughed. “I mean it in the best possible way. Atherton is devoted to her. He jumped into the Thames and risked his life to save her when Lord Clary pushed her overboard.”
    The name seemed to freeze Olivia in place. The dawning smile slid from her lips, and the light in her eyes turned into stunned horror.
    â€œLord Stratford, Atherton’s father, was very insistent they sail with him on his yacht from London to Richmond, but not until they were under way did Penelope and Atherton discover Lord Clary lying in wait for her belowdecks.” He paused, but Olivia sat like a statue, hollow-eyed and still. “He wanted to know where you were, Livie. When she wouldn’t tell him, Clary pushed her over the side of the boat.”
    â€œDear heavens—he could have killed her.” Her body hunched convulsively, as if she would be ill, and she seemed to age before his eyes.
    â€œHe tried,” Jamie agreed bluntly. Olivia flinched, but he didn’t—couldn’t—relent. If she didn’t know how truly dangerous that man was, she