Read Online The Scandal in Kissing an Heir by Sophie Barnes - Free Book Online

good reason to do so. There’s a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders. Mr. Neville, however—”
    “Has no responsibility? You just said that he’s the heir to the Wolvington title. Surely he will need a wife and an heir of his own one day.”
    “I’m sure he will,” Rebecca agreed. In fact, Mr. Neville had pointed out the exact same thing. But just because he gave her his name did not mean that he would give her his loyalty . . . his fidelity. She handed her now empty teacup back to Laura and settled back against her pillow with a yawn. “Forgive me, Laura, but I’m suddenly very tired. I think I’ll try to get some rest.”
    “You do that, my lady, and I’ll go and cut some of those daffodils I promised you.”
    “Thank you,” Rebecca sighed, her eyes closing to the sound of Laura shuffling about the room. The door opened and closed, silence settled over her, and she slowly drifted off to sleep, her last thought being of Mr. Neville’s smile as he twirled her in his arms, dancing.

Chapter 5

    “W hy, Lady Rebecca,” the Earl of Topperly was saying loudly as his light blue eyes slid over her figure with great appreciation, “you look exquisite today.”
    One day of rest: that was all her aunt and uncle had afforded her before insisting that she ready herself for meeting her suitors. “It’s not as if you were shot in the leg,” her aunt had said as she’d picked out a gown for her to wear. “You can easily take a walk with them in the garden.”
    So here she was, parading about between the flowerbeds with a relic on one arm and a fossil on the other. “Thank you, my lord, you’re most kind.”
    “And may I say,” the Duke of Grover told her, his eyes gleaming as he dropped his gaze to her bosom and leaned closer to her ear, “that you look riper than ever before. Wouldn’t you agree, Topperly?”
    “Hmm? I beg your pardon, Your Grace?” the earl asked. He was partly deaf and rarely heard what anyone was saying unless they spoke loudly enough.
    “I was merely remarking on how lovely Lady Rebecca’s hair is,” Grover shouted back. “Such a bold color against her unblemished skin. I find it quite striking.”
    “Oh yes, yes indeed,” Topperly agreed.
    “Now, I know a decision has yet to be made,” Grover added, his voice once again soft so that Topperly wouldn’t hear, “but I thought you’d be pleased to know that I’m just as functional as any young buck and with a very healthy appetite. You won’t be disappointed in that regard.”
    Oh dear Lord, she was going to be sick .
    “Let’s pick some daffodils,” Rebecca said. It was the first thing that came to mind as a possible means of distraction. If only they would soon leave. Didn’t people their age require a midday nap? Disengaging herself from their arms, she crouched down and began collecting the flowers while both men watched. She didn’t mind Topperly’s presence so much. He came across as a harmless gentleman who merely sought a bit of company in his old age as well as someone who’d be capable of looking after him. His reasoning behind seeking a young wife made sense, but that didn’t make Rebecca any more eager to accept him as her husband. Perhaps she was being selfish, she reflected, but she couldn’t help it; she was too spirited and adventurous to be the least bit tempted by the idea of nursing an old man in his dotage, no matter how much money he’d leave to her once he departed this earth. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled up at him, silently wishing him many more years of good health.
    Grover, on the other hand . . . She turned her attention back to her task when she caught a disturbing leer upon his lips. The things he said to her and the way in which his eyes were forever inappropriately fixed upon her person made her skin crawl.
    “I hope you took my meaning seriously before, Lady Rebecca,” Grover said as he bent down to pluck a daffodil from the flowerbed, his forearm brushing