Read Online The Scandal in Kissing an Heir by Sophie Barnes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sophie Barnes
Tags: Fiction, Historical Romance
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against the side of Rebecca’s breast as he did so. “I mean to beget at least one son off of you before I die. I hope you’re fit for the challenge.”
Swallowing the sharp rejoinder that threatened to escape her, she smiled tightly. “I shall do my best to be a dutiful wife to whomever I marry.” Rising, she then offered him a large bouquet of daffodils. “Would you please carry these for me?” She might have to suffer his company and his rude behavior, but at least she’d just thought of a way to discourage his touch—for now.
“Would you care for some tea?” she asked when they arrived back inside and a maid relieved Grover of the daffodils he carried.
“Perhaps I can offer both gentlemen a brandy in my study instead,” Rebecca’s uncle said as he stepped out into the hallway and gestured for the earl and the duke to follow him. “We have some business to discuss.”
“Yes, of course,” Grover said. “A brandy would be most welcome.”
“Indeed it would,” Topperly agreed.
Both men turned to Rebecca, bowed to her and excused themselves, the door to her uncle’s study closing behind them.
Expelling a sigh of relief over not having to entertain the pair any further, Rebecca turned toward her aunt, who’d entered from the parlor. “I suppose you will escort me back upstairs now?”
“Don’t be impertinent,” her aunt snapped. “That Neville fellow arrived while you were in the garden, and against my better judgment I granted him entry. He brought flowers, as you can see—a lovely bouquet that I believe will look splendid on that little round table in my bedroom.” For an instant, her eyes took on a dreamy look, but then they sharpened and narrowed, and she took a step closer to Rebecca. “Apparently he wishes to see you, to ensure that you have recovered after the shooting.”
In spite of her aunt’s harsh words, Rebecca’s heart soared. Mr. Neville had come to call on her, just as she’d hoped he would. What a blessing it was that her aunt had not turned him away. Eager to see him, she stepped toward the door. Her aunt held her back, a firm hand staying Rebecca’s progress. “Before you get too excited, I thought you ought to know that your uncle and I are leaning toward the duke. He will make a very prestigious match for you, you know.” Lady Grifton’s mouth tilted in a smug smile, her eyes filled with venom. “As for Mr. Neville, I expect you to send him on his way for good.”
“Why must you be so cruel?” Rebecca’s voice was low and angry. “Have you no care for what my wishes might be?”
“That’s enough!” Tightening her grip, her aunt leaned closer. “When will you learn that when it comes to marriage, your feelings are of no concern? This is business—that’s all. Now get in there and entertain the man so we can be rid of him again.”
Steadying herself with a deep breath, Rebecca opened the door and stepped inside the parlor, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of Mr. Neville smiling back at her as she entered. “Good afternoon. What a pleasure it is to see you again.” No truer words had ever been spoken.
“You’re even more radiant than I remember,” he said, taking her hand in his and bowing over it. He placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles, his lips lingering just a fraction longer than what was considered proper.
A cough from the open doorway had him straightening himself again. Turning slightly, Rebecca looked over her shoulder to find her aunt watching them with a critical eye. “You’ve fifteen minutes before my niece must return to her chambers to ready herself for another caller, who’s expected to arrive shortly, and if you think to steal a kiss in that time, Mr. Neville, I suggest you think again. This door will remain wide open.” With a stiff nod to underline her statement, Lady Grifton then turned about and marched off. Heat flared in Rebecca’s cheeks as she watched her aunt disappear from view. Fifteen minutes was not a
Swallowing the sharp rejoinder that threatened to escape her, she smiled tightly. “I shall do my best to be a dutiful wife to whomever I marry.” Rising, she then offered him a large bouquet of daffodils. “Would you please carry these for me?” She might have to suffer his company and his rude behavior, but at least she’d just thought of a way to discourage his touch—for now.
“Would you care for some tea?” she asked when they arrived back inside and a maid relieved Grover of the daffodils he carried.
“Perhaps I can offer both gentlemen a brandy in my study instead,” Rebecca’s uncle said as he stepped out into the hallway and gestured for the earl and the duke to follow him. “We have some business to discuss.”
“Yes, of course,” Grover said. “A brandy would be most welcome.”
“Indeed it would,” Topperly agreed.
Both men turned to Rebecca, bowed to her and excused themselves, the door to her uncle’s study closing behind them.
Expelling a sigh of relief over not having to entertain the pair any further, Rebecca turned toward her aunt, who’d entered from the parlor. “I suppose you will escort me back upstairs now?”
“Don’t be impertinent,” her aunt snapped. “That Neville fellow arrived while you were in the garden, and against my better judgment I granted him entry. He brought flowers, as you can see—a lovely bouquet that I believe will look splendid on that little round table in my bedroom.” For an instant, her eyes took on a dreamy look, but then they sharpened and narrowed, and she took a step closer to Rebecca. “Apparently he wishes to see you, to ensure that you have recovered after the shooting.”
In spite of her aunt’s harsh words, Rebecca’s heart soared. Mr. Neville had come to call on her, just as she’d hoped he would. What a blessing it was that her aunt had not turned him away. Eager to see him, she stepped toward the door. Her aunt held her back, a firm hand staying Rebecca’s progress. “Before you get too excited, I thought you ought to know that your uncle and I are leaning toward the duke. He will make a very prestigious match for you, you know.” Lady Grifton’s mouth tilted in a smug smile, her eyes filled with venom. “As for Mr. Neville, I expect you to send him on his way for good.”
“Why must you be so cruel?” Rebecca’s voice was low and angry. “Have you no care for what my wishes might be?”
“That’s enough!” Tightening her grip, her aunt leaned closer. “When will you learn that when it comes to marriage, your feelings are of no concern? This is business—that’s all. Now get in there and entertain the man so we can be rid of him again.”
Steadying herself with a deep breath, Rebecca opened the door and stepped inside the parlor, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of Mr. Neville smiling back at her as she entered. “Good afternoon. What a pleasure it is to see you again.” No truer words had ever been spoken.
“You’re even more radiant than I remember,” he said, taking her hand in his and bowing over it. He placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles, his lips lingering just a fraction longer than what was considered proper.
A cough from the open doorway had him straightening himself again. Turning slightly, Rebecca looked over her shoulder to find her aunt watching them with a critical eye. “You’ve fifteen minutes before my niece must return to her chambers to ready herself for another caller, who’s expected to arrive shortly, and if you think to steal a kiss in that time, Mr. Neville, I suggest you think again. This door will remain wide open.” With a stiff nod to underline her statement, Lady Grifton then turned about and marched off. Heat flared in Rebecca’s cheeks as she watched her aunt disappear from view. Fifteen minutes was not a
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