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

lot of time. Her aunt had lied about there being another caller, of course—yet another reminder of the future that lay ahead, one that would not include Mr. Neville. Attempting to calm her nerves and put her feelings of desperation aside, Rebecca turned back toward Mr. Neville and gestured toward the love seat. “Please, won’t you sit down?”
    Setting his hat and gloves on a vacant chair, Mr. Neville followed her advice.
    Rebecca clasped her hands together in front of her and went to sit next to him. “I suppose an explanation is in order,” she said, not daring to meet his eyes.
    “If you like,” he told her quietly, “though I would first like to inquire about your health. How are you feeling?” His voice was gentle and soothing as he spoke.
    “Sore,” Rebecca admitted, “but at least I’m able to move about. Plus, I’ll live, which I suppose is something.”
    “You gave me quite the fright, you know. One minute we were dancing, and the next . . .” The words trailed off with a hint of despair. “Any idea why someone might want to kill you?”
    Rebecca jerked her head toward him. “You think it was deliberate?” Of course it had been. She just hadn’t wanted to think about it.
    Mr. Neville nodded. “I’m just not sure if you’re the person they were aiming at. That’s why I asked.”
    Allowing her mind to return to the evening of the ball, Rebecca thought of the other people who’d been close by at the time she’d been shot. She recalled seeing the Duke of Kingsborough and his mother, but the rest were a blur—probably because she was not acquainted with them. “As far as I know, I have no enemies and can think of no one who would wish me dead.” Pasting a bright smile on her face she said, “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Neville, but there’s really no need for it. As you can see, I’m absolutely fine.”
    A slight crease appeared upon his forehead. “When we first met, you led me to believe that your situation was somewhat desperate.” He raised his hand to stop the protest that she was about to make. “Why else would you have gone to the lengths you did to attend the ball? Why the eagerness to catch a husband?” He regarded her pensively before speaking again. “When you told me that you were Lady Rebecca of Roselyn Castle, I didn’t believe you. How could I, when Lady Rebecca was supposed to be mad and you were anything but? Whatever reason you might have had for such duplicity can only have been born out of sheer desperation. Having met your guardians, I suspect that they have something to do with it. Am I right?”
    There was little point in denying the obvious, so Rebecca quietly nodded. “They want me to marry either the Earl of Topperly or the Duke of Grover.”
    “Bloody hell! I mean . . . forgive me, my lady, I should not have spoken like that in your presence.”
    “It’s quite all right, Mr. Neville. My sensibilities are not so easily offended, and besides, I share your sentiment.”
    “But they must be at least fifty years your senior. Why would your aunt and uncle demand something like that of you when there are plenty of eligible young bachelors available?”
    Rebecca shrugged. “Topperly is an old friend of my uncle’s, and Grover is a duke. Marrying me off to either of them would certainly be a feather in their caps. Aside from that, I can’t be sure. My maid and I were just discussing the matter recently and decided that it might be because they want to avoid the trouble and,” she dropped her gaze, “the expense of giving me a proper Season, since there are already two eager suitors available.”
    “You have no other relatives whom you can turn to for help? Whoever inherited your father’s title, for instance?”
    “My father’s title went to one of his cousins,” Rebecca said softly, recalling the serious gentleman she’d seen only once when she was a child. After her parents had died, she’d been long gone from Scarsdale Manor before he’d