Read Online The Secrets of a Scoundrel by Gaelen Foley - Free Book Online
Authors: Gaelen Foley
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all times.”
“I know the type.”
“She wheedled her way into favor with the Patronesses of Almack’s, then began her reign of terror. As our first Season wore on, this young lady took to the habit of bullying my dear friend, Elizabeth. Torturing her in Society with mockery and intimidation. So I decided to put the queen bee in her place.”
“By stealing her beau?”
“Precisely. It was shockingly easy. But I never anticipated that I would then be forced to marry him—for appearances’ sake.”
Nick winced. “Poor thing.”
“It wasn’t so bad. His family did own diamond mines.”
“Well, there’s a consolation.”
She shook her head, shrugged, and let out a sigh. “I suppose it was no worse than any Society match.”
Nick pondered this for a moment, staring into his wineglass. “Did he ever find out the real reason you first began pursuing him?”
“Oh, yes. That was pleasant.” When he glanced at her, he could see she had not anticipated this question.
The smile faded from her face. A shadow passed behind her eyes. “It became difficult after a time to hide my true feelings.”
Disgust, Nick realized. He paused. “Was that what sent him off to war?”
“Yes, and he never returned.” She gave him a look that informed him this was all she intended to say on the topic.
He did not press for more.
They lapsed into silence as they continued eating. But every now and then, he looked at her, more intrigued than ever. She barely knew him, so why tell a virtual stranger such an intimate story? Why share what must have been the most devastating mistake of her young life?
Maybe she was trying to show him that he wasn’t the only one who had ever made a misstep, considering where she had found him. It was generous of her if that was her motive.
Nick lowered his gaze, but even when they brought out the exact dessert he had requested, he eyed her with furtive uncertainty.
He still had no idea what to make of her: the sensual baroness, the carefree widow, the lady detective?
Countless questions about her swam through his mind as they finished the meal and repaired to the drawing room, where she offered him a cheroot and, to his surprise, took one for herself.
“You smoke?” he exclaimed.
“On occasion. You disapprove?” she drawled.
“Just surprised. Not the done thing for ladies, I thought. Or have things changed so much since they locked me up?” he asked in amusement as he held the match for her, then lit his own.
“No, you’re right. I’m an odd duck. Always have been.” She smiled as she puffed on the cheroot to get the tip fully lit. He did the same. “Terrible habit, isn’t it? I picked it up from my father.”
“So did I,” he replied.
“Let’s step outside, shall we? I don’t want the smell to get in the house.” She slipped her gloved hand through the crook of his elbow and led him through the French doors out onto the terrace.
“Thank you for the dinner. Especially the apple pie. Extremely thoughtful of you.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Cold?” he asked as his breath misted in the night’s crisp chill.
“Not yet. It feels good. Bracing.”
He nodded. The November sky was black. She let go of his arm and stepped away from him. Nick tilted his head back and gazed up at the stars.
It was the first time he’d been outside at night in so very long, stuck in his cell. The white half-moon wrapped in ebony silk was even more beautiful than he remembered.
Lady Burke must have noticed his taut silence, for she spoke soothingly of idle things, drawing him back from his momentary anguish with the nearest, easy topic. “Oh, yes, I’ve become a great fan of the leaf from the Carolinas,” she said in a musing tone, inspecting her cheroot. “I know I ought to quit, but somehow I always order more . . . though I tell myself I only keep them on hand for my gentlemen friends.”
Her words jarred him with a reminder of the various bottles of cologne on the
“I know the type.”
“She wheedled her way into favor with the Patronesses of Almack’s, then began her reign of terror. As our first Season wore on, this young lady took to the habit of bullying my dear friend, Elizabeth. Torturing her in Society with mockery and intimidation. So I decided to put the queen bee in her place.”
“By stealing her beau?”
“Precisely. It was shockingly easy. But I never anticipated that I would then be forced to marry him—for appearances’ sake.”
Nick winced. “Poor thing.”
“It wasn’t so bad. His family did own diamond mines.”
“Well, there’s a consolation.”
She shook her head, shrugged, and let out a sigh. “I suppose it was no worse than any Society match.”
Nick pondered this for a moment, staring into his wineglass. “Did he ever find out the real reason you first began pursuing him?”
“Oh, yes. That was pleasant.” When he glanced at her, he could see she had not anticipated this question.
The smile faded from her face. A shadow passed behind her eyes. “It became difficult after a time to hide my true feelings.”
Disgust, Nick realized. He paused. “Was that what sent him off to war?”
“Yes, and he never returned.” She gave him a look that informed him this was all she intended to say on the topic.
He did not press for more.
They lapsed into silence as they continued eating. But every now and then, he looked at her, more intrigued than ever. She barely knew him, so why tell a virtual stranger such an intimate story? Why share what must have been the most devastating mistake of her young life?
Maybe she was trying to show him that he wasn’t the only one who had ever made a misstep, considering where she had found him. It was generous of her if that was her motive.
Nick lowered his gaze, but even when they brought out the exact dessert he had requested, he eyed her with furtive uncertainty.
He still had no idea what to make of her: the sensual baroness, the carefree widow, the lady detective?
Countless questions about her swam through his mind as they finished the meal and repaired to the drawing room, where she offered him a cheroot and, to his surprise, took one for herself.
“You smoke?” he exclaimed.
“On occasion. You disapprove?” she drawled.
“Just surprised. Not the done thing for ladies, I thought. Or have things changed so much since they locked me up?” he asked in amusement as he held the match for her, then lit his own.
“No, you’re right. I’m an odd duck. Always have been.” She smiled as she puffed on the cheroot to get the tip fully lit. He did the same. “Terrible habit, isn’t it? I picked it up from my father.”
“So did I,” he replied.
“Let’s step outside, shall we? I don’t want the smell to get in the house.” She slipped her gloved hand through the crook of his elbow and led him through the French doors out onto the terrace.
“Thank you for the dinner. Especially the apple pie. Extremely thoughtful of you.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Cold?” he asked as his breath misted in the night’s crisp chill.
“Not yet. It feels good. Bracing.”
He nodded. The November sky was black. She let go of his arm and stepped away from him. Nick tilted his head back and gazed up at the stars.
It was the first time he’d been outside at night in so very long, stuck in his cell. The white half-moon wrapped in ebony silk was even more beautiful than he remembered.
Lady Burke must have noticed his taut silence, for she spoke soothingly of idle things, drawing him back from his momentary anguish with the nearest, easy topic. “Oh, yes, I’ve become a great fan of the leaf from the Carolinas,” she said in a musing tone, inspecting her cheroot. “I know I ought to quit, but somehow I always order more . . . though I tell myself I only keep them on hand for my gentlemen friends.”
Her words jarred him with a reminder of the various bottles of cologne on the
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