A Matter of Sin Read Free

sent dark curls bobbing around her face prettily and accentuated her eyes…just as Seth was sure she had been taught to do. Her posturing moved him little, and he found himself looking again at her elder sister.
    “Good afternoon, my lord, my lady,” Serena said, her voice a rather excited flutter.
    Seth found himself nodding aimlessly as his mother said, “We are very happy to have you both here. Lady Serena, I must say you are as lovely as the gossip has implied. Is she not, Seth?”
    He blinked and forced himself to look at the younger woman. She was pretty, but he was left unmoved.
    “Indeed,” he admitted with effort, annoyed that his mother was pushing him so hard.
    “My sister is most definitely a Diamond of the First Water,” Lady Avenbury replied as the two sisters linked arms in an effortless and loving gesture.
    Lady Avenbury smiled down at her charge and Seth was struck once more by the uncommonly appealing manner she had about her. It was rare that he was so drawn, especially since this woman was in no way here for his pleasure.
    “Grayson has a footman ready to direct you to your rooms, and your servants will be sent there shortly,” Seth’s mother said, cutting off his odd thoughts. “The ladies will all be gathering for tea later in the green parlor. I hope you will both join us.”
    “Of course. We look forward to it.” Lady Avenbury nodded to his mother. “Lady Lyndham.”
    Then her dark, deep gaze lit upon him again. Their eyes met, and in that moment Seth found himself edgy, his body reacting in an unexpected way.
    “My lord,” she said softly.
    He watched her lips form the common greeting with far too much interest, but he somehow managed to nod before the two ladies disappeared from the foyer. He stared after them for a moment too long.
    “Are you quite all right, my dear?” his mother asked as she motioned him toward the hall. “You became so quiet and odd.”
    Seth shook his head. “I am perfectly fine, Mother Dear.” She laughed at the old endearment. “Now, I’m off to meet with Northfield briefly before we join the rest of the gentlemen to shoot.”
    His mother smiled. “Tell Jason I said hello. Somehow I missed him at breakfast this morning.”
    This time it was Seth who laughed as he parted ways with her and headed down the hallway to his office. But despite his laugher, he couldn’t help but continue to think about the final two ladies who had been invited to his home.
    Or at least one of those ladies.

Chapter Two
    “For a lady to understand the nature of her pleasure, first she must understand her body. In the privacy of her own rooms, why shouldn’t she touch herself?” —The Ladies Book of Pleasures
    As Seth entered his office, the Earl of Northfield turned from the fireplace.
    “It’s about time,” Jason said with a grin.
    Seth noted the drink already in his friend’s hand and shook his head. “My mother sends her regards. I believe she may be fully aware of your carousing all about the village last night.”
    Jason came across the room to sit at Seth’s desk and reached for the stocked cigar box on the corner. As he lit one, Jason grinned.
    “The old girl has always been observant. Lovely woman. If she were but ten years younger…”
    Seth flinched. “All right. Enough. I don’t want to talk about that.”
    Jason laughed, his bright blue eyes sparkling with warmth and friendship, which was the only reason Seth put up with him. Well, that and his unwavering loyalty, endless supply of interesting tales and access to anything worth attending.
    “So what would you like to talk about, old friend?” Northfield pressed as he settled back in the leather seat. “Your potential brides?”
    Seth flopped into his own chair with a sigh. “Great God, no. Do you realize I had probably fifteen eligible ladies paraded by me today and not a one stirred me?”
    “ Probably fifteen?” Jason laughed. “You didn’t keep a more exact count?”
    “No, how could I