A Scandalous Secret Read Free

meet tomorrow and go shopping, but it must be early. Bethany Carteret has some mysterious project she wants me to help her with later in the day.”
    Somehow Chet kept from growling. Damned Carteret. He could go forever without hearing that name or the reminders it conjured up. Had things gone as planned all those years ago, had Earl Carteret possessed one honorable bone in his body, the Scot would now be Chet’s brother-in-law. But nothing in Chet’s life had ever gone as planned.
    ***
    After two whole days in London, Hannah somehow found herself cloistered in a tiny dress shop with her sister-in-law Bethany, Countess Carteret, and the vivacious Viscountess Staveley, who had insisted Hannah call her Caroline as soon as they were introduced. Several hours later, Hannah wished she was almost anywhere else in the world but at the exclusive modiste’s. Why Beth had insisted on this particular outing was a mystery. After all, the bombazine didn’t really bother Hannah very much, and she was the one wearing it, so it was really quite silly to be here in the first place.
    Beth pushed a fashion plate in front of Hannah. “You’d look splendid in this.”
    Had Beth lost her mind? Hannah frowned at her sister-in-law. The dress was not at all her style. Widows didn’t wear gowns with low cut bodices or frilly flounces, at least not in Hannah’s mind. Besides, the last thing she wanted was to attract attention. She’d be much happier in some quiet corner of the country with her boys, living a peaceful life. But that wasn’t to be. Not according to her brother, at any rate.
    Still, after two whole days in London, Hannah had decided Town life wasn’t for her. The naïve country lass from Dumfries-shire who had once dreamed of London’s entertainments had grown up over the last dozen years.
    Caroline turned her nose up at the plate as well. “Heavens, Beth, widows don’t wear such things…Now, this—” she placed a new plate in front of Hannah— “is much more appropriate.” And it was. The gown was tasteful and simple, understated.
    Bethany nodded in understanding. “Absolutely, Caro. I’ll see if Madam has anything else in this vein.”
    As soon Bethany went in search of the modiste, Hannah heaved a deep sigh. “I doona ken why she insisted on this.”
    “She and James just want to see you happy, I’m sure,” Caroline replied.
    Happy. Hannah resisted the urge to snort. She hadn’t thought about her own happiness in more years than she could remember. “But I doona belong in this world anymore.”
    “Of course you do,” Caroline insisted with a supportive smile. “Just give it time.”
    Time was the one thing Hannah had plenty of. In fact, the last two months felt as if time had stood still.
    Hannah didn’t even realize she was crying until Caroline brushed a stray tear from her cheek. The viscountess had kind hazel eyes, and Hannah felt an immediate kinship with the lady. “I am sorry, ta be such a waterin’ pot.”
    “Completely understandable.”
    Hannah held in a half-sob, half-laugh. “Whenever I cry in Carteret House, Jamie and Beth exchange pitiful glances… They doona ken what ta do with me… And my boys, I try so hard ta be strong for them.”
    Caroline took Hannah’s hand in her own. “I’m sure you do. And as for James and Beth, well, I’m sure they’re simply worried. That’s how they are.”
    Tears fell more rapidly now, and Hannah retrieved a handkerchief from her reticule to dab her eyes. “Jamie’s always been so good ta me, but I’m sure we’re in the way. I doona want ta be a burden, but… Here I doona even ken ye and I’m blatherin’ on…”
    With a kind smile, Caroline squeezed her hand. “I don’t mind at all.”
    Hannah nodded shakily and more tears fell. “I just miss him so much.” She looked up, as if to the heavens. “Malcolm was my whole life. He treated me better than I deserved and loved our children…” She took a steadying breath. “I doona ken