One Sinful Night Read Free Page B

your hair.”
    Vivienne sat upon the small chair in front of the mirrored dressing table, and allowed Lizzie to unravel the mass of pins and curls that she had painstakingly weaved together only hours earlier. Luxuriating in the feel of her hair falling free of the tight coiffure, Vivienne unconsciously tilted her head back and let Lizzie’s nimble fingers massage her aching scalp. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes.
    The evening had been more than exhausting. Her body felt tense and edgy, and she wanted only to bury her head under her pillow and cry. This had been her first foray into society to prepare for her arrival in London next week, and she had been enjoying herself immensely until Aidan Kavanaugh walked in the ballroom. Seeing him again had shaken her to the core.
    Aidan.
    For the first time in ten years she had spoken with Aidan. And he still loathed her.
    She had sensed his hatred spilling over and slapping her like an icy hand. Well, the feeling was mutual. She despised him just as much as he despised her. It was impossible to forgive him for what he had done to her. Yet she prayed that his gentlemanly breeding would prevent him from ruining her. That nasty comment he made about having to come to England to find a husband because no one in Galway would marry her hurt deeply and hit painfully close to the truth. How she wished she had been able to slap that detached and superior look off his face!
    â€œMiss Vivienne, let me fetch you a cup of chamomile tea,” Lizzie offered kindly. “You look a bit peaked.”
    â€œI’m fine, really. I just need some sleep. You go on to bed now.”
    â€œOh, but I have to wait up for Miss Glenda anyhow. And you look like you could use a cup,” Lizzie said as she helped Vivienne into her long white nightgown. “I won’t be more than a minute.” The obliging maid hurried off before Vivienne could utter another protest.
    Vivienne stared at her reflection in the cheval glass mirror. What had Aidan seen when he saw her tonight? Did he think her very changed? No longer a girl of seventeen with eyes full of love and adoration? Most likely not. She no longer loved nor adored him. And she had definitely changed over the years since he left. She had matured. She had learned from her mistakes. She was now a woman who knew better.
    Aidan had certainly changed too. There was a dark, remote quality about him that she didn’t recall being there, although his looks still managed to take her breath away. Tall and muscular with broad shoulders, he had a classically sculpted masculine face; strong jaw, straight aquiline nose, intelligent forehead. He had gorgeous thick black hair and penetrating green eyes with impossibly long jet lashes. Yes, Aidan Kavanaugh was still one handsome son of a bitch.
    She laughed ruefully to herself for using the vulgar expression the twins had recently taught her. The description fit Aidan perfectly, though, for she had the great misfortune of knowing his mother.
    â€œGood, you’re awake,” a shrill voice caught her off guard. “I won’t have to tiptoe around and be quiet.”
    â€œHello, Glenda,” Vivienne nodded, amused at the thought of Glenda ever tiptoeing around anyone. “Did you enjoy the ball?”
    She watched as her cousin gracelessly crossed the room, leaving a trail of her possessions upon the floor: her silk fan, her beaded reticule, her kid gloves. It was the one drawback to living with Aunt Gwen and Uncle Gilbert.
    Glenda Cardwell was a nightmare.
    â€œWhere is Lizzie?” Glenda whined petulantly, as she pulled the servant’s cord with an air of beleaguered impatience. “How am I supposed to get this gown off me?”
    Vivienne idly wondered how they got the gown on her in the first place, but she walked over to her cousin and began to undo the buttons that were fairly bursting with the weight they contained. It was truly unfortunate that Glenda had inherited