Scandal of the Year Read Free Page B

his chump.”
    “We both know that’s not his reason,” Maria demurred with a smile. “But try not to worry about your reputation or your family suffering for it. You’ll soon have some invitations, more and more of them as time goes on. I am seeing to that.”
    Julia was quite touched, well aware of the precarious social precipice onto which her friend was stepping. “Dear Maria, I don’t want to reflect badly on you. You’ve spent over ten years building your place in society. I don’t want to spoil things for you.”
    “You won’t. Though I am merely the daughter of a chef, and though I once owned a shop and engaged in trade, my mother was gentry, so I have a tiny bit of acceptable blood in my veins. In the eyes of some, I will never be accepted, of course. But I have four healthy sons to my credit, and my husband is both rich and powerful, so my place is reasonably secure. I am happy to help you any way I can. Kayne endorses my decision, by the way, and offers his help and support as well.”
    “I fear we’ll need it. My family seems to have become a favorite topic of gossip the past few years. Paul’s wife taking such a long time to come back to England makes Paul a target. And that whole business of Beatrix throwing over Trathen to elope with the Duke of Sunderland caused quite a stir as well.” She paused, noting the furtive stares in her direction, then added, “Still, I’ve managed to steal their thunder, haven’t I? I fear I’m the scandal of the year, perhaps even the decade.”
    Maria put a hand on her arm, her blue eyes filled with sympathy. “I wish there was more I could do.”
    “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me! I don’t mind all this for myself. I knew what I was doing. But for my family’s sake, I thank you.” She gave her friend a rueful smile. “I don’t suppose you could work another miracle and find Trathen a wife, could you? A good one who’d make him happy?”
    “Well, it won’t be Lady Rosalind. She’s engaged to Lord Creighton now.”
    Julia was glad of that. Lady Rosalind was a doe-eyed schemer with a mercenary heart, and the fact that she’d had to settle for a wealthy marquess instead of an even wealthier duke didn’t tweak Julia’s conscience one bit. Aidan was a different matter. She shrugged her shoulders again, trying to banish that nagging guilt. What was done was done. No undoing it now, and she wouldn’t even if she could.
    Still, when she thought of Aidan’s eyes filled with self-condemnation, Julia found it hard to take comfort in her fait accompli.

Chapter Two
    A idan went for a walk in the gardens of Park Lane, and when he started back toward Kayne House some thirty minutes later, he felt his blood had cooled sufficiently that he could return to the ball.
    Aware that being anywhere near Lady Yardley was dangerous to both his peace of mind and his reputation, he intended to keep well away from that woman for the remainder of the evening, but as he started toward the terrace, his intentions were forgotten at the sight of her slim figure sitting on the wide steps. Light from the ballroom spilled over her, thin ribbons of cigarette smoke swirled over her head, and the crimson silk of her gown pooled at her feet.
    The moment he saw her, images of that August afternoon came roaring back, but he worked not to show any sign of it. “Lady Yardley,” he said, and glanced at the cigarette in her fingers as he approached the steps. “Still smoking, I see.”
    She smiled a little. “I’m trying to give it up, if that raises me in your estimation.” Her nose wrinkled ruefully at his unchanged expression. “Obviously it doesn’t.”
    “I bid you good evening.” For the second time tonight, he bowed to her, but as he started to ascend the steps to the ballroom, her voice stopped him.
    “I was waiting for you here because I wanted to thank you.”
    He stopped, curious. “For what do you thank me?” he asked, even as he knew it was probably a mistake to