Scandal's Child Read Free Page B

her side. By the time she was safely leaning against the squabs of the carriage, there truly was a naggy ache behind her eyes.
    Lady Tutwilliger’s butler, Westley, so far forgot himself upon finding her alone on the doorstep that he paled.
    “Miss Kathryn! I do trust nothing’s amiss,” he gasped.
    So much for the slight hope that the servants did not realize how tenuous was the Thistlewait hold on a successful Season.
    “No, Westley, I simply returned with an unfortunate headache.” She sighed deeply, forcing herself to walk ever so slowly toward the stairs. “Please inform my maid I shall not need her until late tomorrow morning. I do not want to be disturbed.”
    “As you wish, Miss.” He bowed, and Kat felt remorse at the true concern on his face and in his voice.
    Nevertheless, the moment she was around the first turn in the upper hall, and out of sight, she gathered up the folds of her skirt in one hand and raced toward the room Jacko used upon his too infrequent stays at Tutwilliger House.
    Kat had nearly obtained her goal when a door opened; Hannah Hamilton, holding aloft a single candle, stepped into the hallway.
    “Kathryn, my dear child! What is wrong?” In the dim light, Hannah’s face was ghostlike as if she were badly frightened.
    Swaying to a sudden stop, Kat smiled weakly. “Dear Hannah, I am so sorry if I gave you a start. I have simply returned with a headache. All I need is a nice long sleep.”
    “But, dear, your room is not down this hall,” Hannah breathed, her forehead wrinkling into several worried lines.
    “Yes, but … but I was in Jacko’s room earlier and left a book of poems … I … I thought perhaps I would read before retiring,” Kat finished triumphantly, surprised at how quickly she could come up with the white lie.
    “But, Kathryn, reading will surely not improve your headache.” Hannah’s worry dissolved into the glazed look that came over her whenever she realized she might be in the midst of a conflict.
    “I assure you I shall be quite all right tomorrow, Hannah,” Kat said softly and yawned conspicuously. “Perhaps you should make an early night of it yourself.”
    “Yes, perhaps you are right.” Yawning delicately, Hannah backed into her room. “I suddenly feel the need for a rest myself. Good night, dear.”
    As soon as the door shut Kat looked quickly both ways down the hall to make sure no one else was about before she bolted into Jacko’s room and locked the door behind her.
    Everything she needed was right there.

Chapter 2
    Whatever had possessed him to attend the mill on Berkshire Road, Jules did not know. But he had gone, and he had bet, and he had won a considerable sum on the winning pugilist. Now he was more than a little foxed, back at the Blue Boar Inn surrounded by three young twigs of the
ton
. They were deliriously happy for his success, giving no thought whatsoever to their own losses.
    “Here, Saville, try this brandy. Quite good stuff,” his new acquaintance, John Thistlewait, slurred, and slid a glass across the table.
    Jules tipped the brandy down his throat, its warmth spreading in languorous fingers through his body. He nodded. “Excellent, Thistlewait. Now, I really should make an early night. I’m for the coast at dawn.”
    “Damn it, Count, just getting to be friends! Impressed with your knowledge of pugilism.” The young lord gave him a roguishly dimpled smile. “Penny and Percy ain’t no company tonight. They’re otherwise occupied.”
    He was correct, his friends were both fawning over the serving wench. Mr. Gladstone Pennington, cravat twisted beneath his right ear, looked ready to pass out, but Sir Percy Allendale was sober enough to hold the wench firmly upon his lap.
    Jules found Pennington and Allendale to be good enough fellows, although he had a suspicion Sir Percy was a sad rattle. Thistlewait he particularly liked. Probably because the youngster reminded Jules of his brother, Dominic, when he was young.
    So,