Secret Brides [3] Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage Read Free

about whether she shot her husband. I admit I’ve never met her but it’s entirely possible that she is innocent.”
    Lily turned to face James. “ We haven’t met her, Annie, but Medford has.”
    The two sisters eyed him carefully.
    “So, Lord Medford, what do you think?” Annie asked. “Based on your acquaintance with the Duchess of Markingham, is she an evil murderess or an unfortunate innocent?”
    James folded the paper in half. “As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter either way. The fact is, the ton is vying for details of the story and what better details could one possibly gather than those that came directly from the lady herself? Scandal is my trade. Regardless of her guilt or innocence, I want the duchess to write for me. Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage will be immensely popular.”
    Lily sighed. “Once again, you’re being flippant.”
    “On the contrary,” James replied, tossing the paper aside and straightening his already straight cravat. “I am merely attempting to provide the public with what it desperately wants, a pamphlet written by the Duchess of Markingham. There has been nothing like this scandal to set the town on its ear since … ever. People want to read about the details. Sorry to say, but even Secrets of a Wedding Night and Secrets of a Runaway Bride weren’t as popular as this stands to be,” he said, referring to the pamphlets the two sisters had written for him earlier in the year when they’d both been involved in their own adventures.
    Lily rolled her eyes at him. “That’s not my point and you know it. Those pamphlets were written anonymously. This will be entirely different. Everyone will know the duchess wrote it, if she agrees to, that is. She’s involved in enough scandal as it is without adding a tell-all pamphlet to the list. Personally, I think she should refuse you.”
    “That’s not very loyal of you, my lady,” James pointed out, still grinning.
    Annie took another sip of her tea, then bit her lip. “I’m not sure what to think. If the duchess really does have a story to tell, the pamphlet may help her with regard to public opinion. But, if she is guilty…” Annie winced. “I cannot imagine she’d agree to write it, however, if that were the case.”
    James stretched his legs in front of him and crossed his feet at the ankles. “Either way, the decision is up to the duchess. She intends to give me her answer today, and I’ve every expectation she’ll say yes.”
    “What makes you so certain?” Lily made her way toward the fireplace where she warmed her hands and looked back over her shoulder at James.
    He flashed a grin at her. “Why, because I’ve offered her an indecent amount of money.”
    Annie leaned forward, her dark eyes sparkling. “How indecent?”
    “Sufficiently indecent,” he replied with a wink.
    Lily tossed a hand in the air. “What good will money do a woman who’s sentenced to death?”
    “Quite right.” Annie nodded, shuddering.
    “It shall help pay for her defense for one thing,” James replied. “If she’s wise she’ll hire a Bow Street runner to investigate the case separately from the official investigation. Now, come sit down,” he said to Lily. “Speaking of indecent, I’ve put an indecent amount of cream in your teacup and we all know how much you love cream.”
    Annie laughed. “That’s true. She’s like a cat.”
    Lily turned away from the fire and hurried over to join them. “The fact that the duchess didn’t already take the offer makes me think she intends to turn it down.”
    “Nonsense.” James pushed Lily’s teacup toward her. “She wanted to consider my offer, that’s all. She’d be a fool to refuse it.”
    “She’s a duchess. She’s already rich,” Annie pointed out, slyly pulling a teacake from the little porcelain plate in the center of the table.
    James arched a brow. “Her husband’s assets have been seized by the courts until the trial is finished. She has no access