Mistress of Scandal (Greentree Sisters 3)

She looked so worried that Francesca was swamped with guilt. She was being selfish. “Mama,” she said gently, moving to take Amy’s hand, “I couldn’t possibly allow you to go on your own. I won’t. To face Uncle William without me? Certainly not!”

Amy Greentree smiled. “I admit it is a somewhat daunting prospect.”

“Then you must let me come, too,” Mr. Jardine insisted.

“No. You know that would make it worse.”

Sebastian was absorbing their conversation with interest, and realizing it, Amy was apologetic. “Family difficulties, I’m afraid, Mr. Thorne. No matter how much we might love our relatives, they can still give us heartache.”

“I wouldn’t know.” His smile turned chilly, and the black eyes that had been so alive turned blank. It was as if he had shut himself away, or closed them out. Whichever it was, it was very effective, and an awkward silence fell.

Thankfully, just then the bell rang for dinner.

Sebastian was remembering now why he preferred to spend his time with thieves and murderers. Mr. and Mrs. Jardine reminded him painfully of his own past, and he did not want to revisit it. He wished now he’d made his excuses, but then he wouldn’t have been able to sit across the table from Francesca, would he?

The golden candlelight softened the somber effect she’d created with the hideous dress. He’d been right. Instead of putting him off the scent, as she’d obviously intended, she’d revealed the truth to him. She was afraid of him, of herself…He watched her hand tremble as she lifted her wineglass to her lips. She looked flushed and feverish and utterly captivating.

Mr. Jardine asked him a polite question, and he answered, but he didn’t take his eyes off her for too long. He couldn’t. He was drawn to her like a thief to gold. She hadn’t looked at him once since they sat down, studying her plate with an unnatural fixedness, but he knew she felt the same.

Should he leave her alone? Forget whatever obsession had taken hold of him? Walk away? But then he reminded himself that the Jardines were saving her for some respectable worthy, so that she could be petted and pampered by a gentleman who saw her as a necessary possession, like his fine house in Belgravia and his matching grays. Was that really what she wanted? Sebastian couldn’t see the woman he’d met in the storm enjoying such a tame and tedious situation. She was a thunderbolt kind of girl. If she was to have a tedious future, then let her have at least one exciting memory. One passionate encounter with a man like…

Well, like him.

The meal limped along. Sebastian answered their questions politely but briefly. Yes, he was from London, yes, he was here in Yorkshire on business, private business.

“Do you know the Braidwoods?” Amy Jardine was trying to draw him out. “They have ties to one of the mills in Manchester.”

“I do not know the Braidwoods.”

“Sir James Friswell lives beyond the village. Do you know of him?”

“No, Mrs. Jardine, I don’t know Sir James Friswell. Oh, but wait a moment…”

His pause fixed their attention to him. Slowly, suspiciously, Francesca’s eyes lifted to his. “Is he the gentleman who shoots?” he asked silkily.

Scarlet flooded into her cheeks. She dropped her knife with a clatter.

“There is a great deal of shooting on t

he bigger estates,” Mr. Jardine began.

“Oh? I had heard…” Sebastian went on, drawing it out. He could see Francesca fumbling with her napkin, a frown between her brows. “I had heard that there was a tiger escaped from a circus.”

Amy gave a gasp. “A tiger? Is this true?”

Mr. Jardine shook his head. “Not to my knowledge. I think someone has been having a game with you, Mr. Thorne. Some of the locals think it sport to make fun of strangers. There are no tigers in Yorkshire.”

“How disappointing,” he said.

Francesca lifted her chin. Their eyes held, clashed, and then she rose to her feet. “I am weary, Mama,” she said. “I think I will retire. Good night, Mr. Thorne, and…good-bye.”

Mr. Thorne bowed his head, but his smile remained.

She might believe that.

But he knew otherwise.

Chapter 6