One Night Scandal

He glanced up to see Victoria standing at the doorway with a look of confusion on her face. “Lady Somerton, you look lovely today.”

“Thank you,” she replied, taking a step into the room. “Did you wish to speak with me? Somerton is at White’s.”

“I did wish to talk to you for just a moment, if you please.”

She walked to a chair and sat. “Would you like me to order tea?”

“No, this should not take more than a moment or two.” He cleared his throat. “I was at Gunter’s today and noticed you sitting a few carriages away.”

“Yes, I was there with a friend.”

He nodded. “Yes, I came to inquire on your friend. Why is she in London?”

She tilted her head. “She lives here, my lord.”

Sophia lives in London. God, she must have left Italy because she found out she was with child. “Would you give me her address? It is imperative that I speak with her.”

She smiled at him. “Oh, how wonderful that you are taking our advice. Miss Reynard will find you just the right woman.”

“Miss Reynard? What does this have to do with her?”

Victoria drew back. “That is whom I was with today, my lord. Sophie and I have been friends for years.”

“Sophie?” Why didn’t he know her name was Sophie? “Has Miss Reynard been traveling lately? She looks very much like a woman I saw, but did not have a chance to meet, in Venice.”

“Why yes, she was in Venice only weeks ago.”

“Thank you, Lady Somerton.” He stood to leave.

“Don’t you want her address?”

“I have it,” he answered with a smile. And at eight this evening, he planned on meeting Sophia again.

Sophie breathed in deeply as she adjusted her turban. She added kohl to darken her eyelids and lend her a far more mysterious appearance. After a dash of rouge on her cheeks and lips, she glanced in the mirror and barely recognized herself. With all this and a very dimly lit room, he would never recognize her. Everything would work out perfectly.

After turning him away for days, she had to see him. If she was being truthful with herself, she wanted to see him. She just didn’t want him to discover her. All she had to do was provide him with a reasonable explan

ation why the woman who owned the earring did not want to be found. She would see him and then he would leave her alone forever.

Forever.

It sounded like a very long time. She clenched her fists in frustration. What was wrong with her? Ever since meeting him she’d been morose. Making love with him in Venice meant nothing to him and should mean nothing to her, too.

If only that were true.

Even today when she noticed him at Gunter’s, she had wanted to get closer to him. She assumed the young girl in the carriage had been his daughter. The sight of him had shocked her. He looked different, harder and more arrogant. And yet, she still wanted him. Closing her eyes, she could picture him without his clothing. She could feel the sensation of his hard hands gently caressing her body. Still taste the warmth of his kisses.

This lusting after him had to stop. Nothing good could come of it. Determined to put her amorous feelings out of her mind, she walked down the steps.

“Good evening, Hendricks,” she said as she reached the last step. “Please bring Lord Ancroft into the study when he arrives. Do not make him wait.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Strolling into her study, she extinguished all but three candles. With the fire in the fireplace burning down, the room was just dark enough that he would not be able to make out her features. The clock struck eight and a knot tightened in her belly. She had everything planned. If she did not get off course, this meeting would not take long and then he would leave her alone.

A loud knock on the front door started her heart beating rapidly. She could do this, she told herself. Hearing male voices speaking in low tones sent a tiny shiver down her back. He would not recognize her. She forced air into her lungs and blew a long breath out.

“Lord Ancroft, ma’am.”