One Night Scandal

Seeing the bored expression on her face, he doubted she had any attraction to Brentwood. The musicians ended their quadrille and Brent

wood escorted Justine back to him.

“Thank you, Lord Brentwood,” Justine said as they arrived.

“My pleasure.” Brentwood bowed over her hand and then left them.

“My, what a bore that man is,” she said with a touch of scorn.

“Why is that?”

“He is dancing with me but telling me I should meet a friend of his.”

“What is wrong with that?”

She glared over at him. “I am betrothed.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Nicholas, there you are.”

Nicholas turned his head as Elizabeth and Kendal walked up to them. He noticed Justine immediately stiffened. “Elizabeth,” he said and then kissed her cheek. “Lovely to see you tonight.”

“And this must be Miss Littlebury.”

Nicholas stifled a laugh at Elizabeth’s pretentious tone. She knew how to play the haughty duchess to perfection.

“Your Graces,” Miss Littlebury said and then curtsied.

“Nicholas, I believe Miss Littlebury and I should take a turn about the room.” Elizabeth looked over at Justine. “Come along, young lady.”

Justine leveled a worried glance back at Nicholas.

“What is your wife up to?” he asked Kendal.

“I believe she decided that Miss Littlebury must learn how to deal with your relatives and friends.”

“She will never survive that, especially not my friends.”

“No, but it might be entertaining to watch.” Kendal grabbed two glasses of brandy from a footman and handed one to Nicholas. “You do realize that none of your friends want you to marry that girl.”

“Nor do I.” Nicholas sipped at his brandy wanting nothing more than to escape this room and conversation. But as he watched Elizabeth stop her gait, suddenly Avis, Jennette, and Victoria surrounded them. “What are they up to, Kendal?”

“It is probably best if you don’t know.”

“You are most likely right.” Still, he wasn’t happy about the inferring women who had surrounded his betrothed. He’d known those women long enough to be certain they were up to something.

“Who are they introducing her to?” Kendal said, interrupting Nicholas’s thoughts.

He glanced back over to the women and stared at the younger man with blond hair. “I believe that is Mr. Heston. Ellington’s second son.”

Kendal shrugged. “I haven’t been here long enough to know either of them. So tell me, Ancroft, if you have no desire to marry the chit, why are you?”

“Surely Elizabeth told you.”

“She made some mention of the girl attempting to kiss you and someone walking in on you both. Nevertheless, I do not understand why that would cause you to marry her. It certainly wouldn’t me.”

Nicholas chuckled. His cousin’s husband had only been in England for a few months and still hadn’t learned all the social skills needed to survive. “Her reputation was ruined. No other man would have her.”