Earl of Exile (Lords of Scandal 3)

Diana stood next to Minnie, glaring at the side of her cousin’s head as they stood in the foyer waiting for Lord Exmouth, Lord Baderness, and Lord Viceroy.

“If you continue to look at my wife with that expression, she may very well catch the plague.” Daring rumbled from Minnie’s other side.

Minnie grinned. “I shan’t. I’ve weathered Diana’s ire before.”

Diana made a loud and audible harrumph. “Not like this, you haven’t. Why am I having dinner with the man I already said goodbye to?”

Minnie sighed. “You’ve already asked and I’ve already answered. He has to trade with Vice or Bad.”

“I don’t need to be here for them to decide.” Diana crossed her arms. “And now that I think about it. Neither does he. Also, I resent you hinting to mother that this was an attempt to match me with a suitor.”

Minnie raised a single brow. “You do have to be here. Both Bad and Vice picked a Chase woman with a far gentler…nature. We must decide which one of them is capable of keeping you safe.”

“In check, you mean.” Diana stepped in front of Minnie. “And that still doesn’t explain why Lord Exmouth needs to be here.”

Diana saw it then. A tiny flinch in Minnie’s gaze.

“Ha!” she yelled pointing at her cousin. “You are up to something.”

Minnie put her hands on her hips. “I am not.”

“You are too.” Diana stepped closer tapping her chin. She stared at her cousin who began to blush. “You want to make him jealous. You think he’ll offer for me if he is.”

Minnie went from blush to pale. “How did you know that?”

“It worked with Daring. You think it will work again.”

“Gads, Minnie,” Daring said from Minnie’s other side. “I thought you were the smartest woman I’d ever met but that was just frightening.”

Diana looked over at her cousin’s husband. Daring still looked pale from his night of debauchery. “How’s your head? Still hurting?”

He gave her a wary eye, narrowing his gaze. “If I tell you are you going to use that information against me?”

Diana had to smile at that. “No. But I do want you to discuss with your wife that she need not play matchmaker. I don’t need her help.”

“Everyone needs help sometimes, Diana. Even you.” Minnie touched Diana’s arm. “Please let me help you. A little.”

Diana released a long breath she wasn’t even aware she’d held. “Minnie. You don’t understand everything that’s happened.”

Minnie scrunched her brow. “Then tell me. What’s happened?”

Carriage wheels and the clopping of hooves sounded outside the estate. Diana spun around to face the door, giving her back to Minnie, her shoulders hunching in relief that she didn’t have to answer her question. Minnie would surely think her terrible if she knew what she’d done with Charles.

Minnie’s hand touched her shoulder, a gentle brush of her fingers. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

Not this, Minnie looked down at the floor. “I know you mean well,” she murmured.

“Diana,” Minnie’s voice pleaded a bit. “I know you haven’t been yourself since we came back to London. What happened? Was it with Mr. Crusher?”

Diana tensed, hunching away from Minnie’s touch. “Nothing happened.”

Minnie paused and then wrapped a hand about Diana’s shoulder. “Since we were small girls balancing on your papa’s knee or mine, we’ve been best friends. You know that you can trust me with anything. I love you as much as I love Ada or my mother and you know that I am strong enough to carry whatever burden you’re facing. You don’t have to do it alone.”

Minnie’s words pulled the air from her chest. But she didn’t respond as the butler swung open the door and four men stepped inside.

Callum was at the front of the group. Her eyes were still on the floor, but she felt his entrance, like an invisible pull. She shifted her gaze to meet his and their eyes locked together. She held her breath, trying to remember how angry she was with him. Staring into his brown eyes made it so easy to forget.

“My lord,” she said, curtseying quickly, heat filling her cheeks. She was glad to see him, she realized, and she honestly wished she didn’t feel this way. It was easier to be angry at him considering he’d never propose to her despite his interest in her.