Viscount of Vice (Lords of Scandal 4)

His heart stopped. “No sir. I made sure he won’t bother her again.”

“Good,” her father answered, then he turned to look at Vice. “You remind me of myself at your age. Before I met Winifred.”

Vice raised his brows. “Thank you?”

Mr. Chase focused on the dance floor again a bit of a grin curving his lips. “I was quite the rogue.”

“I beg your pardon.” Vice started, taking a partial step back.

Mr. Chase

held up his hand. “I put those days behind me long ago. The question is, are you ready for the same fate?”

Vice drew in a deep breath. “Yes, sir. I believe I am.” Had he really just said that? He pictured Ada and his eyes drifted closed. “But I am unsure that I am worthy of her.”

“Ahh.” Mr. Chase slapped him on the back. “Come see me tomorrow. Ten sharp. If you’d be so inclined, we’ll take Grace and Ada ribbon shopping afterward. Grace is not the sort of woman that likes to be kept waiting.”

Vice gave a single nod. “Lord Baderness will want to join us.”

“Fine,” the other man answered. “Now go home and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day.”

Vice turned to go. What Mr. Chase said was certainly true. He’d already asked a woman to marry him once. He wasn’t certain he was looking forward to asking a second. The question was, would it be a wonderful day or a terrible one?

Chapter Eleven

Ada sat in the carriage with Emily, looking at her cousin. “You and Jack? Were you kissing?”

Emily leaned forward. “Don’t worry about me now. You’re the one we need to focus on tonight.”

“Trust me, I want to know. Did the two of you make up?” Ada reached out and took her cousin’s hand.

Emily gave her a glowing smile. “Yes. We did. Thank goodness.”

“Do you think you’ll fight like that again?” Ada swallowed.

Sitting back in her seat, Emily shook her head. “I’m sure we’ll fight. All couples fight. Don’t they?”

“I suppose they do.” Ada sat back. “I’m asking because I see a lot of commonalities between Jack and Blake.”

Emily nodded. “Me too.” She tapped her chin. “Former rogues.”

Ada held up her hand. “I’d say that Blake is a current rogue.”

“He offered to marry you to save you,” Emily answered.

Ada’s insides twisted. That should make her happy, but somehow, it hurt. “It was a contingent offer.”

Emily frowned. “That’s true. But I never pictured him making any sort of offer at all. So you’re clearly making progress.”

Ada paused. “Mother said that I was the sort that could lead a man to change so slowly, he wouldn’t even know it was happening.”

Emily grinned. “I love that and I think it’s true. Vice is like a different man when he’s with you.”

“And the other man? The man he still is with everyone else? What do I do with him?” Ada stared out the window as her stomach dropped again.

“He’ll get smaller and smaller,” Emily said. “Do you know why I was angry at Jack?”

“He lied,” Ada answered, not really thinking about it. Her thoughts were busy contemplating Vice and his other half. When they were together, she forgot to be afraid, but when they weren’t, she remembered the man he was. The man who would grow bored with a little mouse for a wife.