An Earl of her Own (Saints and Sinners 3)

“Don’t be cross with her. She was lonely and could see the twins playing outside. Technically, she never left the house until I took her outside with me.”

Rafferty grunted. “This is why I don’t have another wife yet. I always suspected I’d be conspired against in any scenario involving my daughter’s misdeeds.”

She wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. “Wives and daughters will tend to stick together.”

“Do you remember your mother?”

She was surprised by the question. “Some things but not enough, really.”

“Ava doesn’t remember her mother at all,” he admitted.

“She was very young when your wife died.” Rebecca licked her lips. “Perhaps you should marry so she might have a mother again.”

Rafferty choked and then coughed. “I’ve considered it but…these things cannot be rushed.”

“True,” she agreed. “It is a momentous decision to make a second marriage.”

“Indeed.”

They walked into the dining room together. Many were already gathered around the sideboard and took no notice of their arrival. “It is a buffet luncheon today, my lord, and you may sit anywhere you please,” she told Rafferty.

“Excellent,” he muttered before striding toward the sideboard, and the waiting servants eager to do his bidding.

Rebecca cast her eye over the gathering, noted all was in order, and then followed Rafferty, waiting her turn to be served. He did not acknowledge her and turned away to the dining table. Rebecca chose only a little of the food offered, and then turned toward the table, too.

Lord Rafferty had decided to sit in the single empty chair between Lady Morgan and Mr. Whitfield. Disappointed she could not sit next to him and continue their conversation, Rebecca moved to the opposite end of the table, where there was space for her.

Even though the food was excellent, Rebecca picked at her food. Lady Morgan’s laugh reached her ears, and she looked up. Lord Rafferty was leaning toward the viscountess, clearly enjoying what she was telling him.

A little disappointed by Lord Rafferty’s interest in Lady Morgan, a married woman, Rebecca looked away. What should she have expected?

For a moment she had started to like Lord Rafferty, but he was a scoundrel, and scoundrels had broad tastes when it came to women. She hadn’t given him any sort of encouragement. Not the kind he must usually receive after a kiss, so he’d quickly found someone else to flatter.

A fog of perfume suddenly engulfed Rebecca as Fanny settled into the next chair. “Ah, there you are, Mrs. Warner.”

“Lady Rivers,” she said by way of greeting to her sister. She was not in the mood to spar with Fanny today. Fanny was popular, especially with unattached gentlemen.

They sat side by side, unspeaking for several minutes before Fanny leaned close. “Is that a scandal I see in the making?”

Rebecca followed the direction of Fanny’s gaze to the other end of the table. The only possible scandal would be if Lord Rafferty tried to seduce a married woman and succeeded. “I don’t see anything.”

“Of course you do. I think marriage has finally begun to bore Lady Morgan. How exciting for her.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened with alarm. “Don’t say that.”

Fanny shrugged. “Why not? Oh, I know you disapprove of women engaging in discreet affairs, but not all of us dislike men the way you seem to.”

Rebecca looked at her sister in surprise. “I do not dislike gentlemen.”

Fanny sipped her wine but her expression was assessing. “My dear, your scowl gives you away every time some poor man is nice to you.”

Rebecca’s cheeks heated with embarrassment and she quickly looked around. “I do not scowl that much. I’m thinking,” she insisted.

Fanny chuckled softly. “You were always so serious when we were young. I’d hoped that might change. At least we will never compete for the affections of the same gentleman ever again.”

“What?”

“Oh, come now. There’s no need to pretend any longer. I know you wanted River for your husband from the moment you met him.”