One Night Scandal

Upon entering Jennette’s home, he waited for her in the small parlor. The room always made him smile. While Sophie’s home was filled with warm pastels, Jennette’s home reflected her vivid artistic personality. Instead of pastels, the rooms were painted or wallpapered with rich jewel tones.

“What did she tell you?” Jennette said as she entered the room with an angry swish of silk.

Nicholas turned around and smiled at the woman he once thought he loved. In truth, he would always love her, just not as he once had. Something had changed in him since meeting Sophie.

“I believe she thinks you and I have had an illicit affair.”

Jennette threw her hands in the air. “Why would she think such a thing?”

Nicholas frowned. He’d wondered the same thing on the trip here. “I have no idea.”

“She told me that she overheard us talking in the garden the night of my party. We were discussing my condition but how did she make the leap to this being your baby.”

“Perhaps she didn’t stay for the entire discussion. Or for the part where your husband joined us.”

“I still don’t understand why that would make her jump to such an odd conclusion. You and I have never been anything but friends.”

Nicholas blew out a breath. Perhaps it was time to tell Jennette the truth. “Jennette, sit down with me,” he said, patting the cushion of the sofa.

“What is wrong, Nicholas? You looked a little apprehensive.” Jennette sat down next to him.

He took her hand in his. “Jennette, Sophie knows something about me that no one else knows. It’s the reason she believes what she overheard is true.”

Jennette’s black brows furrowed deeply. “What can she possibly know that I do not? I have known you forever.”

“When Sophie and I first met, she found a letter you had written me several years ago.” He paused, dreading this conversation but understanding he had to have it. The time had come to put his feelings for her in the past.

“And?”

“I had kept the letter because it reminded me so much of you. It was filled with your enthusiasm about the social season.”

Jennette shrugged slightly. “I don’t understand how her finding a letter like that would matter.”

“Because with her abilities, she was able to read my emotions on the letter.”

“Again, how does that relate to her wild assumptions?”

Nicholas sighed. “She knew that I was in love with you.”

Chapter 16

Nicholas had never wanted to run from a room as badly as he did at that moment. Heat scorched his cheeks so he turned his head away from her amazed stare. Telling Jennette had been a mistake. He felt it immediately as she pulled her hand out of his grip.

“Oh, Nicholas,” she said with a sigh.

“Jennette, it was years ago,” Nicholas said, finally turning back to face her. “Before

Blackburn returned to your life.”

She gave him a slight smile. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“How could I?” He rose and walked to the window. “You were Selby’s baby sister. I had known you since you were eight. How was I to explain that my feelings for you had changed from brotherly to something lascivious?”

“I thought we could talk about anything,” she whispered. “I had told you how I felt about every little thing that happened to me.”

He turned. “You never told me about Blackburn.”

“Touché. But that doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell me.”