Page 21 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

Worried that the worm Felix had spread word about discovering her with Mr. Beckham, she remained in the confines of the house. And as much as she enjoyed the quiet solitude, part of her yearned to do something.

She’d been trying to read more of the book she pulled from the shelves the day of her arrival and had only managed as far as the arrival of the odious Mr. Collins, heir to Longbourn and the Bennet estate—such as it was.

Her thoughts traveled to Simon and the situation with his own family’s estate.

“Good book?” The arousing scent of sandalwood enveloped her.

She practically jumped from her seat. “Goodness, must you always be sneaking up on people?”

He laughed, bright and full of life. “Other than your hair color and furrowed brow, I might have mistaken you for Her Grace. She often has her nose buried in a book.”

“Reading is an admirable pastime.”

“So I’m told.” He strode to the sideboard and poured himself a finger of brandy.

“Isn’t it a little early for that? It’s barely eleven o’clock.”

In answer, he hitched a dark brow and poured another finger’s worth. After taking a seat opposite her, he perched an ankle on the opposing knee with a casual male elegance, then tipped his glass toward her. “What are you reading?”

“Pride and Prejudice.”

“What’s it about?”

“Two people who detest each other.”

He sipped, his dark-blue eyes watching her over the rim of his glass. “So. Like us.”

“I see you’re feeling like yourself again.”

“Indeed. In fact, that’s why I needed a drink. I plan to go see your brother with the marriage contract.”

Frampton knocked. “Lady Charlotte. Mr. Beckham. Lady Miranda Townsend here to see Lady Charlotte.”

Charlotte cast a glance toward Simon. “Which room would you like me to use?”

“This is fine, if it suits you.” He rose. “I shall leave after greeting her.”

Moments later, Frampton escorted Miranda to the library. She stopped short, her head swiveling between Charlotte and Simon. “So, it is true?”

“Yes,” Simon answered with alacrity.

“Is what true?” Charlotte asked, considerably more cautiousand—in her opinion—more prudent with her response to a question of unknown content. She glared at Simon. “You don’t even know what she’s asking about.”

He flashed that audacious grin at her. “It pleases women when I agree with them. And as I told you the other day, my goal in life is to please women.”

Heat seared Charlotte’s face at his subtle reference to his prowess in the bedroom. When she returned her attention to Miranda, a similar grin split her friend’s face. Charlotte huffed in frustration. “You, too?”

“Don’t mind me. Pray continue.” Miranda waved a hand.

Charlotte ignored her as well as Simon—who continued to grin like the buffoon he was. “You asked if something was true.” Charlotte’s gaze drifted to the sheet of parchment Miranda held, and her stomach cinched tighter than a corset. “Does it regard something in that scandal sheet?”

Simon moved toward the door. “I’ll just take my leave and allow you ladies to discuss the latest gossip.”

Miranda stopped him. “No. Wait. You should hear this, since it involves you.”

“Oh?” Simon said, as if his name appeared in the gossip rags on a daily basis.

Once seated, Miranda cleared her throat. “This”—she held up the spurious paper as if Charlotte didn’t already know what it was—“is the latest copy ofThe Muckraker. When I received it this morning, I went straight to Edgerton’s home, Charlotte, only to learn you had left. That disagreeable butler of your brother’s wouldn’t tell me where you were, but for a shilling, a groom was most forthcoming with information. This, of course, only made me worry more, since Honoria had written about her sister-in-law’s death, stating they would be away from London for an indeterminate amount of time.”

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