Page 4 of Never Kiss a Scot
Joanna’s mother had all but given up on her finding a man to seriously court her, and she’d essentially left her alone. That meant Joanna had avoided most social engagements and instead chose to tuck herself away in the circulation room of Meyler’s library—mostly to avoid Edmund. He’d learned she’d come back and was doing his best to run into her in every tea shop, every assembly room, and even on the street while she tried to ride. It was frustrating. All she wanted was to be left alone to consider her options.
It hadn’t escaped her notice that she was not the only young woman using the hidden magic of books to escape the social scenes of the city. Only yesterday, she’d run into a friend from London, Lydia Hunt, at Meyler’s. They had commiserated over their shared matchmaking woes. Lydia’s younger sister, Portia, was a true beauty and quite full of trouble, which meant Lydia spent much of her time declining invitations from young men who were interested in her because her little sister would try to steal them away. Given that Lydia’s father openly supported Portia’s desire to marry before Lydia, Lydia had given up hope of a match because any man she desired would be turned toward Portia instead.
Joanna didn’t have the excuse of a scheming younger sister, however. She simply wasn’twantedby any man except Edmund.
A crowd of young men stood around the refreshment table drinking ratafia and laughing raucously, in spite of the group of disapproving mamas who watched from a distance. One of the men glanced her way and offered a smile, but he did nothing more to encourage her. She’d never felt more invisible in her life.
All she wanted was to be loved, to share the passions of life with a man, yet none would consider her. She’d wondered from the moment her first season had passed whether the debts and scandals her father had created before his death had left her name blackened somehow. Was it possible that the past was ruining her future? What other reason could there be for men to avoid her like this?
Ashton had restored their family fortune, it was true, but as the daughter of a baron and now sister to one, she was, to be frank, at the bottom of the ladder when it came to the peerage. Most men wished to marry up, not simply acquire fortunes. And Ashton wouldn’t allow the more attractive fortune hunters anywhere near her—not that many had tried. Most men seemed content enough to smile and talk with her, dance once or twice, but never anything more. Even those who showed initial interest one evening would ignore her the next as if they’d never met her.
All that remained was Edmund Lindsey, and her brother had laughed in his face when he’d expressed his interest in Joanna. Her brother’s open dislike of Edmund hadn’t made sense, but when she’d questioned him about it, Ashton had simply told her not to bother with Lindsey, that there would be a good man out there for her to marry someday. Yet despite her brother’s callous and dismissive treatment, Edmund remained persistent.
Joanna hastily made her way to the corridor outside the assembly hall, resting a gloved hand against the wall to catch her breath. So far, she’d successfully avoided Edmund. He was here somewhere, but Bath was flooded with people this time of year, and there were hundreds in attendance tonight. It was easy to get lost in the crowd when one wanted to. When she heard voices, she ducked around the corner into a small corridor off the main rooms, afraid Edmund had found her. But it was only a pair of ladies, and their voices echoed down the hall, clearly audible to her.
“Have you seenthem?” one of them whispered.
“Them?”
“The Kincades—those Scotsmen. The brothers of Lady Melbourne. She’s marrying Lord Lennox in two days, you know. It’s all very scandalous…”
Joanna sucked in a breath and waited, listening hard. Could it be…?
“Why is that so scandalous?” the other woman asked.
“Lord Lennox is one of thoserogues, my dear, you know theLeague. But if you ask me, it’s the Kincade men who are far more wicked.”
“Yes…wickedhow?” The second woman was clearly frustrated by her friend’s failure to provide details.
Joanna could tell them just how wicked one of the Kincade brothers was.
He had kissed her and then ridden off into the night with his brothers and sister. Ashton had traveled all the way to Scotland to convince Rosalind he loved her. When that was resolved, Brock and his brothers had stayed in Scotland while Rosalind returned to England. They had been invited to the wedding, which was only a few days away. Had they accepted the invitation? No one had mentioned it to her if they had, of course. No one seemed to notice her at all these days. Her mother was busy fussing over Ashton and his future bride, and her other brother, Rafe, had left for London without so much as a word except a single promise that he would return for Ashton’s wedding.
The ache only grew deeper in her heart.I am alone.
“Well, if youmustknow…” The first woman’s voice then lowered to the point where Joanna could no longer hear. Cursing silently, she peered around the edge of the hall to get a better look at them. The two ladies wore turbans festooned with ostrich feathers, and as their heads bent to gossip, the feathers wavered and danced in the air. It would have been comical enough to make Joanna laugh, but she truly desired to hear what they were saying.
“No. You believe it’s true? That he really…?” Again, the conversation dissolved into whispers. “And they are here tonight?” the second woman suddenly blurted out.
“Yes! In the assembly rooms. Not dancing, of course, but prowling about. All three of them are like wolves. I won’t let my daughter near them.”
“I should think not,” her friend agreed. “Are they wife hunting?”
“Wife hunting? Those scoundrels? I doubt it. They’re more likely skirt chasing. They are trouble, mark my words.”
“Trouble indeed,” Joanna agreed in a mutter. After Brock Kincade had stolen a kiss, she had been unable to think of any other man, let alone someone as dull as Edmund Lindsey.
Damned Scot!The despair within her was transformed into anger—anger at Brock. They hadn’t seen each other since that night, and it was about time she changed that. She had quite a lot she wished to say to that wretched man. One could not go around kissing ladies in libraries at midnight and not expect them to be affected. Not a word or an apology given after—it was unconscionable.
Joanna squared her shoulders and headed back to the assembly room, determined to find Brock and give him a good telling off. That at least would unburden herself of these feelings building up inside her. Then she would only have to put up with him for a few days during the wedding festivities, and she would be free of him. She would likely never see him again, which was just fine by her.
The assembly hall was still crowded; the couples in the center were just finishing a dance. She searched the faces around her, but there were at least a hundred guests in the dance hall. She spotted her mother and Rosalind talking with friends. Ashton and Charles stood in conversation near the refreshment table. Joanna bit her lip. She felt like she belonged with neither group, and the thought only made her mood bleaker.
And then she spotted them. A trio of tall dark-haired men wearing simple buckskin breeches and waistcoats lounged against a pillar by the orchestra. Brock, Brodie, and Aiden Kincade. Infamous devils the lot of them, if the gossip she’d heard about them was correct.
She had not yet had the pleasure of meeting Brodie and Aiden, but there was no mistaking the three as brothers. All had dark hair and stormy eyes, with strong jaws seemingly carved of marble. They were handsome men who would tempt any woman to be reckless with her virtue.
I was certainly tempted. She thought this with a scowl as she stared at the trio.
