Page 22 of Scandalous Heiress
During her breakfast, he’d chastised himself over and over as he’d watched her eat and drink and read.She was lovely, natural, fresh.Why was it no intelligent man had snapped her up before this?She was no ingénue.Neither was her friend, Esmerelda.They appeared a few years beyond a debutante’s first blush.The only reason behind her continued spinsterhood must be that she had not found a man to suit her.
But then, was Richard the best she could do?
That was impossible.She could crook her little finger and have anyone.Any one.
Ah.Unless she had marks against her character, just as Richard did.Was that why she appealed to his half-brother?
She didn’t seem like the type to have been sullied by any careless man.She was too wise.Too strident in her own opinions.
But what the hell did it matter?He was not here to analyze or support her in her choice of husband.His purpose was to advise his brother on his choice and if he approved, to get acquainted with his future sister-in-law.
That was his duty.
He fingered his walking stick as Ada took the first stair up to the next floor.
He’d asked Fawkes to send them a housemaid as chaperone and the butler had promised one would come to the foyer within minutes.
“I’ll be only a moment.”Ada pointed upward.“I’ll need my shawl.”
“Best to wear a bonnet,” Victor said.“The sun will be strong today.”
Horses clattered along the drive.Shouts of the driver rang in the air.
Ada paused, her face toward the lower level and the foyer.“The guests aren’t due to arrive until tomorrow.”
“And not this early in the morning, either.Unseemly to appear before the afternoon.”
Fawkes hurried from the breakfast room and took the stairs down.“I understand it’s your brother, sir.”
“Richard?Up from Bath so early?”Odd for my brother to rally before ten in the morning.
“Yes, sir.”Fawkes gained the last step and opened the door just in time to allow Richard to walk in.
“Good heavens!”His dark-haired jovial half-brother glanced up and around to spy him before he got his hat or coat off.Laughing, he made straight for Victor, arms wide.They met mid-way on the stairs.“I say, it’s wonderful to see you, Victor.Had a good voyage?The girls, too?”
“We have.”He hugged the man, as thrilled to see his childhood friend as ever he was.They’d shared so much, less than two years apart in age.But sharing youth and boarding school, as they’d grown into young men at Eton, they’d grown apart.Richard to all number of questionable friends and pastimes of gambling and whoring.Victor to his books and sporting.Still, part of Richard, the generous man who gave willingly to any and all, he loved dearly.“I’m glad to see you again, Richard.Very glad.”
His brother framed his face with both hands and shook him to and fro.“Fabulous.You are not a day older.China does well by you, eh?”
“It does.”Better than your lifestyle has done for you, I see.
Richard stilled and gazed beyond him.“And who, pray tell, is this?”
