Page 34 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
Chapter 10
The gentlemen’sknees knocked into the table’s edge, and Reina insisted on remaining in Mr Everly’s lap and helping herself to bits of food from his plate, as she used to do with Graciela’s father. No one quite lost their good manners entirely, but it was clear right away, the men were ravenous. All that was needed was to have the room sway to one side and a large splash of seawater arrive through the window, and it would feel much like a meal on her father’s ship.
The scandal sheet lay next to her own still almost full plate, and her eyes kept coming back to it.
Shocking Tale of Scandal
Unthought of perhaps in this modern day, Dear Readers, we have just learned of the story of an Heiress confined as it were to a Tower by her Guardian for her unwillingness to be wed to a Man of Ill Repute. We may not mention names here, but we will say that the poor child’s only Parent serves the Crown honorably, the Guardian holds one of the oldest titles of the Realm, and to think of the Duress he has inflicted on the Poor Girl, Duress of such force that one wonders if she may bear the Stripes of it on her Back through the rest of her life. This Writer had prayed that she might find Nine Lives to carry her past the Nine Tails of her Torturer’s Wand.
But lo, this Writer has learned that the Unfortunate Girl who did not appear with her Guardians for a recent Society Assembly has DISAPPEARED. One must wonder, after the degree of Displeasure she has inflicted upon her Noble Host, if the last Exercise of Discipline has broken the Delicate Creature entirely. For indeed, it is said that the Noble Lord was waxing so wroth he dismissed all of his retainers the evening the Lovely Creature vanished, and when they returned the next day, her Bedchamber had been the scene of a Violent Struggle and BLOODLETTING, and the Young Lady was GONE and has not since been heard of or SEEN. To the Veracity of these words, I rely on the testimony of an EYEWITNESS.
Her eyes watered reading it. She’d been tossing back and forth between waves of anger and moments of relief at her rescue, and her hand trembled around the fork she was clutching. If Lord Kingsley were here, she would stab him with it.
Put as it was in the news sheet, it was astonishing she’d braved all the peril. Her body had heated and chilled with anger and fear so many times in the last few days she felt like a brittle blade, ready to break.
Mr. Everly’s gaze rested upon her, and for that moment, they were the only two people in the room. The concern in his eyes settled over her, as comforting as the strong arm that held Reina in place on his lap.
“Have you had a reply from Lord Shaldon?” Penderbrook asked, bringing her up from her mood.
“Not as yet. That isn’t surprising,” Lady Perry said.
Mr. Gibson grunted. “Be assured, Shaldon will know exactly what’s happening.”
Graciela studied the oldest Everly son. He might not carry their name, he might have the exotically fiery hair of the northmen, yet one could not miss his resemblance to the strong-jawed, straight-nosed, firm-lipped siblings. This must be the look of the father. She wondered if there was a portrait of the man somewhere in this great house.
“But Bakeley sent an express,” Lady Perry said. “He and Sirena are on their way.”
Bakeley was the second son and heir. The Viscount Bakeley whose bed she had napped in early that morning, the rescuer of Lady Sirena.
How wonderful to have brothers and sisters to come to one’s aid. She had none of those. She had only her two servants and Reina. She was not part of this house or this great family. When they were finished rescuing her, they would try to begin their own arranging of her life.
She did not belong here. She must not forget that.
Lady Perry reached across Graciela to catch the biscuit sliding from Reina’s hand. “You have put her to sleep again, Charley.” She laughed.
“I’ll take her.” Graciela leaned in close. The hand that slid under the child’s bottom collided with the solid muscle of Mr. Everly’s chest. The other met his wide shoulder. Both collisions induced a riot and leaping of nerves within her. Her cheeks warmed again, but she kept her lashes lowered, her gaze on the sleeping child as she sat back down.
Around her, the others went very still. She blinked hard.I will not cry.
“How beautiful she is,” Mr. Everly breathed out. When she looked, his gaze was on her, not Reina.
Her heart stuttered and she found herself short of breath.
Yet, she had things she must say. “We have spoken—” She cleared her throat and sipped some more air. “Of the scandal sheet piece and the solicitor’s office. What is next in your devious plan for my future?”
Penderbrook chuckled, and Charley made himself grin.
She didn’t trust him. Of course she didn’t. And he needed her to.
“What do you want to do next, Graciela?” Perry asked.
The lovely lips clamped together, her face crumpling over the child in her lap, like a Madonna thinking ahead to her savior child’s fate.
As soon as she’d tamed her emotions, she’d ask for transport to Falmouth. And he wasn’t having that.
Charley cleared his throat. “There’s the matter of your trust.”
Her head shot up.
