Page 47 of A Dangerous Little Scandal

He grimaced. “Aye. T’ my everlasting regret. I didna ken ye were going to be such a worthy adversary.”

“I could have told you that if you’d asked,” Remington interjected with a dry murmur. “What are we playing?”

She rolled her eyes but said nothing as she dealt him his set of cards. “Originally it was Piquet, but now that you’re here, I thought we would try Maw. It is Scottish in origin, as you know. And perhaps Lord Scott might be a bit better acquainted with the rules so that he won’t accuse me of playing unjustly.”

Lord Scott harrumphed but said nothing as they started to play. As he was deciding which item to discard, Rem turned to Isadora. “I received word today that we are expected tomorrow afternoon in Edinburgh for our railway meeting. Lady Grace has kindly offered us the use of her personal carriage to make the journey.”

“I’m glad to know that you are holding up your end of our bargain, my lord.”

He lifted an inquiring brow. “You doubted me?”

“Not at all. I was just concerned about your sincerity.”

He snorted, although her expression was carefully blank as usual. “Doesn’t that mean the same thing?”

She shrugged. “I suppose it depends upon the interpretation.”

Rem just shook his head. He didn’t have a ready reply to that, although Lord Scott had no such hesitation.

“Aye. Ye best be snapping this one up. There’s no’ too many English that meet my approval.”

“If I did,” Rem asked, while keeping his focus on Isadora. “Does that mean the rift between our families might be repaired?”

Lord Scott considered this for a time, his face scrunched up as he scrutinized his hand. “T’would be a start.”

Chapter Nineteen

“How is it that you manage to charm everyone that you meet without even trying?”

Isadora looked at Remington as they headed downstairs together. They had stayed with Lord Scott until dinner was announced. By then, she could tell that he was starting to tire himself and needed his rest. But even then, they were only allowed to leave if they promised to play another hand the following day when they returned from their business in Edinburgh.

“I suppose it’s a natural talent?” she suggested, and then added, “Truly, it’s not that difficult to talk to most anyone. You just have to listen to their grievances and care about what they have to say. It’s really just as simple as that.”

“I don’t know,” he countered softly as he paused and turned to her. “I’ve always thought there was something special about you.” He gave a half-hearted smile. “I suppose that’s why I want to keep it for my own.” His expression became serious. “Have you given any more thought to my proposal?”

Her heart started to thump, but she clasped her hands before her. “I have, but I regret that I don’t have an answer for you yet. Iknow you are anxious, but you must be patient, as this is a permanent decision.”

“Forgive me,” he sighed heavily. “I do realize that and I shouldn’t push you too hard.”

She reached out and took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s just focus on our meeting tomorrow and save the rest for a rainy day. Rest assured I am pondering the matter thoroughly. I know that you are a good man and any lady would be lucky to be known as Lady Osgood.” She released him. “I’m not sure if that woman is me just yet.”

He inclined his head. “At least I can appreciate your honesty, if nothing else.” He bent his elbow to her. “Shall we join Lady Grace in the dining hall?”

During the meal, they apprised Lady Grace of their conversation with her father. As suspected, she was pleased to learn of his progress. “I admit that I’ve never kent him to be so forgiving. Either he’s truly coming around, or ye made quite an impression o’ him, Lady Isadora. Something tells me it’s the latter.”

Following a light conversation, where Lady Grace teased them about the “bee” in the garden which led to their dip in the fountain, she excused herself and headed for bed. Left alone, Isadora glanced at Remington, and immediately, her desire for him started to bloom. However, since she didn’t think it wise that they embark on another tryst in the same day, she excused herself and headed for her chamber.

For a long time, she laid in bed and wished for sleep to claim her, but her body was burning with this newly awakened passion. She closed her eyes and tried to force herself to fall into dreamland, but it was no use. She was too restless to entertain the thought of anything but being held by the marquess.

She got up and walked on bare feet to her door. She opened it at the exact same moment that the door across from her flew open to reveal Remington standing there in nothing more than his trousers and a white cambric shirt. His russet hair wasdisheveled, as if he had run his hands through it several times and he held a tumbler of scotch in his grasp.

It didn’t take long before Isadora was crossing the distance. He downed the last of the contents in his glass and set it aside, catching her up in his arms the moment she stepped over the threshold in a devastating kiss that had her clinging to him.

“I was praying you would come to me tonight,” he whispered as his lips traveled to her ear and caught the delicate lobe between his teeth.

Her breath caught. “I kept telling myself that I shouldn’t.”

“I’m very glad that you didn’t listen.” He shut the door behind her and then cupped her breast. When he touched her through the thin material of her nightdress, it was as if nothing separated them. “How far are we allowed to go?” he asked huskily.

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