A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin Read Online Free PDF

her. Shame on Melisande. It’s time the girl was ushered into Society properly.”
    He shrugged. “That is not my responsibility.”
    â€œIs it not?” his cousin asked, her brown eyes wide over the rim of her cup. “She is your stepsister.”
    He glared at Aurelia. “I’m not her father. Or even her brother.”
    â€œBut you are the head of her family . . . as far as Society is concerned,” Aurelia replied, unruffled. “That does make you responsible for her, does it not?”
    His aunt nodded, her gray-­blond curls bobbing. “True. That is true, Declan-­dearest. This does cast light upon you.”
    He ground his teeth and sent Aurelia a look that clearly did not convey gratitude to her for pointing this nuance out to Aunt Peregrine. “No. I am only responsible for her if I take responsibility.”
    Aurelia and Aunt Peregrine stared at him, looking unconvinced.
    He stared back, astounded that they should give him such looks. His father had cast him out in favor of Melisande. They could not expect him to go to such lengths for her daughter as though all was well and right between them. “I intend to leave her in the care of her mother once she—­”
    Aurelia lowered her teacup to its saucer with alacrity. “Well, that might be difficult to do considering she is in Italy with her latest paramour.”
    His aunt swatted her daughter’s arm. “Aurelia, where did you hear such a thing? That is far too risqué to fall from your lips.”
    Aurelia lifted her chin, looking exasperated. “Mother, you would be surprised how much one hears when they are invisible.”
    â€œYou’re not invisible,” Aunt Peregrine objected. “And who said such things in your hearing, I’d like to know?”
    â€œMother, I’m not a child . . . and to answer you precisely . . . everyone.”
    Dec would have smiled over their banter. It usually amused him, however, his cousin’s proclamation was the only thing he could think upon—­the only thing he could feel . Like rocks sinking to his stomach. “Melisande is in Italy?”
    â€œYes,” his aunt admitted, sliding her much aggrieved gaze from her daughter with a sigh. “She departed a week ago with her latest . . . friend. It has caused quite a stir, you see, because the viscount is a good deal younger than she is.”
    He grimaced. She always did like them young.
    His aunt continued, “Everyone had thought he was shopping for a bride this season, as he is quite destitute, but then your stepmother—­”
    â€œI understand,” he broke in, tempering his tone with a smile. He really did not wish to hear of his stepmother’s exploits. “So that leaves me with Rosalie.” He rubbed his forehead. “What am I supposed to do with her?” He lifted his gaze to his aunt and cousin almost pleadingly.
    â€œOh, we can’t take her. We live with William. That wouldn’t be suitable. And I already have one unwed daughter to contend with.”
    Aurelia flinched. It was imperceptible, but Dec noticed it. Aurelia lowered her gaze and took another long sip from her tea.
    â€œNo, I should not wish to impose on you,” he murmured, his mind racing, working . . . wondering a little desperately if he could not simply dump a settlement on her and never have to see her again. Much like the arrangement he had with his stepmother.
    Melisande received a town house and a settlement upon the death of his father—­a settlement that she had obliterated in under a year’s time. She had come to him then, full of tears and pleas. She was penniless, money lenders hunting her down all hours of the day.
    She had wept in his drawing room like there was nothing between him. No ugliness. No past. No night ten years ago where his world had died. Jumped off its axis and placed him on the path that led him