A Scandalous Marriage Read Online Free PDF Page A

that she would be seeing him again.

Chapter 2
    “A virgin!” The words burst out of the Baroness Charlotte de Severin-Fortier accompanied by a peal of delighted laughter.
    Devon quickly hushed her. “Charlotte, not so loud. Remember the servants.” He frowned. “Besides it is not that astounding.”
    Her expression said it clearly was. With her head of silver hair and sparkling eyes, Charlotte was a woman of indeterminate years. Tall, striking, and very French, she numbered among her lovers monarchs, Turkish pashas, Cossacks, dukes, and Devon. Theirs had not been an affair of passion as much as good-humored friendship.
    Over the years, they had come to each other for various favors. He’d always valued her wise counsel, although this was the first time he’d discussed a matter concerning another woman. But then, she was the only one he trusted to hold her tongue.

    She sat up from the silk pillows she had been lying on as supple and graceful as a cat. The gold threads of her caftan shimmered in the candlelight as she set aside the mouthpiece of the hookah she’d been smoking.
    “Who is this young woman, cher ?” she asked in her accented English.
    He saw no reason to hide her name. She’d hear of it sooner or later. “Miss Leah Carrollton.”
    “Carrollton?” The name did not sound familiar to her. She repeated it once more, then recognition struck. “These Carrolltons, have I not heard that your families are enemies?”
    “No. Well, yes,” he admitted. He had told himself that he’d started this venture because of Julian Carrollton’s bragging. But he was also honest enough to realize that his wanting to be near Leah had nothing to do with her brother. “Our families have feuded for centuries. The Carrolltons think we robbed them of an estate and title that should have been theirs. We say we didn’t. I doubt if anyone remembers the source of the argument.”
    “Ah, yes,” she agreed, and then added thoughtfully, “but there is also the race that cost your parents’
    lives. That was not so long ago. Was not Richard Carrollton driving against your father?”
    Devon shrugged. He shouldn’t attempt to disassemble in front of Charlotte. She was too shrewd. “Yes.”
    “Are you seeking revenge, mon ami ?”
    Was he? Devon had to consider the question a moment. “No.”
    “Then explain yourself.”
    Devon capitulated. He had no choice. “I saw her one night at a ball. I can’t shake the memory of her.”
    “You, cher ?”
    His good humor vanished. “Is it so amazing? Does everyone believe me completely beyond redemption?”
    Her lips curved into a generous smile. “No. It’s just sad.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    She reached over and brushed an errant lock of his hair off his forehead before saying, “Because a man like you only falls in love once.”
    Devon rose from the cushions, dismissing her words as foolishness. “I’m not in love. Especially with a Carrollton. I mean, she is the last person I would want to involve myself with.”
    “But you are interested?”
    “I have been interested many times before.”
    “Like this?” she delved.

    No, not like this. The words almost leapt to his lips. He bit them back. “It is not what you think.”
    “I’m certain,” she answered soberly, but her eyes were alive with Gallic conjecture. However, she did not press the issue. Instead, she came to her feet and crossed to a wine table. She poured two glasses of wine and handed one to him. “Tiens. The problem is that you wish to pursue this girl but you do not want to go to the balls and affairs where others will observe you.”
    Wise Charlotte. She understood his dilemma. “Her brother has already made a scene that had people gossiping. Besides—” and he couldn’t help smiling as he said this “—she hates me.”
    Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “She might as well have waved a red flag in front of a matador’s bull.”
    “I admit to being challenged. By the by, I must also keep