Going Rogue Read Online Free PDF Page B

personal stage.”
    “I had a chaperone.”
    “Some chaperone.” Her aunt snorted. “Remind me to fire Mrs. Nelson. It’s become apparent she can’t keep you under control.”
    “It’s not as if I did anything wrong. Those silly writers for the broadsheets have nothing else to do but spread stories about me.”
    “Flirting shamelessly? Dancing with the same man multiple times? Disappearing on balconies for extended periods? That bit about the lavender gown with a ridiculously low neckline in which you practically exposed yourself to all of Vauxhall? Are you telling me these are all lies?”
    “Some of it,” Meredith answered. “The part about my gown is grossly inaccurate. It was violet, not lavender.”
    Cynthia shook her head. “We must do something to repair your reputation.”
    Meredith rubbed her head, the ache undoubtedly from all the champagne she’d enjoyed, which inevitably, had led to all the dancing. “There’s not been any scandal.”
    “None that I haven’t been able to get you out of.” Cynthia held out a towel.
    “You act as if I’m ruined.”
    “Not yet, but you’re certainly on the brink. I’m starting to think that perhaps your association with the Ribbons has done far more damage to your reputation than good.”
    Meredith stepped out of the tub, one heavy leg at a time, using the towel to cover herself. “Need I remind you that you’re the one who encouraged me to make the best of my time here in London? You insisted that I make friends, so I did. You wanted me to earn my ribbon , so I did.” She’d done far better than that. She’d worked hard to assume leadership of the group and helped restore their reputation to its former glory.
    Cynthia sat back down on the tufted bench in front of the vanity. “That was quite a while ago. Five years ago you were an original and able to get away with far more than your current position allows. You’re three and twenty now. Although you may all wear the same colored ribbons, you’re still very different from them. This is the last year you’re eligible for membership. Once lost, you’ll no longer have their good names to elevate your own standing. Do I make myself clear?”
    Meredith flinched; the truth hit her like a smack to the face.
    She’d taken her aunt’s advice and allowed herself to remain unmarried as she built up her reputation. Cynthia provided her with a hefty allowance, which she quietly sent on to her mother. As long as she could keep her mother comfortable, there wasn’t any need to settle for the first man with a proposal. Without that dire sense of urgency steering her otherwise, she’d decided to make the most of her time in London. Two Seasons had turned to three, three had become four, and so on. Five Seasons later, her popularity was waning. Many of the other Ribbons had already secured husbands. Sure, she was still liked well enough, but she’d lost the novelty which had led to her original success. There were younger, prettier girls coming up on her heels. And if she didn’t do something quickly, she’d lose her footing entirely.
    “Now that the Ribbons are back on their feet, I thought I’d consider marrying again. After all, my funds are dwindling and I won’t be able to keep up with expenses without replenishing the accounts.” Cynthia’s taste in men had a tendency to lean toward the very rich and the very old. A lifestyle like hers was difficult to maintain with inheritance alone.
    “Then I shall find a husband tomorrow,” Meredith proclaimed.
    Cynthia laughed. “You will?”
    Meredith slipped behind her screen to dress. “It was your idea I wait to marry until my work rebuilding the Ribbons was finished. Now that it is, I suppose it’s time I get around to it, don’t you think?”
    “It’s not as simple as all that. You’ve lost some of your luster and we need to find a way to brighten you back up—shine up the tarnish on your reputation. We must first increase your value before we