Lessons from a Scandalous Bride Read Online Free PDF

mentioned how lovely you are, my lady?”
    She blushed and tittered and swatted his arm. “Oh, la! Lord McKinney, you’re a terrible flirt!”

Chapter Five
    C leo brushed her hair vigorously until the dark mass crackled all around her like a brewing storm. The evening had left her disconcerted. She wanted to place the blame on Hamilton and his vicious tongue, but she’d only be lying to herself. He was only partly to blame for her consternation. The rest of the blame could be laid at the feet of him. The Scot. McKinney. That moment when those cool, gray eyes had looked at her with scorn was etched inside her mind.
    She jumped as a gentle knock sounded at her bedchamber door. Setting down her brush, she bade entrance, assuming it was Berthe returning to see if she required anything else for the night.
    Instead of the maid, she watched as the man who had sired her stepped inside her bedchamber. Jack Hadley. She felt none of her initial tension as she gazed upon the barrel-chested man. Over the months, they’d come to almost an accord. Not that she forgot or forgave him anything . . . but she acknowledged that he was a different man from that of twenty years ago. She saw regret in the worn lines of his face and longing in his eyes.
    While it might appear that he longed for position and rank—which he ostensibly hoped to gain through marrying her to some titled lord—she sensed he longed for something else. Something more. A connection to others. Belonging. Money hadn’t bought him that yet. Even if he didn’t realize it, she suspected that was the true reason he had tracked her down. And not just Cleo, but two other illegitimate daughters. Jack Hadley wanted a family.
    He nodded at her reflection in the mirror. “How was your evening?”
    She turned to face him. “Fine, thank you.”
    He looked as though he would like to say something more, but then shook his head as though thinking better of it. “Well, I won’t keep you. Good night.”
    In the threshold, he suddenly stopped and turned. “You know . . . this courtship with the earl . . .” His voice faded away.
    She nodded. “Yes.”
    He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. She’d never seen Jack Hadley discomposed like this. But then, she seemed to be constantly reevaluating him.
    “Yes?” she prompted.
    “The earl is older than I am.”
    A smile twitched her lips. “I’m aware of that.”
    He looked rather pleadingly at her. “You’re a young woman, Cleo. You don’t have to settle on him. I realize he’s titled, but—”
    “I’m quite satisfied with the earl’s courtship.”
    Jack looked at her rather doubtfully. “Are you? Truly? Because I don’t want you to feel I’m forcing—”
    “No one can force me to marry anyone.” She smiled at him with an arched brow. “Not even the great Jack Hadley.”
    He snorted. “Well, your sisters seem to fear that I’m bullying you into this.”
    “I’ll talk to them.” Or at least she would talk to Marguerite. She’d have to post a missive to Grier in Maldania.
    He looked somewhat relieved at this and she suspected that they must have been badgering him a great deal over the matter. No one could understand her motives for accepting the earl’s suit. Which did not affect her one way or another. Her reasons were her own.
    Jack stepped inside her chamber. “In fact, it’s rather nice having you about. I don’t see any point in your rushing into matrimony. The year you’ve been here has been . . . nice.”
    “Indeed?” Despite herself, her heart thawed another notch. Her stepfather had never spoken a kind word to her. She really must be starved for a father’s care.
    She quickly reminded herself that this is the same Jack who, a year ago, had been anxious to herd up his offspring and marry them off. Marguerite and Grier had actually obliged him—and rather quickly. Perhaps he regretted that now? Regretted that he didn’t have more time to acquaint himself with his other two