One Sinful Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

dainty steps from the room, Aidan sat on the opposite side of the mahogany card table from Susana. He grinned at her as he idly picked up the deck of cards. “You always win, don’t you, Mother?”
    â€œYes,” she said definitively in her clipped voice. “You look terrible.” Her lips formed a tight line of disapproval and eyes flashed with hardness and accusation. “I expected to see you at breakfast, Aidan.”
    Most people were slightly in awe of his mother’s imperious manner and haughty disposition and thought her cold and unfeeling. Aidan had to admit that his mother possessed a prickly and irritable side, but in her own fashion she loved Aidan dearly. He was probably the only person she had ever loved in her life, for she certainly had not loved his father. It seemed to him that she devoted her life to making things perfect for her only son, even if that sometimes conflicted with Aidan’s own wishes.
    â€œI had certain business to attend to first.”
    She gave him a contemptuous look that left no doubt what she thought of his business matters. “You should have been out riding with Helene this morning.”
    â€œI was not aware of such an arrangement with her.” He continued to shuffle the cards with skilled ease.
    Susana retorted sharply, “Well, you would have been had you come to breakfast instead of laying abed all morning while she went out riding with Lord Gardner.”
    Aidan could say nothing to refute that. He had been in bed until after noon, and he continued to pay the painful price for his heavy drinking last night. His head still throbbed, although less so than it had been. He was angry at his loss of self-control, for he rarely overindulged. “Harry Gardner is a fine gentleman.”
    His mother raised an eyebrow and continued, “You had better propose to her soon. The Winston family is one of the finest in England and her father is the Earl of Hartshorne! Helene is perfect for you. You could speak to her father this evening. In fact, he’s expecting it. If you don’t make your move soon, you’ll lose her to another. A girl like Helene won’t wait around for you forever, Aidan.”
    He responded with quiet determination. “We have been through this before, Mother. I’ll ask for her hand, or the hand of someone equally suitable, when I’m ready, but not before.”
    There was a moment of silence, but her eyes flashed with obvious displeasure. Though Susana was a domineering woman, she had met her match in her only son. He loved her, to be sure, but he did not let her control him as she did everyone else around her. However much Aidan respected his mother, and at times gave in to her inexplicable demands or whims, he stood his ground with her when it was important to him.
    He could be stubborn if the circumstances warranted it. He had been determined to begin his shipping business when his mother had been completely against the idea of him being in trade. And he was being quite obstinate about not proposing. Yet, to be fair, Aidan did not know why he felt so apathetic about Helene. As much as he hated to admit it, his mother’s assessment was correct. Helene would make a perfect countess for him. Well-bred, accomplished, and refined, she possessed an agreeable disposition, he found her attractive, and he enjoyed her company. By far, she was the most preferable candidate to be his wife. Yet somehow he could not bring himself to ask for her hand in marriage.
    Susana suddenly leaned in closer to him across the card table and spoke in a furious whisper. “I saw you dancing with that dreadful girl last night.”
    Aidan stopped shuffling the cards. He knew exactly to whom she referred. His mother had no love lost for Vivienne Montgomery and Vivienne had always been a bitter source of contention between them. Interestingly enough, his mother had won that battle in the end, although through no skill of her