The Sins of Viscount Sutherland Read Online Free PDF Page A

the dining room with her breakfast. She usually enjoyed the sun streaming in through the windows, but not today.
    Pleasant dreams , he’d said. And for the hundredth time she lost patience with herself.
    What a fool she was! So much for her plan to captivate and entice the viscount. Whatever thoughtlessness had possessed her to think she could captivate such a man?
    All she had done was play the fool. No doubt Sutherland had guessed her stupid scheme and laughed uproariously at the way she flung herself across his path. How stupid of her to even attempt the role of femme fatale. No doubt he—
    When Rosalie announced Penelope, Claire waved her to the chair next to her. “Tea, love? A croissant?”
    Penelope declined, patting the swell of her belly. “I’m growing fat as a hen! I dare not.” Today she wore a dark navy gown that revealed the bump in her middle.
    But Claire chuckled. She loved to tease Penelope about the babe to come. “Oh, pooh. Yes, he grows with each day! But that’s good, sweetings. Why, I vow this child will make an appearance this very day.”
    Penelope was actually nearer her confinement than she looked. A little more than a month was all that remained.
    She groaned. “Bite your tongue, Claire. If Theo were home, I should quite agree. I’m sure Felicity is growing as tired as I of fetching the chamber pot three times a night. We shall see if you are laughing when you sit in my place!”
    Claire’s smile froze. There was a pinch in her heart. A husband—and children—were lost to her now. Society was unforgiving. If she were to accomplish what she set out to do—please, God—her name would be forever connected to the viscount. Forever connected to scandal. No man would have her as his wife.
    But it would be worth it. It would be worth it, she decided with all that she possessed. It would be worth anything—everything!—to see that bastard Sutherland humiliated before her.
    Newfound resolve gripped her. She bit into her toast almost fiercely.
    Across the table, Penelope gave a small sigh. Claire knew she fretted each day that Theo was gone. She’d expected he would be back from the Peninsula by now. Alas, he wasn’t. Her friend kept up a good face, though, bless her heart! But Claire knew her too well, and realized that behind her facade there lurked an anxious worry.
    She leaned forward. “What’s wrong, dear? Are you ill?”
    Penelope shook her head. “No, dearest. I’m fine.”
    Claire took her hands. “Pen,” she chided gently. “You know we keep no secrets from each other.”
    Penelope gave a half sob. “Claire—oh, Claire, I haven’t heard from Theo for well over a month. And I so need him! I—I so want him here when the baby comes. We thought he would be home in time for our child’s birth.”
    Claire squeezed her fingers. “He is here in spirit, Pen. With both of you. Every moment. Every second.”
    Claire reached out and hugged her. Penelope hadn’t thought to find strength, but she indeed took strength from Claire.
    Penelope sat back, wearing a brave smile. “You realize, Claire, that you’ve not yet told me if you will stand as godmother.”
    Claire chuckled. “You are most insistent, aren’t you?”
    “I am.” There was a pause. “Really, it will be a weight off my mind if you agree.”
    Claire’s heart melted. “Of course I will, Pen. Did you think I wouldn’t? But you haven’t told me yet who will be godfather.”
    “Only because we haven’t decided yet!” Penelope laughed, then sighed. “We planned to let Theo choose—another reason to wish him home.”
    Theirs had been a whirlwind romance. Penelope and Theo had met the night of Penelope’s come-out. Within a scant week she was swept away. Scarcely a fortnight had passed before Theo asked her to marry him. Penelope’s parents made them wait some six months, but both of them were prepared to wait forever.
    And now they would soon welcome the fruit of that love.
    Claire pushed aside her envy. Her