To Wed A Viscount Read Online Free PDF Page B

of emotion that seized her throat. How she missed him! Mother’s death five years ago had been difficult, but Papa had been there to offer strength and courage. With him gone, there was no one else, save Merry.
    Papa had doted on Faith as no other person ever had, nor, she sadly suspected, ever would. Special treats at dinner, a new bonnet because it was Tuesday, a pony of her very own even before she could ride.
    Her mother had often remarked to her husband that he was spoiling their child, but her father merely grinned with mischief when his wife made such comments and gently kissed away the objections.
    Observing the love, affection, and easy manner between her parents had fueled Faith’s dreams to one day achieve such a union for herself. Those dreams were now gone, along with the parents she had loved. Her only goal now was to hold on to Mayfair Manor, the home of her childhood, the place where such love had once flourished.
    â€œI cannot let the estate go without a fight,” Faith said forcefully.
    â€œI never thought you would.” Meredith’s laughter rang out. “If you are so bound and determined to embark upon this scandalous course, then you must at least allow me to accompany you. I’m only a year older, but a twenty-five-year-old unmarried chaperon is better than none at all. I can easily delay my return to town for another day.”
    â€œNo!” Faith was truly horrified. Standing beside the statuesque beauty of Lady Meredith would make her look every inch the little brown wren. She was determined to at least spare herself that humiliation. “If my adventure goes awry, I do not want you touched by any hint of scandal.”
    â€œGoodness, Faith, I thought we were beyond scandal at our age.”
    Meredith tried valiantly to act unconcerned, but Faith could see that her carefully chosen words were having the desired effect. Meredith was toying nervously with the thin gold chain around her neck, a sure sign of nerves.
    Faith felt a slight twinge of guilt. It was not her intention to distress Meredith, only to make certain that she would leave for London on schedule. And Faith knew that nothing would make her dear friend beat a hastier retreat than the threat of notoriety.
    It seemed a true irony that Meredith, a young woman whose family was known for all manner of inappropriate misadventures, had a positive horror of scandal. She was constantly making excuses for her parents’ erratic behavior and always rescuing her dearly loved, and decidedly wild, younger twin brothers from all manner of mischief.
    â€œIf you are absolutely certain that you do not need me, then perhaps I had best return to town.” Meredith fidgeted with the catch of her necklace, then abruptly thrust her hands to her sides, as if willing herself to remain calm. “I have been gone only three days, but that is long enough for my brothers to get into Lord only knows what sort of trouble.
    â€œWhen I left, Jason was keen on purchasing a matching set of bays he cannot afford for the sporty phaeton he had won in a card game, and Jasper was given to wearing his coat with the seams showing.”
    Faith wrinkled her brow. “Jason is putting his coat on inside out?”
    â€œAn old gambler’s trick. Wearing a garment, usually a coat, reversed is supposed to turn one’s luck.” Meredith gave a long, suffering sigh. “I love my brothers to distraction, but they are impossible at times. I often long for the days when they were younger. Despite their constant misadventures, they were at least easier to control.”
    Faith knew Meredith far too well to be startled by those odd words, for it had always seemed as if Meredith was more like a mother than sister to her younger brothers. And while Faith acknowledged that there was much about Meredith to be envied—her noble position, her charm, her looks, her kind heart—the responsibility of her two mischievous brothers was