When Marrying a Scoundrel Read Online Free PDF Page A

in this city. Despite modern sanitation marvels, there were still those who tossed slop buckets into the streets. And while one might revel in the sweet scent of flowers and fresh fruit at market stands, there were also those selling pungent fish—often next to a baker’s cart. There was nothing quite so disturbing as the mixing of odors between mackerel and cake.
    The shiny carriage pulled up in front of the steps, it’s rich, wine-colored lacquer gleaming under the lamps that lined the drive. Four perfectly matched blacks pulled the conveyance, and in the driver’s perch sat a smartly dressed man with a velvet top hat and a red cravat.
    The footman who’d gone to fetch the carriage hopped down from the small ledge on the back and opened the door for her, flipping down the steps as well. “Mrs. Moon?”
    Sadie thanked him and allowed him to assist her inside. Once she was safely ensconced, he thumped the side of the carriage and it began to roll out of the drive. Finally, she was free. She sagged into the corner of the plush cushions and closed her eyes.
    It wasn’t a long journey to Pimlico, but this was the Season and traffic was always heavier this time of year, so Sadie tried to relax and allowed the gentle swaying of the carriage, coupled with the gentle clip-clopping of the team, to ease the tension that had gripped her from head to toe. When finally she was delivered to her front door, her headache had abated somewhat, but she felt almost completely drained of energy. Reading leaves always took a lot out of her, and seeing her husband after a decade apart, well, that had taken its toll as well.
    The housekeeper, Mrs. Charles, met her at the door and took her wrap. Sadie told her she was going to take a bath, and to make certain that when Indara came homeshe give Mrs. Charles one of the petit fours she liked so much. The pastry chef at Saint’s Row was a master. The housekeeper’s sweet face brightened even further at the prospect, and then she gave Sadie a vase of roses that had arrived earlier that day, along with a note from Mason Blayne, Sadie’s friend who could be more than a friend, and who was to escort her to a display of magic the next evening. Sadie took both the flowers and the note with her, grateful for the small surge of pleasure they wrought. If anyone could make her feel better it was Mason.
    Upstairs, Sadie went into her private bath and turned the taps in the tub. She removed the stopper from a bottle and emptied some of the fragrant oil into the rising water, closing her eyes as the smell of vanilla and orange rose to greet her. Then she went into her room and removed her gloves, hat, and shoes. She and Indara shared a maid, Petra, who helped her out of her gown. Finally, in nothing but her chemise, Sadie entered the bath and closed the door.
    She was totally alone.
    The chemise dropped to the floor and she lifted one leg into the porcelain tub. The water was hot, but not overly so—just perfect. She turned the taps to stop the flow and lowered herself with a sigh. Leaning back, she allowed the edge of the tub to cradle her neck, pressing against the knotted muscles there. She groaned and began plucking the pins from her hair, letting them fall to the floor. Her hair tumbled down. Now she was comfortable.
    Only then did she allow her thoughts to turn to theman who had turned her entire world upside down. He had a habit of that, but shouldn’t she have better defenses against him now? After all she was seven and twenty, not fifteen as she’d been when she first met—and married—him. Back then he’d been a pretty boy of eighteen, tall and strapping, with twinkling green-gold eyes and a grin that could charm the devil himself. She’d never seen anything finer in all her young life, and she was ashamed to say she still hadn’t.
    The years had been kind to Jack Farrington—Friday he called himself now. Not just kind, but munificent. His hair was darker, touched by gold rather than made