Something Scandalous. Christie Kelley
call on you, and together we will get them organized and settled. You will have to hire a tutor for them. But I can assist with that as well.”
A wave of relief slowly rolled over her. “Thank you, Victoria.”
“Now,” Sophie said, “what about the other issue?”
“What issue?” Avis asked, rubbing her extended belly. With only two more months until her first child was born, she looked more vibrant than Elizabeth had ever seen.
“Has he asked you to leave?” Sophie asked softly.
“Yes.”
“I certainly hope you refused,” Jennette said.
“Of course, I did no such thing, Jennette,” Elizabeth replied. “It’s his home now. I have no right to stay.”
“But you need to stay,” Sophie whispered.
Avis looked at them both and narrowed her eyes. “All right, what is going on between you two? There is no reason Elizabeth should have to stay in her father’s home.”
“But there’s no reason she should have to leave either,” Jennette pressed. She inhaled sharply and rubbed a spot on her belly. She and Avis would both be delivered of their children in about two months. Considering the infants would be first cousins, Elizabeth thought it sweet that they would be so close in age.
“Why do you need to stay, Elizabeth?” Victoria asked before taking a sip of tea.
Elizabeth sighed. She probably should have told her friends about her problem months ago. Maybe they might have helped her. “I need to find a diary I believe my mother hid in one of the houses. I have thoroughly checked the estates and found nothing. The townhome is my last chance.”
“What is so important about this diary?” Avis asked.
Even knowing that her friends would never speak of the matter, Elizabeth hesitated. If word ever got out, she might be ruined.
“You can tell us, Elizabeth,” Victoria said. “We won’t speak of the matter outside of this room.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I believe the diary will tell me who my real father was.”
She watched the reactions of the women. Avis and Jennette both stared at her and nodded slowly as if confirming their suspicions. Victoria looked down at the Aubusson rug as if memorizing the patterns in it, while Sophie sent Elizabeth a sympathetic look. Of all the women, Sophie would understand the most. She was the daughter of an actress and an earl who wished to remain anonymous.
“Well, then,” Jennette started, “you must do what you have to in order to stay in the house until you find the diary.”
“But how? The man has seven siblings. I’m just an unwanted piece of baggage to them.”
Sophie smiled. “Then you must prove to him that you are not an unwanted piece of baggage.”
Jennette laughed. “Seduce the man.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Jennette and Avis, who both nodded at the suggestion. “I cannot do that.”
“Not very handsome, is that it?” Avis asked before breaking into giggles.
Too handsome, Elizabeth thought. Far too handsome. And obviously in love with another woman. “He’s practically engaged.”
“Engaged, not married,” Sophie added, stifling a chuckle.
Only Victoria didn’t seem to find anything amusing about her predicament. “You most certainly will do nothing of the sort.”
“Of course I won’t,” Elizabeth replied. “But what am I to do?”
Sophie tilted her head and stared at Elizabeth. “You need to use your wiles to get your way. You wish to stay in the house. Make him understand that he needs you there. You can organize the children, you can assist him with the paperwork and invitations, and only you can completely understand his needs.”
“Exactly what needs are we discussing?” Elizabeth asked as heat crossed her cheeks.
“He must learn how to go about in Society even if he only plans to stay here for a few months. If the children are old enough, they will also need your assistance,” Sophie replied.
“The older girls desperately need my assistance. They actually wanted to come with me today, dressed in some distressingly worn-out cotton dresses.” Elizabeth finally reached for the tea on the table next to her. She could do this.
How hard could it be to smile and be flirtatious to gain his acceptance?
Sophie tapped her foot against the rug with impatience. She glanced up at the clock on the mantel and fisted her hands. He was doing this deliberately. It had been over five hours since she sent that missive to him. He wanted to make her wait just as he had waited so long for his request.
Damn him!
She rose and crossed the carpet to the far side of the salon and back again. What if he wouldn’t help her this time? She needed him more than ever for this plan.
“You wanted me?”
Sophie sighed and turned toward the sound of Somerton’s voice. He leaned in a nonchalant manner against the doorframe as if he had nothing better to do with his time.
“You kept me waiting,” she replied before sitting back down on the sofa.
“It’s a wretched feeling, isn’t it?” Somerton moved from the doorway, and took the seat across from her.
“Very well, Anthony. The time has finally come to help Elizabeth.”
“No,” he replied with a shrug.
“What?”
“I’ve decided not to help you until you answer my question.” The impertinent man crossed his arms over his chest in defiance of her wishes.
But Sophie knew the gambler was bluffing. “Very well, then. You may leave.”
Somerton blinked and slowly his lips tilted upward in understanding. “Then I believe we are at an impasse.”
“How so? I do not need your help—”
“Of course you do,” he interrupted. “If not, why am I here?”
She hated it when he remained calm. He was so much more malleable when angry. “No one else can give you what you want, Anthony.”
A dimple slowly creased his cheek. “I’m not so certain you can give me what I need, Sophie. If you could, why make me wait over a year for it?”
“I promised you the woman’s name after we help Elizabeth.”
“That was six months ago.” Finally his voice rose, illustrating his true feelings.
“I never expected it would take this long for the duke to arrive.” Sophie had started to doubt her own powers of prediction.
“Tell me something, Sophie,” Somerton drawled. “Do you really know the woman’s name?”
“Yes,” she answered honestly.
“And you promise you will give me her name once we finish with Elizabeth?”
“Yes,” she replied, looking down at the rug. He didn’t need to know that it might take a bit longer for him to figure out her true identity.
“Before I agree, I want one answer.” Somerton stood and walked toward the window. Drawing the curtain back, he glanced out.
“Very well,” she whispered.
“What is the real reason you made me wait this long?”
“Because neither of you are ready.”
“Ready for what?”
She