Scandal of The Season. Christie Kelley
company.”
Genna reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’ve missed you, brother.”
“And I you. How is your betrothed?” He waited for Reese to set the tea on the table. “Will you pour?”
“Of course.” She reached for the teapot and poured two steaming cups.
He watched, proud that his sister had become such a gentile lady. With her oval face, black curls, and big blue eyes, she was quite the thing during her Seasons. Until Lindal caught her.
After handing a cup to him, she continued, “Lindal is well but distant lately. I fear he may be getting nervous with less than a month left to his bachelorhood.”
“Lindal is a good man from an excellent family. I’m sure you are right about his nerves but he won’t do anything foolish.” Anthony sipped his tea and felt a sense of comfort. His sister was here and they had good English tea, everything was right with the world.
Genna chewed on her lower lip. He knew that look. There was more to this than Lindal. “What is really wrong, Genna?”
“I am feeling nervous, too.” She looked up at him with her blue eyes. “What if I am making a huge mistake? I tried to speak with Father about my concerns, but he just brushed them aside.”
Of course, their father would do that. He wanted Genna married off. Lindal was an earl so more than suitable for his daughter. “Why do you think it might be a mistake?”
“I cannot put my finger on it. Lately, I am just not excited to see him. I find myself relieved if he sends a note telling me he cannot call. Shouldn’t I feel happy to see the man I love?”
Anthony blew out a breath. How was he to give love advice when he had never been in love? “Genna, I wish I could tell you what you need to hear.”
“But you have never been in love, have you?”
He shrugged. Infatuation with an orange seller scarcely counted as love. “Have you talked to your friends?”
“I tried, but they all thought I was being silly. All they can say is what a catch Lindal is, and how proud I should feel that he picked me.”
He wanted to tell her how wrong her friends were. She was the catch, not Lindal. “You are not being silly. Perhaps you should take the next week to really examine your feelings for him before it’s too late.” And if she delayed the wedding, then he would have more time to retrieve the necklace should Miss Seaton not return it.
“Perhaps you are right. It’s just his family is so maddening sometimes. His mother pulled me aside at the Houghton’s dinner party to tell me the dress I wore was inappropriate.” Genna breathed in as if to calm herself then sipped her tea.
“What was so wrong with your dress?”
“It was a shade too dark for an unmarried woman,” she said in an angry tone. “It was not, Tony. Aunt Westfield would never allow me to wear something unacceptable.”
Anthony smothered a smile. “I am sure if you and Aunt Westfield picked it out, the dress was perfect.” The poor girl looked terribly distressed, and Anthony didn’t believe it all had to do with a gown. “What other things are they driving you mad about?”
She glanced away. “You. His mother has made a few comments under her breath about Lindal marrying Somerton’s sister. I think she wonders if it will look bad on them.”
He fisted his hands wanting to throw something across the room. What he did should have no impact on Genna. Although, he knew it always would. More and more, the respectable wife idea was seeping into his brain.
“Do you love him, Genna? And I mean truly deep down in your heart?”
Genna stared at her jonquil gown.
“Can you imagine your life without him?” he whispered.
She nodded slightly. “I can. And sometimes I think it might be better.”
Anthony closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the sofa. His father would be furious and probably blame her backing out of the wedding on him. According to his father, everything was his fault. Why should this be any different?
“Genna, if you honestly believe that then you need to put a stop to this wedding before the plans go any further.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I just don’t know how to tell him.”
Anthony didn’t need to ask to which “him” she referred. Lindal would take her rejection with a stiff upper lip. Her father, however, would not.
“If you would like to tell him before Thursday, I will stand with you. But I leave for a country party on Thursday and won’t return until the following week.”
“Thank you, Tony. I shall let you know what I decide. I believe I may take the weekend to think about my feelings for Lindal. Aunt Westfield and I are also attending a party with Lindal’s family.”
“Enjoy yourself, then.”
“And you, brother.”
Anthony knew he would not be able to enjoy himself this week. Along with getting this job done, he would also be fighting a damning attraction to a petite blonde.
Chapter Six
Victoria stared at the blue velvet material and sighed. She had never felt any fabric this fine. Somerton insisted that the dressmaker create a gown out of the velvet. While she would have the week to wear it, after she returned home, she would have to either give back the dress to him, or perhaps sell it. Of all the material chosen so far, this was her favorite. Maybe he would not mind if she kept just this one dress.
“It will look beautiful on you,” he whispered near her ear.
She started.
“Are you all right?”
“I did not realize you were so close,” she replied.
“As I told you before, you must become used to it.”
She would never grow accustomed to having him so near. His presence overwhelmed her senses and created unruly sensations in the pit of her stomach. Somehow, she had to keep their relationship on a professional level. Nothing personal.
She almost laughed aloud at the thought. With Somerton, it was all too personal.
“Come and see the other fabrics I have chosen for you,” he said, taking her elbow. “You will need two more silk gowns for the evenings and a riding habit if the weather is fair enough for riding.”
“Somerton,” she said, coming to a stop. “This is all too much. Surely, I don’t need all these gowns for a simple house party.”
He squeezed her elbow in warning and drew her nearer to him. “You need all this and more. Do not argue with me about it.”
The dark sound of his voice made her realize that arguing would be futile. “Very well.”
He brought her over to a table where the shopkeeper draped two silk fabrics. Victoria could not take her eyes off the deep red material. She wanted to reach out and stroke the fabric to see if it was as luxurious as she imagined. The dressmaker insisted on green trimming to make the gown look more festive since the theme of the ball was Christmas.
“This is too much,” she whispered.
“It is perfect and will look beautiful on you.” He picked up the cloth and draped it over her shoulder. His lips turned upward.
“Somerton,” she hissed as the shopkeeper turned away. “I cannot wear something as decadent as this. What will people think?”
He arched an eyebrow at her.
She knew what they would think. That she was his mistress and as such could wear a sensual gown. Before that fateful night, she’d tried so