Scandal of The Season. Christie Kelley
of Selby’s daughter, there was only one reason to be here. The cold December air had chilled him to the bone but the house was warm. He handed his greatcoat to the butler and walked into the salon.
After a journey that took him to France for five months, he was exhausted and done playing the dual roles thrust upon him. He searched for the only reason he had attended tonight. Sophie Reynard arched a brow at him and then inclined her head toward the hall. He waited while she walked out of the room before joining her in Selby’s study.
“Welcome back, Anthony. How was your trip? Successful?”
The last thing he wanted to talk about was chasing all over France for an English spy. “Enough, Sophie. I have waited an additional five months to get her name. I want it now.”
Sophie laughed softly. “Very well, I shall keep my promise. The woman you are searching for is Anne Smith.”
Anthony waited for some sign of recognition but her name was as common as she had been. Just an orange seller. “Do you know if she is still alive? It’s been ten years.”
“She is definitely alive.”
Anthony frowned seeing the way Sophie looked down when she answered. “What are you keeping from me?”
Sophie smiled and patted his cheek. “Why would I keep anything from you, my dearest brother? The woman you are searching for was in the room you just left.”
“She’s here? In Selby’s salon?”
“Yes,” Sophie replied with a smile.
“Dammit, Sophie,” he almost shouted. “Why didn’t you tell me in there?”
“Because of just that reaction.” She stared at him for a moment.
Anthony glared back at his half sister. With her raven hair and gray eyes, she looked nothing like him but there was a slight resemblance to his sister, Genna. And Sophie seemed to have inherited the same stubborn attitude he had from their father.
After learning about Sophie’s existence, he had sought her out, assuming he would find her living in squalor. Instead, he’d discovered a beautiful seventeen-year-old living in Mayfair with an aunt who acted as her guardian. He then discovered that his father paid all of her expenses as long as she never revealed his name as her father.
Finding Sophie nine years ago had been one of the few positive outcomes of his family disaster. Even if sometimes he wanted to throttle her, such as now.
“The timing must be perfect,” Sophie said quietly.
“The timing of what?”
“When you meet her again.”
“You are not matching us. The only thing that matters is I meet her and apologize for my actions.” Sophie’s medium skills had made her the eminent matchmaker amongst the ton. But only a few people knew how she had coerced him into assisting her with three of the matches.
“I agree,” Sophie said, then walked toward him. “You two would make a disastrous pair.”
Anthony ignored her remark and reached into his jacket pocket. Pulling out the ruby necklace, he dangled it from his hand until she grabbed it from him. He had only brought it with him so she could tell him more about it.
“It is beautiful,” Sophie said with awe.
“Yes, it is. Genna will love it.”
Sophie held the necklace tightly between both hands. “It is from Lady Whitely, is it not?”
“Yes, a Christmas gift for Genna to wear on her wedding day,” he replied.
“It is very old. I believe it might have belonged to your grandmother, too.”
“I had hoped it might be a family heirloom and not some bauble bought from the revenues of the brothel.”
Sophie opened her hands and looked at it with a touch of sadness in her eyes. “But she will never know it was from her mother so it doesn’t have the sentimental value it should.”
“I will tell her Mother wore it on her wedding day. That will be enough for her.”
“If you say so.” She handed him the ruby necklace. “Don’t lose that before Christmas.”
Anthony tilted his head and looked at his sister. “Do you really think I would let anything happen to this?”
“Of course not.”
“I must go find Anne Smith,” he said, walking toward the door.
“Anthony, be kind to her,” Sophie said quietly. “She has been through much in her life.”
Anthony blew out a breath. Knowing he’d caused some of that pain, he nodded to his sister. “Very well.”
He strolled out of the study and back to the salon. Since she had been an orange seller, he assumed she must have gone into service. Footmen lined the room, but no female servants were present. Perhaps he had just missed her.
As the moments passed, he made conversation with Selby, but his gaze watched every servant who entered the room. None fit the vague description that had stayed with him for ten long years of a petite blonde with blue eyes.
Frustration grew as he realized Sophie must have lied to him again. He eased away from the conversation to speak with Lady Selby. He found her sitting on the sofa, holding her infant daughter, Isabel.
“Somerton, come sit with me,” she said with a kind smile.
Marriage and motherhood suited her, he decided. “How are you, Lady Selby?”
“Very well. Would you like to hold her?”
He was not the type of man to fawn over children, especially infants, but something made him agree. She placed the squirming little girl in his arms and showed him how to support her neck. As he looked down at her, she gurgled and gave him a toothless smile.
“You are a natural,” she commented. “It took Banning several days to feel comfortable holding her.”
Anthony smirked. “Selby never learned how to treat a lady.”
“Oh?” a deep voice replied.
Anthony glanced up to see Selby glaring down at him. “It is true.”
Selby reached down and plucked his daughter out of Anthony’s arms. “I think I should warn you to keep your hands off my daughter.”
Lady Selby laughed softly. “I think even Somerton likes them a little older than Isabel, Banning.”
“I do prefer that they can walk,” Anthony said with a note of sarcasm. “Have you seen Miss Reynard?”
“Sophie?” Lady Selby asked. “Why, no. I noticed she left the room and never returned. Unlike you. Is there something you need from her?”
“No.” Anthony resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his friend’s wife. Her tone inferred a sensual meaning. Obviously, Sophie had never told a soul about their relationship. Just the way his father wanted it.
Sophie must have sneaked out without him seeing her. And with no other hints as to whom this Anne Smith might be, he should leave. His stomach decided to rumble. Perhaps he didn’t have to leave just yet.
He found Lord Blackburn at the refreshment table. “Good evening, Blackburn.”
“You missed a beautiful christening, Somerton.”
“Well, I didn’t think the church could survive me walking inside.”
Blackburn chuckled. “Most likely not. I heard about the incident at Lord Eastleigh’s ball last night. I certainly hope his boorish actions won’t stop you from getting back into Society.”
“Why should they?” he asked with more carelessness than he felt.
“Exactly.