Page 57 of How to Start a Scandal

Violet hadn’t purchased those items. They had been given to her by—

She gasped.

Seth groaned. ‘Tell no one. She insisted and wouldn’t be put off. I had no choice but to agree.’

‘But why?’ It was Violet’s turn to be incredulous. Lady Caroline had the perfect figure—slender, willowy, graceful. She was well accomplished and possessed a genuine warmth that made her instantly likeable.

Why would someone like Lady Caroline possibly need Lottie’s assistance in obtaining a husband?

‘Lord Rawley,’ Seth said drily. ‘The man is far too shy for his own good, so my sister is trying to see what she can do to encourage him to demonstrate his affections. It’s ridiculous, really.’

Violet thought of Lord Rawley with his impeccable appearance. Every hair was in place and smoothed regularly to ensure it remained so. His clothes were neatly pressed and without as much as a stray thread or hint of lint. While polite and respectful, he was hardly a sought-after gentleman.

‘She must be quite enamoured of him,’ Violet said wonderingly.

Seth scoffed. ‘You don’t know the half of it.’ He met her eyes and his expression softened. ‘Though I feel the interruption came at just the right moment.’

Heat scalded Violet’s face. She had wanted it to go further, the way it had gone the other evening. It was wrong, she knew. And sinful. And so indescribably tempting.

He stroked a hand down her face. ‘You’re so innocent, Violet. Beautiful and pure. I would never forgive myself for marring your pristine reputation.’

Her stomach clenched.

Innocent. Pure. Pristine.

Fraud.

She offered a tight smile.

‘May I call upon you tomorrow?’ he said. ‘We can go for a walk, perhaps through Hyde Park.’

Hyde Park, where the ton paraded themselves, on display for everyone to see. He wanted her to be with him for all to see.

Her smile relaxed into something more genuine and everything within her melted. ‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘I would like that very much.’

‘As would I.’ He lifted her hand and bestowed a gentle, affectionate kiss. ‘Goodnight, my Violet.’

She swallowed. ‘Goodnight, Seth.’

He remained where he was as she made her way into the town house where she pressed her back to the garden door once it was closed behind her and gasped for breath. What was she doing allowing him to court her? To take her to Hyde Park? To steal kisses in the darkness and abscond with her heart?

She should never have agreed to allow him to court her, but she had given him her answer and now it was too late. There was no way this would not end badly.

Soon-to-be spinster dared place herself in the arms of war hero Earl, a gentleman far too handsome ever to be with the likes of her.

All was well and good between this mismatched couple until he asked her to wed him.

It was then, Dear Readers, that the lady confessed to having placed herself on the shelf—not because she was shy or uninterested in marriage, but because she was spoiled goods. A social pariah.

Violet exhaled a pained sigh.

What had she done?

Chapter Sixteen

Seth skimmed over the Lady Observer column the following morning while sipping a piping-hot cup of tea. Sunlight poured into the window and lit the blue and white room with such brilliance, it nearly hurt his eyes.

Details of Lady Norrick’s soirée were described in great detail: what was worn, down to the ostrich feathers in a certain lady’s turban that had accidentally jabbed her husband in the eye. Allusions as to who danced with whom, people Seth didn’t know well enough to care about. Apparently, the baked custard was worthy of the saints themselves and was described in such gratuitous detail, Seth regretted leaving before having had the opportunity to sample it.