Page 74 of How to Start a Scandal

In truth, if Lady Hollingston had not emerged when she had, would Seth have been able to resist taking Violet? She’d been ready enough, her body slick and hot and swollen. For him.

His thighs twitched at the memory, but he shoved the thoughts from his mind. Now was not the time for thinking of titillating transgressions. It was for making them right.

He waited with barely tethered patience in the drawing room for his mother and sister to join him. They came in some time after ten. He’d already penned a missive to Lord Hollingston asking for an urgent meeting first thing that morning.

His mother and sister came down within minutes of one another. They exchanged pleasantries and he allowed them a moment to take a sip of tea before speaking up. ‘I shall be speaking with Lord Hollingston this morning.’

A smile spread over Caroline’s face. ‘Oh? About what?’ She sat forward, her brows raised in expectation.

‘About marrying Lady Violet.’ He had thought of what he would say to his mother and sister, of course, but he hadn’t considered how proud it would make him to say those words.

His mother gave a brittle smile. ‘That’s fine news, Seth.’

‘We could have a wedding at Dalton Manor.’ Caroline sat upright in her seat, her eyes shining with eagerness. ‘We can use the summer roses for decoration. And there’s the small parish church just in town. Oh, it will be lovely.’

Seth chuckled at her enthusiasm. ‘The Season is very nearly over. I should think we will want to wed prior to then and in one of our homes here.’

‘By special licence, then.’ Though his mother gave an approving nod, a small line showed between her brows.

‘Before either of you anticipate planning her wedding, I shall speak more with Lady Violet and inform you of my lady’s desires.’ Seth lifted his teacup.

‘Seth,’ Lady Dalton said softly.

Seth? She hadn’t called him Seth in an age.

He regarded his mother and disliked the concern creasing her brow.

‘Regarding Lady Violet...’ She drew in a long, slow breath. ‘You should know that William—’

The door opened and Gibbons entered.

They all turned to him. He offered a bow and held out his silver tray with a note upon it. ‘Lord Hollingston asks that you read this post-haste.’

Seth took the missive with thanks and unfolded it.

I would see you immediately.

Seth had been anxious about his discussion with Lord Hollingston, but the single line sent tension tightening through his body. This would not be as easily done as the conversation with Lady Dalton and Caroline.

He offered an easy smile to them now, as though nothing were amiss. ‘If you’ll excuse me.’

Seth had it in mind to stop off with Bennet so the valet might freshen up his appearance. However, knowing the man’s penchant for perfection, Seth might never leave Dalton Place and Lord Hollingston’s note encouraged expediency.

After a brief pause in front of a mirror, Seth made his way next door and was promptly shown into the study where a dour-faced Lord Hollingston glowered at him from behind a large desk. He indicated the chair on the other side of the desk. ‘Sit,’ he commanded. ‘If you please.’ The latter was added in an apparent effort to be civil when his demeanour was anything but.

Seth sank on to the seat, remembering too late how loud the damn thing was. He suppressed a cringe as it squawked in protest beneath his backside.

‘You’ve taken liberties with my daughter,’ Lord Hollingston accused.

Seth sat with such stillness, the chair didn’t make a sound. He kept his shoulders squared and his gaze level as he replied. ‘Yes. And I intend to wed her, as I told Lady Hollingston. I wished to speak with you first thing this morning to ask for her hand in marriage.’

‘That is the right thing to do, isn’t it?’ The anger drained from the older Earl’s face. ‘Do you love her?’

Love?

The chair groaned from beneath him. Seth had never loved a woman enough to know what love was.

‘I care greatly for her,’ he replied.