A Perfect Scandal by Tina Gabrielle Read Free Book Online

She felt the blood drain from her face.
    Edward turned his attention to Marcus. “I’m uncertain what part you played in all of this, Mr. Hawksley. Whether you were a willing participant in my daughter’s foolish plan or not, I still hold you partly responsible. You are older and worldlier than Isabel, and I would expect a gentleman to exhibit more restraint than to be found alone with an innocent woman in a room surrounded by inflammatory artifacts. Notwithstanding my beliefs, however, I do hope you will follow through on your word and do the honorable thing.”
    “I gave my word, Lord Malvern. And despite what you said earlier, I’m good for it.”
    “Isabel has a dowry, and although I feel it is my right under the circumstances, I’ll not withhold it.”
    “There’s no need. I’ll not take a shilling,” Marcus said, his voice firm.
    Isabel came to her senses and sprang to her feet. “Do not speak as if I were not present. I will not marry Mr. Hawksley, or anyone for that matter.”
    Her father’s eyes narrowed. “You have no choice in the matter, Isabel. You sealed your fate when you failed to consider the full consequences of your foolish actions. Thank goodness you and Lord Walling were not yet engaged. A scandal will result, no doubt, when Lady Yarmouth blabs to her influential friends. But after you and Mr. Hawksley are married, the scandal will blow over and will become lessened over time. Had you been engaged to Walling, the outcome would have been too horrendous to fathom. The twins, Amber and Anthony, would never have been accepted by society, and their futures would have been tainted by your actions.”
    “I still refuse.” She looked to Marcus, her eyes pleading. “You can stop this, please, before it goes any further.”
    “I’m afraid it’s past my doing. I have my sense of honor.”
    “Honor!” Her voice was shrill to her own ears. “This is a lifetime we’re speaking of.”
    “No doubt.”
    “Then speak up!”
    “Your father is right. It’s the only reasonable course of action.”
    She scowled at him, speechless.
    Edward rose from behind his desk. “Perhaps Mr. Hawksley can convince you better than I, Isabel. I’ll leave you in private for a few minutes to talk things through.” He left the library without a backward glance.
    As soon as the door closed, Marcus stood and went to the liquor cabinet. He pulled out two glasses and a bottle of her father’s favorite port. Pouring two fingers’ worth in both glasses, he picked up one, downed the glass, refilled it, and then turned to her.
    “A celebratory toast, Lady Isabel?” he said, holding out the second glass of amber-colored liquor. “I do believe the occasion warrants one. It’s not every day I propose marriage to a young, titled lady.”
    Isabel eyed him warily. His arm rested on the back of an armchair, his long, muscular frame, leaning to the side in an insolent manner. Broad shoulders strained against his tailored navy jacket—shoulders that she knew from firsthand experience were not padded like those of other men of her acquaintance. She vividly recalled the powerful muscles in his arms as he had held her and she had eagerly waited for his lips to touch hers…
    Except they never did…
    She frowned. Something about his resigned acceptance of her father’s demands disturbed her. He was not the type of man to easily relinquish control. To the contrary, he was a man who was used to following his own rules, not the dictates of society.
    Hadn’t he left behind the lazy world of privilege to become a stockbroker in the London Stock Exchange?
    A sudden realization dawned upon her. “You feel guilty, don’t you?”
    Dark eyes narrowed, and he lowered the offered glass. “What?”
    She forced her lips to part in a curved, stiff smile. “You feel a crushing sense of guilt because without my admission as to our ‘scandalous relationship,’ you would not have had an alibi for the Gainsborough theft. You feel as if you