Desire Becomes Her by Shirlee Busbee Read Free Book Online Page B

her surname, but I believe her given name is ‘Gillian.’”
    “That would be Gillian Dashwood, his younger niece. Mrs. Easley is the older one,” Cornelia said. Looking carefully at Luc, she asked, “Why do you want to know about Mrs. Dashwood?”
    Luc had not missed the exchange of glances or the hint of disapproval in Cornelia’s voice. “Why do I have the impression that you do not approve of this Mrs. Gillian Dashwood?”
    Cornelia made a face. “There is no way to wrap it in clean linen: her husband, Charles Dashwood, was murdered two years ago this past August and there is the strong suspicion that she did it.”
    Emily leaned forward, saying quickly, “It is all gossip, you understand. She was never arrested by the authorities, but many people think she murdered him.”
    “She wasn’t arrested only because they could not find the weapon that had been used to stab her husband to death,” Cornelia added grimly. Looking at Luc, she added, “She was found sitting beside his body, bleeding from her temple. It’s generally believed that she and her husband had a vicious fight and that Dashwood struck her just before she stabbed him. Caused a terrible scandal.” An expression of distaste crossed Cornelia’s face. “Happened at the Duke of Welbourne’s hunting lodge in Hampshire—at one of his notorious romps. Aside from being suspected of her husband’s death, it certainly makes one wonder about Mrs. Dashwood’s morals that she was even attending such a disgraceful affair. The parties hosted by Welbourne at his lodge are legendary for their depravity and disgraceful antics—no respectable woman, or at least none who care about their reputations, would dare be found in the vicinity of that sort of gathering.”
    “Mon Dieu!” exclaimed Luc. “No wonder Silas has not mentioned her to me before now. Poor fellow.”
    Cornelia shrugged. “I’ll agree between that rascally nephew of his and Mrs. Dashwood that your friend has not been blessed with relatives of noble character. Not so surprising I suppose, since they are half brother and sister. Ordway’s older brother was a widower with a child, Stanley, when he married Mrs. Dashwood’s mother. It’s a pity that the pair of them have brought your friend nothing but trouble.” She hesitated, then added not unkindly, “Perhaps he is reaping what he has sown.”
    Luc looked at her sharply. “What do you mean?”
    She sighed. “The circumstances surrounding Ordway’s possession of High Tower caused a scandal at the time—especially what happened afterward.”
    Looking startled, Emily said, “I’ve never heard anything about him other than he likes his own company and doesn’t care much for country society. I think I can count on one hand the affairs where I have seen him.” She smiled at Luc. “He seems a nice man.”
    “He is,” said Luc firmly, thinking over Ordway’s kindness to him in London.
    “I’m not saying that he isn’t a perfectly acceptable gentleman,” Cornelia admitted. “Just that ...” She glanced at Emily. “The reason you’ve probably never heard about it is because it happened forty years or more—long before your birth. After this length of time, few people remember the old scandal.”
    “What scandal?” Luc demanded.
    “First I have to tell you about the former owners of High Tower,” Cornelia said. “Forty years or so ago, High Tower belonged to the Bramhall family and had for several generations. The family was respected and held in high regard in the area. At the time, Robert Bramhall, an only child himself, and his wife, Mary, owned High Tower. They were childless for many years, and all of us were delighted when long after everyone had given up hope, Mary gave birth to a son, Edward. Robert was overjoyed, as was Mary.” Her lips tightened. “Unfortunately, they indulged him excessively, and Edward grew up spoiled and headstrong—a wild boy, dashing from one scrape to the next. By the time he was