One Sinful Night by Kaitlin O'Riley Read Free Book Online Page B

deceitful manipulators, skilled at appearing to be what they were not and only interested in getting what they wanted: gaining material possessions by any means at their disposal. When he really thought about it, they were actually perfect for each other, but it did not make him feel any better. For some reason he could not quite place Vivienne in the same low category as Harlow.
    Gregory continued to stare at him. “And just what do you think of our little cousin?”
    Aidan shrugged. “She seems pleasant enough.”
    â€œAidan, surely it cannot have escaped your notice that Vivienne is a rare and stunning beauty.” George prompted him, “Admit it.”
    Reluctant to acknowledge that fact aloud, Aidan merely nodded his head. Yes, Vivienne was incredibly beautiful. But he also knew that beauty was only skin deep, for she had taught him the hard way to beware of what lay beneath.
    â€œShe’ll be a sensation this Season. George and I will have our hands full watching over her.”
    Again Aidan silently agreed. Every man worth his salt would be after her. No doubt Vivienne would land herself a wealthy nobleman and be married before the Season was out.
    â€œIt will be good for her to have a little fun, poor girl,” Gregory said his tone full of concern. “It seems as though things were a bit rough for her back home.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Aidan’s brow furrowed in confusion at that news. “How was it rough for her?”
    â€œYou should know, Aidan. You were there in Galway, weren’t you?” George asked looking at him intently.
    â€œWell, it was ten years ago and I hardly knew her,” he stated warily. He realized with a touch of irony that that statement was closer to the truth than he first thought. As it turned out, he did not know Vivienne Montgomery at all.
    Gregory continued the story, “Vivienne won’t say a word about any of it, but mother has gathered that her life in Ireland was not the easiest. Vivienne’s father didn’t take the best care of her. While she was raised by her maternal grandmother, he was away at sea most of the time and not great about sending funds, if you know what I mean, especially the last year or two. Mother feels terrible that she was unaware of how dire Vivienne’s circumstances actually were. After Uncle John died at sea—”
    â€œVivienne’s father died?” Aidan interrupted in disbelief. He had not been aware of that fact. Knowing how much Vivienne adored her father, he knew she must have been utterly devastated by that loss.
    George picked up where Gregory left off. “Yes, last year. And her situation went from bad to worse after he died, leaving her no money or anything, and all the while she cared for her invalid grandmother by herself. My parents finally went to Ireland to collect Vivienne after the grandmother died. They found her living in a run-down little place, with barely anything to eat. Mother was appalled, but Vivvy had been too proud to ask for help all that time.”
    Aidan was stunned. He had never given a thought to what life was like for Vivienne after he left Ireland. He had always assumed she had married that brawny farmer, Nicky Foster. And was shocked to discover that she hadn’t. What had happened to her after he left? Why had no one taken care of her?
    Gregory let out a low whistle. “Can you imagine a rare beauty like her simply wasting away in the wilds of Ireland? It’s criminal.”
    â€œThe city of Galway is hardly the wilds,” Aidan said softly. Thinking about what Vivienne had endured made him distinctly uncomfortable. “Why didn’t she marry? She must have had offers…” Perhaps that caustic remark he tossed at her last night was closer to the truth than he realized.
    â€œI don’t know, but I suppose she refused them.” George went on to explain, “So the whole family has spent the last few