Scandal of the Season by Christie Kelley Read Free Book Online Page B

and a large holiday meal. She could even bring in some sprigs of holly on Christmas Eve to make the house look more festive. All things she never had the money to do before now. But more importantly, the money from this would keep them in coal and food for a very long time.
    “I should take my leave now,” she finally said. She rose and walked toward the door.
    He caught her wrist before she could reach for the knob. “Victoria, there is one more thing.”
    She inhaled sharply and turned to face him. His blasted grip was so tight she couldn’t get him to release her.
    “Oh?” she replied.
    “While in private, I promise not to touch you. Nonetheless, during the public aspect of this party you may need to get used to me touching you to make this believable.” He dragged her closer. “I might even have need to do this.”
    He closed the distance between them and lowered his mouth so quickly she had no time to fight him. And the hot sensation of his mouth on hers made her realize that she didn’t want to fight him. She had to resist him no matter how much she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and press her body closer to his.
    His tongue slipped across her lips as if searching for a sign of surrender. She could not give in to the desire seeping into her veins. Victoria moaned slightly. This is how everything started the last time, one simple kiss. Remembering that painful scene forced Victoria away from him.
    “As I said,” he muttered in a husky voice. “You shall have to get used to it.”
    “I do not think that is possible.”
    “You will pretend you enjoy my kisses or no one will believe us.”
    He tilted her chin up. In the pale light, his eyes were almost dark green, with no sign of hazel. And he was too handsome by far. She would need to shore up her defenses if she was to be that close to him again.
    Victoria twisted her chin out of his grip and took a step toward the door. “Don’t worry. I’m certain I can act the part of the doting mistress.”
    “Well, seeing your proficiency at lying, I wasn’t too concerned.” He moved and placed his hand on the door. Then he reached for her spectacles and removed them. Holding them up to his eyes, he laughed scornfully. “Just as I thought. Another lie.”
    She grabbed them out of his hand and placed them firmly on her nose.
    “You will leave them home. No mistress of mine is going to look like a bloody bluestocking.”
    “As you wish.” She reached for the doorknob only to have his large hand cover hers.
    “There is just one more thing,” he whispered harshly. “I despise liars. From this point on, you will only speak the truth to me.”
    She smiled. “You ask me to pretend to be your mistress yet you believe I should always tell you the truth.”
    “No, I insist on it.”
    Victoria stared down at his hand. “As you wish, my lord. But I demand the same respect.”
    “Of course.” He turned the knob and opened the door. “I shall pick you up at noon for shopping.”
     

    Slowly, Anthony walked to his study, wondering at his sense of melancholy. Perhaps it was the usual feeling that came over him every December. He couldn’t remember anything good ever happening in this month.
    Still, his meeting with Miss Seaton went better than expected. Although, had she given him the necklace, he would have been happier. He understood her reasoning and most likely would have done the same thing in her situation. Now she knew she had something to hold over him.
    He just prayed she didn’t realize the other thing she could use against him. If she knew the guilt he felt for his actions of ten years ago, she could use it to her advantage. He would be unable to refuse her anything. She must never discover the extent of his guilt.
    He sat down at his desk and perused the stack of unopened mail. A few invitations he might reply to but most of it was nothing he could be bothered with. He put the notes into a pile and wrote “no” on top. Huntley also served as