Simply Scandalous by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online Page A

then,” Emily murmured. Seamus turned to welcome Ambrose and told him briefly what had happened.
    â€œAre you quite well, Miss Ross?”
    Emily started and looked straight into Ambrose’s concerned brown eyes. “I’m . . .”
    From the moment she’d heard Mr. Smith’s voice, a series of confused memories had surfaced in her head. Her mother crying, Mr. Smith shouting, her father . . . She swayed and raised an unsteady hand to cover her mouth.
    â€œMiss Ross!” Ambrose grabbed her upper arm and squeezed hard enough to make her jump. “Are you quite well? Are you sure that you want me to open the box, or shall we leave?”
    She managed to breathe again and nodded. “We should look first, shouldn’t we?”
    Ambrose moved away from her again and carefully undid the tarnished gold clasps on the side of the box. Emily craned forward to look as a pile of letters bound with a faded blue ribbon was revealed.
    â€œIs there anything else?” she whispered.
    Ambrose gingerly lifted out the letters. “There appears to be a book underneath. Do you want me to open it?”
    Emily sat back. “I know what it is. My mother always kept a journal. We couldn’t find them when we packed away her things. I always wondered what had happened to them all.”
    â€œAnd now we know.” Ambrose carefully put everything back in the box and secured the clasps. “Do you wish to keep this ‘gift,’ or shall I have it sent back to Mr. Smith at his current abode?”
    Emily reached for the box and held it close. “I’ll not be sending it back quite yet.”
    â€œAre you sure, Miss Ross?”
    â€œQuite sure, Ambrose.” Emily regained her composure and smiled at him. “Thank you for your help, and thank you, too, Seamus.”
    As they walked back toward Knowles House, Emily pondered the sudden appearance of Thomas Smith in her life. Why did she suddenly feel so vulnerable? He hadn’t done anything to frighten her; in fact, he’d been courteous and respectful. But she had a strange sense that he would not allow himself to be ignored.
    â€œMiss Ross? I need to get back to the pleasure house. Seamus will escort you the rest of the way,” Ambrose said.
    Emily paused at the corner of the busy street to focus on Ambrose, who looked as worried as she felt.
    â€œThank you,” she responded involuntarily, and left him standing there, his expression grim, his gaze fixed on the box she clasped to her chest like a lover.
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    â€œYou’ll be pleased to hear that my mother will meet with your friend Mr. Lennox,” Christian said.
    Richard nodded. “That is very gracious of her, although as I’ve already mentioned, he is scarcely my friend.” Even as he spoke, an image of Jack Lennox’s smiling mouth tantalized his senses, making a mockery of his dismissive words.
    Richard was seated in Christian’s office at the pleasure house, toasting his wet boots against the grate of the fire. The curtains were drawn against the night. Beyond the door, he sensed that the pleasure house had already come to life.
    â€œThere is no shame in being attracted to a man, Richard,” Christian observed mildly “From what Marie-Claude told me about Jack Lennox’s first visit here, he is quite willing to bed anyone.”
    Richard lifted his gaze to Christian’s. “I am not attracted to Jack Lennox. There are other reasons why I seek out his companionship.”
    â€œReally.” Christian didn’t look away, and Richard found himself glaring at his half brother. “Did Philip ever tell you that my mother and I share a remarkable ability to understand people’s sexual desires, even ones that they might not even be aware of?”
    â€œAs if my father would ever tell me anything like that.”
    â€œYou don’t discuss your sexual partners?”
    â€œOf course not! For your information,