What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(86)

“Lady Angeline, you look very anxious. May I ask why you are so concerned about the property?”

“Colin can no longer remember his mother’s features. We searched for her miniature, but we never found it.”

The marquess frowned. “I see.”

“I think he wishes to hold on to the few objects that are a link to her, such as the cradle and the rocker. I know it helped when you told him about her.”

“It seems that you and my son have grown close.”

“I believe that is not unusual when people work together. I hope the complication doesn’t mean the Faradays are leaning toward the purchase of Sommerall. You would not like having them as neighbors.”

“That is certainly something to consider,” the marquess said, his mouth twitching a bit.

“Now I have taken enough of your valuable time,” Angeline said. “Thank you for hearing me out.”

“I appreciate your observations, Lady Angeline.”

When she quit the room, the marquess shut the door and thought his son would be a damn fool if he let her get away.





Chapter Fourteen



Of all nights, this was the one that Penny chose to stay with Angeline.

“Penny, I have been restless in my sleep and fear I will keep you awake,” Angeline said.

“Let us ask Marie to bring a hot brick and warm milk,” Penny said.

Angeline eyed the clock. It was half past eleven. Two and one-half hours remained before her meeting with Colin. She’d not anticipated her sister’s request and idly wondered if Penny could somehow sense when something was brewing. But remembering how much she’d missed her little sister while she was in Paris, Angeline could not deny Penny’s request.

“I will ring for Marie,” Angeline said, “but once we finish the milk, you must rest.”

“Thank you, Angie.”

After dinner tonight, she’d played backgammon with Colin, but it was difficult to concentrate. All of the talk had been about her brother’s new son. She was happy that her father and mother were ecstatic. They had been worn down by her scandal, though none of them ever spoke about it. There had been times when the silence was just too much, and that was when she’d started walking every clear day. The freedom of walking had helped tremendously.

Now she was anxious about meeting Colin and wasn’t sure what to tell Penny.

After Marie appeared, Angeline bade the maid to bring the brick and warm milk. She removed her pearl earrings as she walked to the dressing table, and as she set them in her jewelry box, she was reminded of Colin flicking one of them at Sommerall. She pressed her thighs together as thoughts of his touches and kisses chased through her head, but she could not allow it to happen again. They had been lucky there were no consequences.

Marie brought in the wrapped hot brick. When Penny finished her milk, Angeline braided her sister’s hair.

“Thank you, Angie,” Penny said. “I wish I had your hair.”

“Whatever for? You have beautiful thick locks, Penny.”

“Is it my imagination or is my hair getting redder?”

“Stay there,” Angeline said. She retrieved the hand mirror and returned to bed. “The light is not the best, but look how your hair shines like cinnamon and gold. It is very unique. You will stand out in a crowd at your come-out ball.”

Penny turned to her. “Angie, if I ask you a question, will you tell me the truth?”

The backs of her hands prickled. “What is the question?”

“I have been thinking about how Mama receives very few letters and you have had only one since returning to England. I know something went very wrong with your betrothal. I also realized that each time I asked if you would be at my debut, you never said yes.”


It was one of those indelible moments when everything slows and the ordinary things stand out for no reason at all: the heat from the brick at the foot of the bed, the red-gold wisp of hair at the nape of her sister’s neck, and the scent of the flickering beeswax candle that was reflected in the oval mirror above the dressing table. Such commonplace things for uncommon circumstances.

“Why do you hesitate, Angie?”

She would not soon forget her sister’s question or her own inability to answer.

“I will not be welcome at balls, will I?” Penny said.

Was it really possible for someone to steal your breath?

“It is true, isn’t it?” Penny said.

She must recover for her sister’s sake. “No, it is not true, but I doubt I can attend.”

“You are vexed,” Penny said. “You worried about telling me, did you not?”

For months, she’d dreaded having to tell her sister, and tonight she wasn’t prepared. “I kept hoping that something could be done, and I will continue to hope. I want so badly to see you make your debut, but all is not lost.”

Penny hugged her. “I’m sorry, Angie. I know you worried about me, but you must not. I’m sure I would have sat on the wallflower row, wishing I were home.”

Angeline’s throat felt as if it were closing, but she was the elder sister, and it was her responsibility to take charge and put matters in as positive a light as possible. She took her sister’s hands. “I wanted to wait to tell you what I believe will happen. Most likely Lady Chadwick will sponsor you. This is only my assumption, but you will probably make your debut with Bianca and Bernadette.”