A Scandalous Deception Read Online Free Page A

like Lissy’s father in the least; for one thing he
was mild-mannered.
    Bella shook her head. “Papa has never once
defied Grandpapa. Not one time.” She heaved a sigh, and her cheeks
pinkened with panic. “So you see, I need someone to offer for me
before Grandpapa declares an edict and it’s too late.”
    What an awful predicament. Even if Bella got
to choose her own husband, there was no guarantee what the man
would be like after their vows were spoken. And a hasty marriage
was the worst possible thing. Lissy heaved a sigh of her own. And
then an idea hit her. She couldn’t help but smile. “You just need
someone to offer for you?”
    Her friend nodded. “You look like you have an
idea.”
    “Perhaps.” Lissy shrugged. “Your cousin, this
Hellsburg fellow, he isn’t intent on staying in London, is he?”
    Bella shook her head. “I believe he’ll be
returning to Prussia after he visits Grandpapa.” Then she squeaked.
“And I don’t want to be with him when he leaves, Lissy.”
    “Or course not.” Lissy’s smile widened as her
plan became a bit more solid in her mind. “So you don’t really need
a husband, just a fiancé. One you can break it off with after your
cousin returns to the Continent.”
    The expression Bella cast her spoke more
loudly than words what a ridiculous idea she found Lissy’s
suggestion. “Is that all? I just need a fellow who will willingly
let me cry off?”
    Which made all the sense in the world. There
was no reason for Bella to look at her as though she was mad.
    “I suppose any gentleman would gladly let me
make a fool of him. Is that your idea?”
    A fellow who didn’t want to get married might
be persuaded to help. “I’d offer up Edmund on a platter, but he’s
only twelve. You don’t think your grandfather would agree to that,
do you? I mean, he is already a duke. That should count for
something, shouldn’t it?”
    A shadow fell over the two of them, and Lissy
tipped her head up to find Fin standing before them, blocking out
the sun and sporting an annoyed expression on his handsome face.
“What’s this about Edmund?”
    For the briefest of moments she was happy to
see him, and then the memory of his behavior at the Astwicks’ came
rushing back to her mind. “Uncle Fin.” Lissy’s smile faded and she
folded her arms across her middle. “What are you doing here?”
    “Looking for you,” he returned calmly. “And
I’m not your uncle.”
    Blast him. He was always calm. He could
criticize her, get her all wound up, and then just stand there,
composed as could be, looking like the most well-behaved gentleman
in existence. He was simply maddening. “You’re looking for me?” She
feigned a demure smile. “Come to apologize, have you?”
    Fin’s dark eyes narrowed on her. If he were a
cruel sort of man, she’d have been intimidated by that scowl. But
he wasn’t cruel. He was Fin.
    “Well, let’s have it, then. My apology.”
    Fin’s brow rose, as though he was surprised
at her audacity. “Don’t even think to distract me, Felicity. What
are you offering up Edmund for?”
    The problem with offering up her brother for
Bella’s ruse, she realized in that moment, was they’d have to go
through Edmund’s guardian – Fin, for any betrothal, fake or
otherwise. And that was something she was certain Fin would never
agree to. “Nothing that concerns you.”
    “On the contrary, anything that concerns
Edmund concerns me.”
    Bella fidgeted on the bench beside Lissy,
wringing her hands in her lap. “Honestly, it’s nothing, Lord
Carraway. We’re just being silly.”
    “Silly, I believe.” Fin’s gaze never wavered
from Lissy, which made her the slightest bit uncomfortable. All
that scrutiny. “I sent you a note this morning.”
    “Did you?”
    “You know I did. You had a footman return it.
Unopened.”
    “Highly improper to send a girl who isn’t
your niece a note, my lord.” She bit back a smile. “And I know how
you regard propriety above all