The Reddington Scandal Read Online Free Page A

had consisted entirely of gossip. With Wynn, she found a friend who could discuss her favorite topics—poetry and literature—as well as give her the particulars of London Society news.
    Wynn’s best friend, Lady Westerfield, came to call on the second afternoon and she found herself nervous, remembering talk of the ‘Westerfield affair’ which seemed to have involved Lord Fenton. Had they been lovers? What would the lady think of her?
    “I sent her a note inviting her to come and meet the new Lady Fenton, but that’s all, so she’ll be eager to hear the details,” Wynn said as they walked to the sitting room.
    Her heart sank into her belly, and she felt as if Wynn were throwing her to the lions. Did she expect her to air her scandal to Lady Westerfield?
    “Hello, dear Kitty!” Wynn exclaimed when they entered, kissing her pretty friend on the cheek. “May I introduce the new Lady Fenton!” She extended her hand toward Phoebe, her eyes dancing with mischief.
    Lady Westerfield was lovely, appearing to be around the same age as she and Wynn. Her belly protruded with pregnancy—Phoebe guessed she must be four or five months along. She curtsied, feeling nervous. “Phoebe,” she said.
    “Call me Kitty.” Kitty looked from Wynn to her with an expectant look. “Well,” she prompted. “Are you going to tell me how this came about?”
    “Come, do sit down,” Wynn said, gesturing toward the settee and chairs.
    “Well, I married Lord Fenton on Thursday,” Phoebe found herself saying inanely.
    “Oh, I’m terribly sorry for you!” Kitty said. When she only blinked in reply, Kitty went on, “Forgive me, I’m only teasing. We are childhood friends and we still behave like squabbling siblings at times.”
    Like siblings. Some part of her rejoiced to hear those words.
    “So, was it for love or by some other arrangement?” Kitty asked, her directness startling Phoebe. But the lady’s smile was so warm and engaging that she could not take offense.
    “Some other arrangement,” she admitted.
    “Oh, do tell her—Kitty can be trusted completely,” Wynn said. “If you will not tell her, I will.”
    “Yes, perhaps you should,” she mumbled.
    “Very well,” Wynn began and launched into the tale. Phoebe enjoyed hearing it from Wynn’s perspective, finding her story recast as one of bravery and heroism, rather than one rash lie followed by an opportunistic seizing upon the chance to get out of her brother-in-law’s keeping. Wynn ended by declaring Phoebe had already informed Teddy it was to be a marriage in name only.
    Kitty regarded her with an intelligent gaze. “And that effectively solves the problem of Teddy’s questionable capacity for fidelity.”
    “Yes,” Wynn said.
    To have her marriage and its issues spoken of so frankly was like having her chest cavity opened wide to bare her organs. Worse still was having the women closest to Fenton confirm he could not hold sacred a marriage vow. She realized, somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d held a small hope that perhaps someday a real marriage might develop between the two of them.
    When Fenton arrived home from Parliament, Lady Westerfield was still there, the ladies having spent the entire afternoon chatting and taking tea.
    “Ah, my three favorite ladies,” Fenton exclaimed. “I hope you have not been regaling my new bride with stories of my reproachable behavior.”
    He said it lightly, but something must have shown in her face, because he added, “I see you have.” He crossed the room and sat in the armchair near the hearth, his legs sprawling casually, looking as debonair as ever. “It’s probably all true, little dove, and I’m sorry.”
    Oddly, he did look genuinely regretful, as if his behavior was a plague he could not help.
    “We told her nothing,” Lady Westerfield countered. “But you’d best treat her well, as the poor lady has to spend the rest of her life enduring your company.”
    He grinned his devastating lopsided