Page 23 of The Gift of a Christmas Scandal

Chapter Eleven

Alex watched her go from the library, his mind reeling. Had he just agreed to…?

He rather thought that he had. And he could not be sorry. He wanted her – not just the physical need, although that was strong, but he wanted simply to spend time with her. It had happened so fast, he had barely noticed until he was lost. Somehow, he had come to love her – yes, love, that word that most of the men he knew shied away from. But in Italy, he had seen a different side of it. They were not afraid of passion, as so many of the English aristocracy seemed to be.

And he had seen that passion was to be desired – passion in everything, not simply the bedchamber. But that she had offered… he was overwhelmed, and a sense of relief flooded him. That there was a chance for him to escape his father’s final wishes, to escape Lady Phyllida, to marry a woman he wanted to marry – for he did want to marry Lady Selina, he now knew – was like an enormous weight lifting off him.

He wondered what her solution was, to achieving the requisite scandal. Whatever it was, the not knowing was exciting, and, if he were to admit the truth of it, the very idea of being discovered with Lady Selina in a very compromising position was oddly titillating. He could, he thought, enjoy the experience completely. It was, when he considered it, a piece of theatre, but one in which the passion was real. He would spend the next day or so in a fever of anticipation, awaiting her message, as this Christmas House party wound to a close.

Christmas. He had almost forgotten it, so deep in worry had he been, so distracted by Lady Selina, but it was only a week away. By then, everything might have changed – for the better.

~~~~~

The day was as clear as she had wished for, and Selina lay in bed after Lisbet had opened the curtains, savouring the way in which her body ached, remembering, and thinking about what she would say to Mariel. Once she rose, she spoke to Lisbet about the gowns she wished to wear, later that day – an ordinary afternoon gown, but, for the evening, which was to be a more formal affair, almost a ball, she asked that Lisbet prepare the most daring gown she owned.

Not that it was cut crudely, or excessively, but what made it daring was its colour – a spectacular scarlet, with black figured lace and beading around the neckline and the hem. The sort of gown regarded as far too much for an unmarried woman to wear. Her mother had been very angry when Selina had ordered it, but faced with the gown already made, had grudgingly allowed that it suited her.

Lisbet eyed her questioningly, but said nothing.

Selina went in search of Mariel. Once they had breakfasted, they fetched their outside coats, and half boots, and set off to walk about the grounds. Most of the company thought them quite mad, but Selina declared that being cooped up in the house was becoming wearing, and that some fresh air would be good for her.

She was pleased that they could be certain to be unobserved, and not overheard. Once some considerable distance from the house, going towards a stone gazebo which, in summer offered views across a small lake, they began to speak. Mariel, as always, was first.

“What is this about Selina? What do you have to tell me that requires secrecy – for that is why we are outside, is it not?”

“Yes, you are correct. We are outside for secrecy. But it is less what I have to tell you, than what I have to ask you.”

“Oh? That sounds intriguing. Is this about the Duke and...?”

“It is… I… We…”

“Yes? Please, stop hesitating Selina, I need to know now! You will drive me completely mad with curiosity!”

“He kissed me. Rather more than kissed me, actually.”

Mariel gasped.

“Not…”

“No, not quite that much Mariel. But… oh my…. But that is not the entirety of it.”

“What then?”

“There is going to be a terrible scandal. And you, my dear Mariel, are going to discover it.”

“I am?”

“Yes. You are. If I can arrange it properly, you will discover it rather late this evening.”

“And what is this terrible scandal that I will discover?”

“Me. In an extremely compromising position with the Duke – preferably after he has finished ruining me in the most thorough and delightful fashion.”

They had reached the gazebo, and Mariel went up the steps, to sink onto the wooden bench inside, her mouth open in shock as she stared at Selina, as if uncertain that she had heard correctly.

“Ruined you… completely… Selina, when I told you that you should be more daring, that you should not always be the good girl, I didn’t mean… didn’t expect…”

Selina laughed, delighted to have, for once, made Mariel nearly speechless.