Page 63 of How to Start a Scandal

My contacts indicate that Mr Pattinson suspects he is being followed. This will cause further delays.

Seth ran a hand through his hair in frustration. If the solicitor had become even more suspicious than he already was previously, he would be even more difficult to follow. Seth only hoped it wouldn’t slow progress too much. Not when he was so eager to have the man apprehended before the Season came to an end.

Violet floated up the stairs to her bedroom. She shouldn’t allow Seth to affect her so. She ought to steel her heart against his charm, cast aside the trove of shared memories and lock away her dreams.

For that was what so much of it came down to: her dreams. The ones when she thought Seth only flirted with her to tease her and couldn’t help but desire him regardless. The ones she’d thought she’d cast off after what happened with Lord Fordson.

Her stomach curdled at Fordson’s name and soured the happiness of her mood with the reality of the situation she must face. Seth’s question earlier about the Lady Observer reminded Violet she had more than one secret that left her vulnerable.

Did he suspect anything?

His question had been so abrupt, Violet had nearly choked on it. It had been a dangerous oversight to leave herself out of her own scandal sheet. Then again, she’d done nothing to warrant space in any scandal sheet for years. Until now.

Heat flushed through her at what she had done to deserve to be the opening line of the Lady Observer.

Soon-to-be spinster meets war hero Earl for a lovers’ tryst in the garden behind a town house, where the wallflower found herself blooming with kisses that rendered her senseless...

Goodness how that would set the tongues of the ton wagging.

Fortunately for her, that was not the story that would be told. Still, something needed to be put out there.

She flopped herself on her bed, stared at the ceiling and let her thoughts drift.

The door to her room was flung open and the clatter of little feet raced across the floor before going suspiciously silent. Felicity flew over the top of Violet suddenly and landed on the mattress with a plop and a raucous laugh.

Violet shrieked in mock surprise. ‘I’m being attacked.’ She lifted a pillow and carefully pushed at Felicity with it.

The little girl wrinkled her nose and giggled, taking up her own pillow. They battered each other with the soft weapons for a spell, until they were both out of breath with laughter and collapsed to the large mattress once more.

Through it all, Hedgehog had sat at the foot of the bed, one leg stretched out while he cleaned himself in a most vulgar fashion. No doubt his behaviour was the result of vengeance for the collar and lead on their public outing. Violet couldn’t blame him.

‘Why don’t you want to marry Lord Dalton?’ Felicity asked.

‘I... It isn’t that I don’t wish to marry Lord Dalton, it’s that...well, it’s a very large step.’ Violet pulled herself to sitting.

Felicity did the same and nodded solemnly. The girl had a habit of appearing far older than her seven years. Most likely that came from being the eldest of her siblings.

‘Lord Dalton cares for you and I know you care for him.’ Felicity pursed her lips. ‘Perhaps you can think more about the idea of marriage? You’d be a wonderful mother.’ She gave Violet a gap-toothed smile.

‘That’s kind of you to say.’ Violet ruffled Felicity’s silky fair hair. The girl had been extraordinarily well behaved of late. All directions were followed without argument and there hadn’t been a single tantrum.

‘It’s true.’ Her niece looked down at the white cotton coverlet and gave a little sniff.

‘Are you well, Felicity?’ Violet asked. ‘Shall I have an infusion made for you?’

Felicity shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

Violet drew up short, startled by the hard edge to the little girl’s tone. ‘Hedgehog needs a new bonnet. The blue one looks ridiculous.’

‘Felicity?’ Violet said.

The cat’s green gaze flicked towards the little girl as she slid towards him, scooped him up and ran from the room.

Violet called after her once more, uncertain if she ought to go after her niece or not. As it was, Violet knew she preferred solitude when she was upset. Perhaps it was best to leave her for a while. By the time Violet was finished writing the latest edition of her gossip column, Felicity would surely be more amenable to conversation.

Violet eased off the bed and glanced down the hallway, finding it absent of a little girl or even a beleaguered cat. With one final worried look at the empty hallway, Violet returned to her room and shut the door, leaving it unlocked should Felicity decide to return. Violet went to her desk and withdrew a sheet of paper and picked up her quill. She tapped it against her lip as she always did when she considered what to write.

It was how she’d got started in the business of scandal sheets. She hadn’t always been able to find her voice, but she had been able to find a pen. Writing what she witnessed, who scorned who, what victories some shared and defeats others endured.