A Scandalous Past (Regency Romance, Book 4) by Ava Stone Page A

entered her house and Lord Clayworth said
his goodbyes. Thankfully, he didn’t mention Haversham, which was a
blessing.
    ***
    Brendan tossed the reigns to a footman
before bounding up the steps of his Hertford Street home. He’d
never been so close to throttling a woman in his life. He would
have liked nothing better than to tell Lady Avery what a fool she
had for a daughter, but figured that wouldn’t help his case to
search Avery House. If they were indeed going to Norfolk for a
couple weeks, perhaps he could search the place without anyone ever
knowing. He had always been a master at maintaining his control,
but every second he spent in Cordelia Avery’s presence tested that
control to its extremes.
    His large, oak door opened before his foot
even landed on the last step, and Higgins met him with questioning
look. This was odd. His butler generally hid behind an unflappable
façade.
    “Yes, Higgins?” he asked with a raised
brow.
    “Lord Clayworth, you have a
guest
,”
the butler replied as he shut the door behind him.
    Another one? He’d never been particularly
social. When had he become so popular? “Well?”
    “Lady Staveley is in the blue salon, my
lord, and she…” His voice faded.
    Brendan shook his head impatiently. “Spit it
out, Higgins. She what?”
    “W-well,” the old man stammered, “she’s
taken over. Ordering everyone about.”
    With a sigh, Brendan shook his head. He
wasn’t remotely surprised. Whenever Caroline went anywhere, she
took over. “Well, that’s what she does, Higgins,” he replied,
dismissing his butler, and he started down the corridor. What was
Caroline doing
here
of all places? Didn’t she have someone
else’s life to manipulate and manage? Her pariah of a cousin, for
example?
    Brendan opened the door of the blue salon,
and his jaw dropped open. The room was completely barren. No
chairs, no settee, no writing desk. The faded portraits had been
removed from the walls, leaving dark spots where they’d once
hung.  All that was left was an Aubusson rug and dull
draperies, which Caroline was examining.
“This will have to go too,” she said to a harried young maid.
Brendan didn’t know the girl’s name, but she was disheveled from
top to bottom, a weary expression across her rather plain face.
    After the day he’d had so far,
this
was beyond the pale. Brendan stepped over the threshold and slammed
the door behind him, causing the glass in the windows to shake.
He’d never known such impertinence in all his days. What did she
think she was doing?
    Undaunted, Caroline spun around to greet him
with a welcoming smile.
    He glared at her, then nodded curtly at the
maid. “You’re excused.”
    When the maid bustled out of the room,
Caroline beamed at him. “Brendan Reese, I absolutely adore
you!”

~ 7 ~
     
     
    Caroline quickly crossed the room and threw
her arms around Brendan, hugging him tightly before releasing him
and grinning unrepentantly. “And to think I was so certain that you
would be the most difficult one in the bunch.” Words flew from her
mouth with lightening speed. “Even more so than Robert, and you
know how difficult
he
can be. I must admit, I was worried
about the situation last night—but you pressed forward, didn’t
you!”
    “Caro—”
    She paid him no attention and continued to
gush, “I did of course have an ulterior motive in calling you down
from Derbyshire, as you’ve probably realized by now. I was beyond
anxious when that awful scene broke out at my ball. And then when
Livvie said she was looking for a man like Kelfield… Well, I
thought for certain it had all been for nothing.”
    “Caroline—” he tried again. 
    “A man like Kelfield!  Can you believe
it? Nothing could be further from the truth. But you didn’t let him
have her, did you? Wonderful! Marvelous. You have exceeded my
expectations, darling! I knew at the end of last season she was
perfect for you. Not a shrinking violet. A girl that could hold her
own