One Sinful Night by Kaitlin O'Riley

months polishing her up a bit, not that she needed much, truth be told.”
    â€œYes, we fattened her up, got her some new clothes, worked on her accent, taught her to dance, and instructed her in proper manners and all that,” Gregory said. “But she’s so bright that she learned everything in record time.”
    â€œYou’d think she was born to be in society,” George exclaimed with pride. “She’s a great girl.”
    â€œSpeaking of which, we should catch up with her and Harlow,” Gregory stated. “Are you coming with us, Aidan?”
    Aidan declined their offer and watched the twins leave, pondering the new information he had learned about Vivienne. Surely her situation at home in Ireland was not as dire as they depicted it? It certainly had not been that bad when he last saw her. Perhaps the twins had overly dramatized Vivienne’s plight in their compassionate devotion to her. Gregory and George were obviously besotted with their lovely cousin and only saw her finer qualities. In their eyes, the girl could do no wrong, and it was not Aidan’s place to destroy their pretty illusions.
    They would discover Vivienne’s true character in due time.
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    â€œAnd here is the rose garden where we are to meet my cousins,” Vivienne pointed out after they had walked the lengths of the expansive wildflower garden and the herb garden. “They can tell you more about these gardens than I can. I only arrived at Bingham Hall the day before yesterday myself, so I have not seen much more than you have. I’m a very poor guide, I’m afraid.”
    Vivienne smiled at Jackson Harlow as they walked arm in arm through the lush and fragrant grounds of Bingham Hall. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, bathing everything in its soft golden rays, and the air was fresh with the early scent of spring.
    â€œI think you have been a most enchanting guide, Miss Montgomery, and I can honestly say that I haven’t much of an interest in gardens myself. I don’t care for them, except as a lovely setting for walking with a beautiful lady.”
    â€œI wonder what could be keeping Gregory and George?” she asked helplessly.
    Vivienne found Jackson Harlow to be quite charming and exceedingly handsome. His blond hair glistened gold in the sunlight and he had the most intriguing dimples on either side of his mouth when he smiled, as he was doing now. Vivienne noticed her heart beating a little faster than usual. It had been quite some time since she had been alone with someone who made her pulse quicken.
    Ten years in fact.
    â€œShall we rest on that bench and wait for them there?” he asked and, without waiting for an answer, escorted her to a white marble bench flanked by tall, green-leafed topiaries in white marble pots. Once they were seated, he said, “Ah, yes, this is better. I suspect that your cousins will be along soon enough. So tell me, Miss Montgomery, what brings you to England?”
    â€œMy Aunt Gwen invited me to live with them,” she explained.
    â€œAnd what of your family?”
    â€œMy mother died when I was an infant. And my father is…missing.” Vivienne fiddled nervously with the lace edging of her bell-shaped sleeve. Now was her chance. She had nothing to lose by asking him.
    â€œMissing?” he asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”
    â€œHe was lost at sea.”
    â€œHow terrible for you.” His brows furrowed in concern and he touched her lightly on the arm in comfort.
    â€œYes, it is. Yet, I was wondering…When I heard that your last name was Harlow, I wondered if you were at all connected with Harlow Shipping International? In London?” She turned to look up at him, for he was very tall, even sitting beside her. She also noticed that he smelled very nice. Of something clean and spicy.
    His handsome face broke into a wide grin. “How funny you should ask. That is my