One Sinful Night by Kaitlin O'Riley Page B

she consented with a helpless grin. “What is your favor?” Was she was actually flirting? It had been so long since she had flirted with anyone, she felt giddy.
    His golden eyes warmed her. “May I have the honor of a dance with you at the ball Saturday night?”
    â€œYes, of course.”
    â€œI am so pleased to have met you, Miss Montgomery. I think this week at Bingham Hall will prove to be a most enjoyable visit after all.”
    â€œI can only agree with you, Mister Harlow.”
    â€œShall we go in search of your cousins?”
    â€œThere is no need. Here they are now.” Vivienne waved happily as Gregory and George approached them. She had not felt so lighthearted in years.

Chapter 5
The Countess
    Lady Susana Kavanaugh, the Countess of Whitlock, frowned in displeasure as she watched Vivienne Montgomery. She chatted and laughed with Helene Winston, the Cardwell twins, the Atwood sisters, and others of the younger set in the grand parlor after supper that evening. Where Aidan had gone off to, Susana did not know, but it irritated her that he was not there paying court to Helene as he should be.
    After last night’s revelry at the ball, everyone was enjoying a quiet, leisurely evening at Bingham Hall. All the guests wanted to be well rested for the outdoor activities planned for the next morning. While the younger people flirted with each other, the others immersed themselves in quiet pursuits; discussing politics, reading, playing chess, doing puzzles, or playing cards.
    Stealing glances at Vivienne between the cards she held in her hand, Susana Kavanaugh grew angrier. It took all her strength not to leave the room in utter disgust, but she would not dare risk social ruin by offending the powerful Duchess of Bingham. Jane Havilland was a force to be reckoned with in Society and it would not do to get on her bad side. So Susana continued to play cards with Lady Gwendolyn Cardwell, Lady Downey, and Glenda Cardwell, while the Duchess of Bingham, and Lady Helene’s mother, the Countess of Hartshorne, chatted and watched.
    â€œHow lovely of your niece to pay you a visit, Gwendolyn,” Susana said with false sweetness.
    â€œYes, Vivienne is a credit to the family,” Gwen agreed pleasantly.
    â€œShe’s the daughter of my brother’s wife’s brother,” Lady Bingham chimed in merrily. “I simply adore saying that.”
    â€œVivienne’s not just visiting. She’s living with us now. Until we can marry her off. Which according to my brothers, won’t be long,” Glenda uttered in a doleful voice, obviously unhappy with the current state of affairs in her household. The plain and plump creature made her discard with a sulky toss of her dull, brown hair.
    Susana watched Glenda Cardwell with a keen eye, intrigued by why she did not associate with girls her own age. Especially her cousin Vivienne.
    What terrible luck that Vivienne Montgomery turned out to be related, however loosely, to the Duchess of Bingham! After another furtive glance at Vivienne, Susana grudgingly admitted to herself that the girl cleaned up nicely. One would not recognize her as the dirty, untamed little girl from Galway. Vivienne was beautiful and Susana could understand to a certain extent why Aidan found her attractive, if in a somewhat common, earthy way. But she was completely unsuitable for her son. Aidan needed a proper English lady, not some awful peasant from Ireland.
    Her hatred of all things Irish began even before she was forced to marry Aidan’s father all those years ago. Lord Joseph Kavanaugh. She had detested him on sight, but her parents sold her into that marriage without any regard for her feelings on the matter and shipped her off to Ireland. Ireland, that Godforsaken, blight-ridden nightmare of a country!
    At sixteen Susana was ripped from her family, friends, and all that she loved. Yes, Joseph Kavanaugh was titled and owned property and a manor house,