Scandal of the Season by Christie Kelley

his secretary and could respond to the invitations for him.
    “Sir,” Reese said from the doorway. “Your sister is here.”
    “Genna?”
    Reese smiled. “She is your only sister, sir.”
    Well, not quite but no one else knew about Sophie. “Send her in.”
    He stood knowing his sister would come straight into his arms. The sound of light footsteps preceded her entry.
    “Tony!” And as expected, she threw herself into his waiting arms. “I cannot believe it’s been five months. And why didn’t you come by the house to see me?”
    He detached himself from her clinging arms. “Come have a seat on the sofa.”
    “I already told Reese to bring us some tea.” Genna sat on the sofa and waited for him. “You must tell me all about your trip. How was Florence?”
    As much as he hated liars, in his position it was sometimes necessary to be one. Soon he would be done with this business and the only lies would be the secrets of his family. “It was lovely. In addition to meeting with a business partner, I was able to see a wonderful museum.”
    Genna laughed softly. “You, in a museum? Come now, Tony, you must do better than that.”
    “Well, if I did anything else it would be rude to speak of it in polite company.”
    Genna reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’ve missed you, brother.”
    “And I you. How is your betrothed?” He waited for Reese to set the tea on the table. “Will you pour?”
    “Of course.” She reached for the teapot and poured two steaming cups.
    He watched, proud that his sister had become such a gentile lady. With her oval face, black curls, and big blue eyes, she was quite the thing during her Seasons. Until Lindal caught her.
    After handing a cup to him, she continued, “Lindal is well but distant lately. I fear he may be getting nervous with less than a month left to his bachelorhood.”
    “Lindal is a good man from an excellent family. I’m sure you are right about his nerves but he won’t do anything foolish.” Anthony sipped his tea and felt a sense of comfort. His sister was here and they had good English tea, everything was right with the world.
    Genna chewed on her lower lip. He knew that look. There was more to this than Lindal. “What is really wrong, Genna?”
    “I am feeling nervous, too.” She looked up at him with her blue eyes. “What if I am making a huge mistake? I tried to speak with Father about my concerns, but he just brushed them aside.”
    Of course, their father would do that. He wanted Genna married off. Lindal was an earl so more than suitable for his daughter. “Why do you think it might be a mistake?”
    “I cannot put my finger on it. Lately, I am just not excited to see him. I find myself relieved if he sends a note telling me he cannot call. Shouldn’t I feel happy to see the man I love?”
    Anthony blew out a breath. How was he to give love advice when he had never been in love? “Genna, I wish I could tell you what you need to hear.”
    “But you have never been in love, have you?”
    He shrugged. Infatuation with an orange seller scarcely counted as love. “Have you talked to your friends?”
    “I tried, but they all thought I was being silly. All they can say is what a catch Lindal is, and how proud I should feel that he picked me.”
    He wanted to tell her how wrong her friends were. She was the catch, not Lindal. “You are not being silly. Perhaps you should take the next week to really examine your feelings for him before it’s too late.” And if she delayed the wedding, then he would have more time to retrieve the necklace should Miss Seaton not return it.
    “Perhaps you are right. It’s just his family is so maddening sometimes. His mother pulled me aside at the Houghton’s dinner party to tell me the dress I wore was inappropriate.” Genna breathed in as if to calm herself then sipped her tea.
    “What was so wrong with your dress?”
    “It was a shade too dark for an unmarried woman,” she said in an angry tone. “It