Forever Her Rake by Scarlett Scott EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Authors: Scarlett Scott
- Language: English
- Genre: Victorian Historical Romance
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 3.3 MB
- Price: Free
Lady Edith Smythe wondered if her mother would ever run out of
wind.
“You know that you ought not trouble your mind with such
dreadful nonsense as the supposed equality of the female sex, do you not?”
Maman paused and then, as if anticipating Edith’s acquiescent response,
carried on before her daughter could interject. “Of course you do, my
darling beloved. You know very well that the feeble and vulnerable mind of
a lady could never begin to compare to the strong and abundantly clever
intellect of her masculine counterpart.”
“But, Maman,” she attempted to interject.
“Indeed,” Lady Featherstone carried on quite as if she hadn’t heard
Edith, “you do me great credit. Although I do wish you would heed my
warning about the dangers of wearing such an immodest-color gown.
Furthermore, the décolletage is on the border of being risqué, and I should
hate for anyone to think you forward. Although I daresay that there are a
great deal of unabashed jezebels in attendance—a shocking number, in fact,
given the Duchess of Bradford’s standing in polite society…”
As her mother droned steadily on, it became apparent that she was in no
danger of stopping. Instead, she hit her stride, bemoaning the state of the
other guests in attendance.
“…to say nothing of that horrid Mr. Blakemoor. What can Her Grace
have been thinking, inviting such a lowborn swine?” Lady Featherstone
asked, looking as if she’d unintentionally scented something spoiled.
“Mr. Blakemoor seems rather charming,” Edith offered, thinking of the
dazzlingly handsome gentleman she’d been clandestinely admiring from the
moment of his arrival at Sherborne Manor for the Duke and Duchess of
Bradford’s country house party. “I would hardly characterize him as
swinelike.”
It was the wrong thing to say to her mother.
Maman’s eyebrows snapped together, her glare turning most ferocious.
“Surely you haven’t spoken to that wretched roué, have you, Edith
darling?”
Alas, she hadn’t.
Yet.
But Edith wisely kept that to herself.
She smiled at her mother. “Of course not, Maman. Why should I wish to
do so? You’ve made your disapproval of him plain, and I wouldn’t want to
displease you.”
“My dear daughter, you are such a boon to me.” Maman smiled and
gave Edith’s cheek a pat, as if she were a young girl in short skirts rather
than a lady fully grown. “I am so very proud of your dutiful nature.”
Edith stifled a wince and forced a smile for her mother’s benefit. “If
you’ll excuse me, Maman, I do believe I should like a restorative nap before
dinner this evening.”
While Edith had no intention of taking a nap, she did intend to go for a
walk and investigate the Roman ruins. Her mother wouldn’t approve of
gadding about by herself, which necessitated the lie.
“An excellent notion, dearest,” her mother said, beaming at her. “I shall
do the same.”
Another pat and her mother rose to take her leave from Edith’s guest
chamber. She accompanied the marchioness to the door, smiling sweetly
and hoping Maman took a nice, long nap. Long enough that Edith could
discreetly escape from the manor house and take some fresh air.
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