Free The Betting Season (A Regency Season Book) by Jerrica Knight-Catania, Catherine Gayle, Ava Stone, Jane Charles

grandfather.” Her aunt shuddered.
    Her grandfather? Aunt Eunice knew Lady Heathfield’s grandfather?
    A moment later, Viscountess Heathfield stepped into the parlor, her auburn hair pulled back in a simple chignon. “Good afternoon, Lady Philippa, Miss Mills.”
    Pippa smiled tightly and gestured to the spot beside her. “Good afternoon, my lady.”
    A genuine smile lit the viscountess’s face as she crossed the room and settled onto the settee next to Pippa. “Thank you for seeing me. I gathered from your butler that you weren’t receiving callers today, but—”
    “ But I owe you an apology,” Pippa said softly.
    Lady Heathfield’s mouth fell open. “Why would you owe me an apology?”
    “ I’m afraid my behavior was abominable at your ball. I’m certain I should apologize for specific things, but since I don’t actually recall that particular evening—”
    “ You don’t recall my ball?” The viscountess’s brow furrowed.
    Pippa shook her head. “It’s rather long story actually.” And not one she wanted to tell. Her reputation had been blackened enough. She certainly didn’t want to admit to drinking opium-laced brandy. Whatever was left of her good name would vanish.
    “ I see.” Lady Heathfield sat her tallest. She shifted uncomfortably on the settee as though sitting still was an impossible chore. Then she focused her hazel eyes on Pippa. “My husband said Lord Colebrooke has been courting you.”
    Pippa’s heart tightened just a bit at the sound of his name, but the truth of the circumstances made her blood burn through her veins. Lady Heathfield knew the truth. She could see it in the viscountess’s eyes. All of London must think her the biggest fool ever born. “You mean Lord St. Austell, don’t you?” she replied waspishly.
    “ Oh.” Lady Heathfield’s hand fluttered to her chest. “I…er…Heath...my husband was under the impression you believed him to be Colenbrooke.”
    So everyone was in on Jason’s little game? “Did you? And were you all laughing at my foolishness too?”
    Lady Heathfield sucked in a breath.
    “ Philippa!” Great Aunt Eunice chastised. “What’s all this about?”
    Perfect. Her aunt chose now to be fully awake. Pippa shook her head. “Nothing, Aunt.”
    “ I hardly think this is nothing. Tell me now.”
    Pippa glanced across the parlor at the old woman and found her cloudy eyes focused as best they could on her, concern etched across her ancient brow. Aunt Eunice was certainly not in with the faction of society who was laughing at her. Aunt Eunice would always be on her side. Thank heavens. “Lord Colebrooke duped me into believing he was an upstanding gentleman, but he’s nothing more than that blackguard St. Austell. And apparently everyone was in on his game.”
    Lady Heathfield reached across the settee and captured Pippa’s hand. “Nothing could be further from the truth. When Heath told me what he’d discovered last night, I spent all morning fretting over how to tell you.”
    Pippa frowned at the viscountess. “You came to tell me?”
    “ Is this,” Aunt Eunice said, her voice clearer than it often was, “the reason you decided we should scurry back to Warwickshire?”
    Lady Heathfield’s grasp tightened on Pippa’s hand. “Certainly you’re not leaving. You can’t.”
    Well, she certainly couldn’t stay. “I can’t see him. I…” She let her voice trail off, unable to say the words aloud. I love him. What a fool Lady Heathfield and Aunt Eunice would think her then after everything. What a fool she’d think of herself. No, those words were better left unsaid.
    “ But Lady Philippa,” the viscountess protested. “After that unfortunate bet, if you were to leave Town now, people would think…”
    People would think that Jason had bedded her and that Berks had shuffled her off to the country. Her name would be ruined. Pippa felt as though icy water had just been splash over her. Why had she not considered that