Free A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley

collect herself, to get her heart rate back down to something below a gallop. The bell above the door chimed behind her, and she pressed her eyes closed and sighed.
    Drat. Had the old woman come back to browbeat Jane some more? Suppressing a groan, she replaced the glass dome over the pastries and said over her shoulder, “Forget something?”
    “You could say that.”

Chapter Seven
    Jane gasped at the unexpected male voice. Her heart in her throat, she whipped around to see none other than Lord Raleigh filling the doorway to the shop. Had she conjured him from thin air simply by saying his name to Mrs. Brown? A flash of awareness raced through her body and settled deep in her stomach.
    Good gracious, but he was handsome.
    All at once her brain caught up to her heart, and she promptly pushed away her silly reaction. What was wrong with her? Handsome or not, he was still most unwelcome. Had not Mrs. Brown’s visit been a direct result of his “heroics” yesterday? Because of him, she would probably be eating gruel for a month in order to pay for the damage.
    Hadn’t she suffered enough? Must he come back to torture her more? It didn’t matter that he looked like a chiseled Greek statue come to life; the man had caused nothing but trouble for her. Their words from last night came rushing back, as did the indignity, hurt, and embarrassment from the whole experience. So many things she wished she had never said.
    She crossed her arms protectively over her battered heart and sighed. “What do you want?”
    He quirked an eyebrow. “A pleasure to see you as well.” He stepped into the shop and held the door as a young woman came in behind him. The girl looked quite charming in a simple but elegant white muslin gown topped by a light green spencer jacket. She wore a lovely green bonnet over a mass of blond curls, and regarded Jane with large dark blue eyes. If their resemblance was any indication, she must be related to the earl. Curiosity warred with surprise in the girl’s expression—not unwarranted, considering the greeting Jane and Lord Raleigh had exchanged.
    Jane’s annoyance waned as she ignored His Highness and, after taking a calming breath and rallying her spirits, offered the young woman a smile. “Good morning, and welcome.”
    The earl placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Miss Bunting, allow me to introduce my sister, Lady Beatrice Moore. This is her first Season, and she and I are on a shopping expedition. Beatrice, Miss Bunting was kind enough to bring by the biscuits yesterday.”
    “Oh,” his sister said, looking to him with guileless eyes. “The chocolate biscuits? The ones that did not contain arsenic, as originally suspected?”
    Jane blinked, caught off guard by the casual statement. Whatever humor the earl lacked, his sisters seemed to possess in abundance. A muscle in his cheek jumped as he glowered at the girl. “Yes, those are the biscuits in question.”
    The anger from Mrs. Brown’s visit further ebbed, and Jane put her hand over her mouth to cover a startled smile. Anyone who could earn a glare from the earl must surely be a delightful soul. Lady Beatrice stepped forward and smiled. “I’m so glad you decided to leave the poison out . . . this time. He is my favorite brother, after all.”
    “Truly? How many brothers do you have, Lady Beatrice?”
    “Only the one.” The girl grinned at him over her shoulder. “But I confess, I am rather fond of him. He did, after all, allow me to have one of your biscuits. You’ve quite a talent, and I am very glad to meet you.”
    Jane liked her more by the minute. The tenseness of her shoulders eased a little. “You are too kind. It is lovely to meet you as well. May I offer you a scone?” Jane gestured to the platter of pastries along the counter.
    “Truly?” At Jane’s nod, Lady Beatrice stepped forward and inspected the various plates arranged on the counter. “Oh my goodness—they all look so delicious. Which do you