Free The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride by Victoria Alexander Page B

had before she asked the American for help. But she’d never lied to Teddy before
     nor had she ever practiced any kind of serious deception before. At least not until
     she had decided to experience adventure and had met Samuel Russell. “I shall make
     amends to Mr.—Samuel—at the first opportunity.”
    “I suspect he’s a much more enjoyable friend than sparring partner.”
    “I don’t know. I was rather enjoying myself.” The moment the words left her mouth
     she realized they were true. Dear Lord! What a disturbing thought. “Now, I really
     must finish the letter that I started this morning. I’m not sure my letters make a
     difference but at least they remind my solicitors that I do want to know the moment
     this is resolved.”
    “Besides, your letters make you feel as if you are doing something rather than just
     waiting.” Teddy wrinkled her nose. “I know how helpless that feeling can be.”
    It had taken nearly a year after the death of Teddy’s father for her and her mother
     to learn the full extent of their loss. It wasn’t bad enough that a distant cousin
     had inherited her father’s title and most of their property but his debts had been
     far greater than they had imagined. While her mother did retain a house in London
     that had been part of an inheritance from her family, they’d been left with little
     else.
    “I’ll leave you to your correspondence and rejoin the others. You’ll be finished by
     dinner?”
    “I hope so.” Delilah nodded. “And I will try to be in a much more pleasant mood, I
     promise.”
    “Good.” Teddy turned to go then turned back. “I shall pray you have good news soon.”
    “I suspect it will take more than prayer but I do appreciate the thought.”
    “Sometimes prayer is all we have.” Teddy smiled in a supportive manner and started
     off.
    Well, wasn’t that an unexpected twist? Delilah bit back a grin and continued toward
     the library. She’d never expected to be grateful for her dreadful predicament but
     at this particular moment she was. Far better for her friend, and her sister, to attribute
     her curt manner toward Samuel to a symptom of her dismay over the prospect of losing everything she had than to
     know the truth.
    If she apologized . . . She sighed. After she apologized she would point out that it would be just as unpleasant for him should
     the truth come out as it would be for her. No, it was best for both of them if their
     adventure remained their secret. Surely he would listen to reason. If nothing else,
     he had struck her as a reasonable sort. Why, hadn’t he agreed with her that it would
     be best if they never saw each other again? Admittedly, upon reflection, he hadn’t
     been especially pleased about that, which, again upon reflection, had been the tiniest
     bit gratifying, but he had agreed.
    Good. Now she had a plan. Already her confidence had returned. Samuel Russell was
     a minor matter, in the scheme of the rest of her problems. In her head, her thoughts
     returned to composing the letter to her solicitor. Yes, indeed, things usually went
     well when she had a plan.
    She refused to consider for so much as a moment the one time in her life when she
     hadn’t.

Chapter Four
    “So . . .” Gray swirled the whisky in his glass, his voice as nonchalant as his action.
     “Was she lying?”
    “Was who lying?” Sam��s tone matched his friend’s even if he knew exactly whom Gray
     meant.
    As the only two men in residence at the moment, he and Gray had taken the opportunity
     to meet in the Millworth library for a whisky before dinner. Sam figured he’d need
     it if he was going to do battle with Delilah again. Not that it hadn’t been fun. Of
     course, only the two of them knew what their dispute was really about. He and Gray
     were to join the ladies in a half an hour or so. If Sam could pull himself away from
     the library.
    He’d always loved libraries and this was a magnificent room. A massive fireplace