Free An Invitation to Scandal by Kelly Boyce Page A

just enough pin money for a length of ribbon to use along the hem of the dress. She had stopped taking an allowance from Ben several months earlier. They had larger financial concerns than enhancing her wardrobe and she could not justify such frivolity in the face of their current situation. Better he use the money toward their debts. The amount she’d had left, she held onto religiously, determined to make it last and only use it for the most important of items.
    Did this qualify?
    “You will need to begin building a trousseau, Abigail,” her mother continued. “I know we don’t have much, but surely Benedict will allow you a few new items. After all, a new bride cannot go into marriage without one.”
    Abigail scanned the shop. Thankfully, only a few patrons perused the fabrics, while one discussed design with the proprietor herself. Every now and again their gazes would flit toward her before racing away. “Lord Tarrington has not yet made an offer, Mother. And we cannot afford—”
    “He will. And we will find a way, Abigail. It is the least we can do for you.”
    A mix of guilt and responsibility weighted on her heart. Her family counted on her, and yet she knew they wished it otherwise. She could see the pain in her mother’s eyes whenever the subject of her expected engagement to Lord Tarrington came up. Abigail did her best to convince her mother she wanted it, but they both recognized the lie, though neither chose to acknowledge it as such.
    It was easier that way.
    “The wardrobe I have is fine.”
    Her mother picked up the spool of ribbon from the table. “The wardrobe you have needs updating. I will not allow my only daughter to be shabbily dressed. You deserve more than—”
    “Lorena?”
    Her mother stopped mid-sentence and turned around. “Gloria…”
    Abigail tried to get her mouth to work a proper greeting but her throat constricted and nothing came out. In front of her stood her arch-nemesis’s mother, the beautiful Lady Blackbourne and her darkly stunning daughter, Lady Rebecca.
    “It has been so long.” Lady Blackbourne smiled, but pain glittered through her silvery eyes. Eyes identical to her son’s save for the tender emotion Abigail saw there. Any emotion Lord Roxton exhibited was nothing more than a ruse. Something to lure in unsuspecting young ladies before he broke their hearts.
    “Indeed. Too long,” her mother replied, surprising Abigail with the tremor in her voice. Her mother was a pillar of strength. Always had been. From the time little Roddy and Papa had died, leaving her family without protection, to the time she had brought them to Uncle Henry to start a new life, straight through the scandal her uncle’s death had created. To see her now, on the verge of tears by a simple greeting…it only served to solidify how deep the damage Lord Roxton had wrought.
    There had been a time when Lady Blackbourne and her mother had been particular friends. In fact, had it not been for Lady Blackbourne’s friendship when they had first arrived in town, many of the ton would not have paid her family much heed at all. The ton had a long and lingering memory. They had not forgotten her mother was the daughter of a poor country vicar. Or that her father, Uncle Henry’s youngest brother, had possessed the audacity to run off and marry her despite stringent family objections. But something about their story had touched Lady Blackbourne and she had reached out.
    Had she not deigned to cultivate a friendship, they likely would have remained on the outskirts of acceptability. Perhaps Uncle Henry’s support and Benedict being set to inherit the earldom would have helped their cause, but who knew how long it would have taken. With Lady Blackbourne’s help, they never had to learn.
    But Lord Roxton had destroyed all of that.
    In the beginning, the two women had tried to maintain their friendship while Uncle Henry and Lord Roxton battled for the affections and rights to Madame St. Augustine’s