Free Family Scandals by Denise Patrick

one other sibling, a sister. “But I thought you only had two siblings?”
    He stopped to study a deer-shaped bush.
    “And between them, eight nieces and nephews.” He turned to look at another bush, this one in the shape of a hare. “But it doesn’t signify as I don’t really know any of them except my sister. They may as well be acquaintances for all that they are family.”
    “I suppose that’s what happens when you are gone for as long as you have been.”
    “ Touché ,” he said, falling into step beside her.
    “Were you not close to your brother and sister while growing up?”
    “I was close to my sister, but my brother and I did not grow up together.” They had reached the hedge bordering the garden, beyond which was the meadow in which Caroline had fallen the day before. He turned to look at her and she noticed that his brown eyes had gold flecks in them. “Surely you’ve heard the tale by now?”
    She shook her head. “Only the gossip of the servants, but some of what I have heard is difficult to credit, so I confess I haven’t believed much of it.”
    She wouldn’t admit to him she knew even more than what she had heard through the servants. A conversation she had overheard in the stables at Houghton Hall eight years ago now made more sense in light of the bits and pieces the servants knew.
    White teeth flashed in an approving smile. “Beautiful, and smart too.”
    Corinna blushed and turned away. At the rear of the garden, on a slight rise, she sat on a bench positioned under an elephant standing on its hind legs.
    “You must be curious,” he probed, seating himself beside her. “I have never met a woman who wasn’t anxious to know the most juicy gossip.”
    She didn’t bite. “I confess I have found some of the facts curious, but gossip implies it will be passed on, and I have no interest in that.”
    He was surprised, but her next statement revealed more to him than she intended. “Besides, who would I pass it on to? The children?”
    Marcus looked over at the woman beside him. Her bonnet hid her hair from view, but he remembered fine gray eyes shielded by long, dark lashes, a smooth porcelain complexion, and a mouth made for kissing. For a moment, he let himself fantasize about kissing those luscious pink lips, then brought himself up short. Good God! Home less than two days and already lusting after the governess. What was wrong with him?
    Marcus wondered if she felt betrayed by fate for being left to make her way alone in the world. It couldn’t be easy.
    There were few avenues open to a woman on her own, and even fewer if she was a lady. A governess or companion were the accepted occupations for ladies with no other options. Even those, however, were limited. He wondered if she knew how lucky she was to have secured a position in this particular household. One where she would not be propositioned, or worse, forced to endure the unwanted attentions of the males in the household.
    And just what do you think you’re doing?
    He was suddenly ashamed of his earlier complaint of not knowing his family. His sister, older by three years, had doted on him until he was sent off to school. But his brother had disappeared when he was two, so he hadn’t known him at all. He had been smothered by an overprotective, overbearing mother who had been obsessed with him inheriting a dukedom he had not wanted, so friendships beyond a small, exalted circle were discouraged. Only Douglas had been brave enough to maintain their friendship in the face of his mother’s disapproval.
    Despite it all, they would be there for him, come what may, but who would be there for the twins’ Corrie? He had already been told that, after only two months, the twins preferred Corrie to Kenny. Not that they didn’t like Kenny, Michael had confided in him, but Corrie was much more fun—and she could run really fast.
    A small sailboat came into view and Corinna shaded her eyes to get a better look.
    “Someone you know?”