Free One Sinful Night by Kaitlin O'Riley Page A

chest.
    Her heart beat a little faster and her mouth went dry at the endless possibilities of his questions. Not here. Not in front of everyone. He wouldn’t dare. Would he?
    His rich voice rang out clearly, “Have you ever done something of which you are ashamed?”
    His odd words left them all silent, and the air was charged with the palpable tension between the two of them.
    â€œFact or forfeit?” Aidan added, urging her to make some response.
    Feeling her cheeks flush scarlet at the obvious implication of his question, she realized how much Aidan despised her. Even after all this time, he thought so little of her that he would attempt to dishonor her in front of her family and newfound friends. He seemed so utterly spiteful, so self-satisfied with the embarrassment he was unmistakably causing her, that she flinched at his stare. Oh, Aidan.
    â€œThat’s not a proper question to ask a lady, Whitlock,” George declared with a frown, his dissatisfaction with Aidan’s manner quite apparent.
    Lord Harry offered gallantly, “You are not obligated to answer that, Miss Montgomery.”
    â€œThen pay the forfeit,” Aidan stated with a cold look, challenging her.
    Vivienne’s pride would not allow that. She met his eyes defiantly. They were hard and unfeeling, judging her. Her chin went up unconsciously and she did not hesitate to answer. “The fact is I have never done anything the least bit shameful in my life.”
    â€œOf course you haven’t, darling. You couldn’t possibly have,” Gregory said in her defense, frowning with disapproval in Aidan’s direction. “Your question, Vivvy.”
    She cleared her throat, but did not miss the dark look of complete skepticism Aidan gave her answer. How she detested him in that moment! She fashioned a wide smile on her face and asked brightly, “My darling cousin Gregory. What was the worst trick you ever played on your brother?”
    Grateful for the change in tone, they all expressed amusement as Gregory opted to forfeit rather than confess his sins in front of his twin. In return, Vivienne demanded he ask old Lord Worthington for a puff of his expensive cigar. As they all watched Gregory gallantly saunter across the expanse of the grand parlor to the elderly man snoozing by the fire, Vivienne dared a glance at Aidan.
    He was still staring at her. His emerald eyes had been fixed on her since the game began and it utterly unnerved her. Struck senseless by his masculine presence and steady gaze, she attempted to appear nonchalant by brushing the dark curls from her face.
    His task complete, and triumphant from his return, a teasing Gregory then asked a question of Helene Winston. Amidst much playful speculation, Helene refused to name who, if anyone, gave her her first kiss. Gregory demanded that she sing the nursery rhyme “Mistress Mary” with a French accent. After their laughter subsided at her atrocious pronunciation, it was Helene’s turn to ask a question.
    â€œMiss Montgomery, I have a question only you can answer for us.” Her pale hazel eyes peered at Vivienne expectantly, her refined, fair features still flushed from the laughter of her earlier consequence. “What was Lord Whitlock like when you knew him years ago as a little boy in Ireland? Fact or forfeit?”
    Vivienne froze for a moment, although not so much from surprise at the question, but more from the uncertainty of how to answer it. Since Lady Whitlock’s comment earlier, she had been half expecting this question from Helene Winston. Due to her complicated history with Aidan, Vivienne couldn’t help but feel uneasy with the girl, although Helene seemed a very congenial person. She was just the sort of woman that a distinguished earl such as Aidan should marry, and naturally she would want to know what Aidan was like as a child. Any lady would be curious about her future husband’s