Free My Lady Scandal by Kate Harper

that he had quickly learnt could turn mischievous all too easily.
    ‘Well, now,’ she said easily, ‘I did not think I would meet you here, Sir.’
    With an effort, Grif shook off the thunderbolt that had hit him, trying very hard to remember how it was he usually acted around Miss. Marriott. He was almost sure it went something along the lines of cool, teasing amusement, which might be a lot to ask, just at the moment.
    ‘Why should I not be here?’ he demanded, struggling to regain his equilibrium.
    ‘Walking in the park? Well… it just did not seem to be your thing.’
    ‘Leaving my thing aside, where is your chaperone, your maid or… or some appropriately mature matron?’ Because she appeared to be quite alone, something that bordered on the scandalous in London Society. No matter how popular Nell was, that popularity could plummet all too easily if she did not take care.
    She wrinkled her nose. ‘I did have one in the form of your cousin, Viola and her maid, but I left them not ten minutes ago. And you must know that I do not possess one of my own. I am not going far and it seemed such a pleasant day for a walk.’
    Grif blinked and looked around him. This was a pleasant day? ‘And where are you going?’
    ‘Not far. I have been told there is a library along Piccadilly Road; I thought I might investigate.’
    ‘By yourself?’
    She gave him a quizzical look. ‘Well, you may accompany me if you wish.’
    ‘My dear Miss. Marriott, I think I know you well enough by now to tell you that this will never do. You are unaccompanied. Worse than that, you are unaccompanied in my company.’
    Miss. Marriott’s mouth twitched. ‘Surely a contradiction in terms, Sir.’
    He frowned at her, or he tried very hard to. ‘It is a fact of life. Ladies of good reputation do not walk about by themselves.’
    ‘Oh, do I have a good reputation? How very reassuring.’
    Grif looked at her severely. ‘You are not taking this seriously!’
    ‘I am afraid that is true.’ Slipping her arm through his, they began strolling towards Wellington Arch, just visible ahead. ‘You seem out of sorts today, Lord Carlisle.’
    She, however, he decided grimly, seemed in very good spirits. He could imagine why; they must have received the funds from their little outing on Friday night. Grif wondered how they managed to dispose of the goods. Surely, neither of the Marriotts fenced the things themselves?
    Turning her adroitly, they wandered down one of the smaller paths that led between rows of ornamental trees. To their right lay rotten row and they could hear the occasional rider pass by. But all things considered, they were very much alone.
    ‘I have been thinking,’ he began, after a time. One of the best things he had discovered about Nell was that she did not ever feel impelled to talk. Her reflective silences were very restful. ‘You seem to be far more focused on getting your brother comfortably established than you are with your own situation. I noticed that you were actively encouraging the Abercrombie girl at Lady Kingston’s rout the other day.’
    ‘Selina Abercrombie is delightful, do you not think? Such pretty eyes!’
    ‘And twenty thousand a year?’ he suggested dryly.
    Nell shrugged. ‘I would not wish that Perry chose a bride based on the size of her income, but it would be excellent if whoever he lights on happens to be in funds,’ she allowed candidly, then gave him an upward glance. ‘Do you think that very bad of me?’
    He shook his head. ‘I think it very sensible of you. Were the two of you so very badly left of, my dear?’
    She was silent for a moment, then, ‘My parents were kind people, loving people. But they had not a scrap of sense between them. My father was a gambler and my mother did not care and happily followed him everywhere. And there were a great many everywheres! Perry and I… we survived. But it was not the best of times.’
    He stopped. Turning to face her, he collected up both her