Free Two Sinful Secrets by Laurel McKee Page B

turned this information over in his mind. Sophia, who seemed so dashing, so
     scandalous, wanted to return to her staid family? It seemed absurd, and yet he remembered
     that flash of sad wistfulness in her eyes when she thought no one was looking. Maybe
     she
did
miss her old life of ducal privilege. But what would it take for the Huntingtons
     to accept her again?
    Dominic thought of James’s new infatuation for Sophia, and he knew that was one thing
     the Huntingtons would not accept—a St. Claire in their midst. Surely James’s crush
     would fade, but the thought raised interesting possibilities in his mind.
    “You see what I mean, monsieur,” Madame Martine said. “Ah, well. I must catch up with
     my friends. But perhaps we will see you again soon at La Reine d’Argent?”
    “Of course, madame. I wouldn’t miss it.”
    “And Madame Westman will surely be happy to see you there as well.”
    She hurried off, leaving Dominic to head toward his hotel again. His thoughts were
     still filled with Sophia, James—and the Huntingtons. How they would hate it if Sophia
     was involved with a scandalous St. Claire…

From the Diary of Mary St. Claire Huntington
    I think I am with child. Oh, God, please make it so! I cannot think what else can
     bring John back to me…

Chapter Seven
    S ophie, opening night was a triumph! And I must give a million thanks to you. You charmed
     everyone, and today they are all talking about the club. You will have to open your
     own establishment one day, though far away from mine, of course. Hopefully this has
     cured your talk of finding another job. You are suited to this one.”
    Sophia laughed at Camille’s merry words and turned her face up to let the warm light
     of the sun peek under the edge of her black-and-green satin hat. She hadn’t really
     wanted to take the time to walk in the Tuileries Gardens when Camille suggested it.
     But now she was glad to be out and about, letting the fresh air clear her head. She
     was plagued by doubts about what she should do next.
    She hadn’t been able to sleep well after the club closed last night. Every time she
     shut her eyes, her thoughts were full of unearthly green eyes and teasing smiles,
     of spinning around and around in a dance she never wanted to end.
    Until it abruptly ended when she told James about her family name.
    She shook away thoughts of Dominic St. Claire andstudied the beautiful gardens around her. In London, she had gone riding in Hyde Park
     often, to see and be seen in the fashionable hours, but in her life with Jack there
     had been little time for wandering around parks. They stayed up late and slept late,
     living in casinos and ballrooms. She had never been much of a countrywoman and had
     thought she didn’t miss the outdoors. But the Tuileries were more beautiful than anything
     she had seen in a long time.
    A tall wrought-iron fence surrounded a pattern of winding paths, statues, bubbling
     fountains, and formal flowerbeds lined with straight rows of trees that cast lacy
     patterns of light and shadows over the grass and polished gravel. The vast hulk of
     the Tuileries Palace watched over the stylish parade, silent about all it had seen
     over the years. It was elegant and opulent, and seemed to belie the dark headlines
     Sophia saw screaming out at her from the papers that morning about how terrible King
     Louis Philippe was for the country. How France was on the brink of great change.
    Here everything was serene and perfectly pretty. But was it merely the calm before
     the storm? Sophia felt a strange twinge of disquiet as she studied the laughing women
     in their plumed bonnets, silks, and pearls. And she was part of it all.
    “Do you not think so, Sophie?” Camille said, startling Sophia from her daydreams.
    She turned and gave her friend a smile. “I’m sorry, I must have been woolgathering.”
    Camille laughed. “Thinking of all your admirers from last night?”
    “My admirers?”
    “
Mais oui!
I