Free Wedded in Scandal by Jade Lee

terribly sorry,” Mrs. Mortimer said stiffly, obviously not sorry at all. “But you do not belong here.”
    “I don’t belong here? No decent woman belongs here! Is that what you intend to do to my sister?”
    The woman arched a brow at him, but he did not miss the way her clenched fists had landed on her hips. She was trying to control herself, but there was raw fury inside her.
    “Lord Redhill, you forget yourself!”
    “I most certainly do not!” he roared. “I won’t have you doing
that
to my sister!”
    Mrs. Mortimer was about to object. She drew in her breath, but she never got the chance to speak her mind. The girl grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way. And then she stepped right up to Lord Redhill, her face flushed and fearful.
    “What has she done to me?” she asked.
    He looked down at her and, as God was his witness, he could not prevent his eyes from dropping farther. He didn’t intend to, but they were right
there
. And he was a man after all.
    Then the girl stomped her foot, making her bosom jiggle in the most delightfully terrible way. “Tell me! What has she done?”
    He dragged his gaze up to the girl’s face. He tried to modulate his voice, but his throat was choked off. “You seem like a nice young woman,” he said gently, “but this…woman…has dressed you as a…a…”
    “A tart?” the girl asked, her voice shaking slightly.
    He shook his head even as he said, “Yes. Well, not exactly a tart. Much higher class than the usual flyer. But I’m afraid no man can look at you like that and think of anything but…but…” He felt his face heat in a blush. In desperation, he looked back at Anthony, hoping for help in explaining the situation. Sadly, the poor bookkeeper had flushed a bright crimson and his gaze was locked exactly where it ought not to be. “Oh, bloody hell,” he murmured, only to belatedly realize he shouldn’t be saying such words in front of ladies. “Well, you can see exactly what happens when you are dressed like that.”
    With a soft curse, he walked directly in front of the bookkeeper, blocking his view. “Anthony, I believe I should like that tea now,” he said by way of distraction. It didn’t work. The boy was clearly still dazed. So Robert had to snap his fingers. “Anthony! Tea!”
    The young man blinked. “Oh. Yes, my lord. Of course. Yes. Tea. Right away…”
    Except the man didn’t leave. He took a meandering route to the workroom kitchen that allowed for him to see the girl the whole way. He didn’t even bother to hide his intentions, but stared slack-jawed the entire way. Fortunately, Mrs. Mortimer wasn’t completely lost to propriety. She released a heavy sigh.
    “Perhaps you could have my mother assist, Anthony. In the kitchen upstairs, if you would.”
    Anthony nodded, and finally disappeared up a staircase to the upper rooms. Only then did Robert turn back to the girl.
    “You see,” he said gently. “Dressing in such a way is not at all appropriate. What would your mother say?”
    That was the wrong question to ask. He knew it the moment the words were out of his mouth. The girl’s eyes widened. At first he thought it was in horror, but it quickly became something more like glee.
    “Mama will hate this!” the girl gasped. “Hate it with a passion!” Then she leaped forward to engulf Mrs. Mortimer in a hug. The lady stumbled slightly, but quickly regained her footing, returning the hug threefold.
    “Oh, Francine, you are most welcome!” she said with a laugh.
    “I want three more dresses like this!” the girl said when she stepped backward. “No, ten more! I shall have my entire wardrobe redone just as you think best!”
    Robert groaned. He couldn’t help it. “That is not at all what you should do.”
    Then the girl turned to him. Her back was straight and her eyes glittered with happiness. “My lord,” she said loftily, “I believe you and my mother would get along quite famously. Her dresser is down on Bond