A Jolly Little Scandal Read online

  A Jolly Little Scandal

  (Sensual Scandals - Prequel 0.5)

  Tabetha Waite

  Copyright © 2022 Tabetha Waite

  Cover Design by The Midnight Muse

  This title is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to photocopy, digital, auditory, and/or in print, without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations for a review.

  Created with Vellum

  Also by Tabetha Waite

  Also by Tabetha Waite

  Ways of Love Historical Romance Series

  How it All Began for the Baron (Christmas prequel novella)

  Why the Earl is After the Girl (Book 1)

  Where the Viscount Met His Match (Book 2)

  When a Duke Pursues a Lady (Book 3)

  Who the Marquess Dares to Desire (Book 4)

  What a Gentleman Does for Love (Book 5)

  Season of the Spinster Series

  Triana’s Spring Seduction (Book 1)

  Isabella’s Secret Summer (Book 2)

  The Spinster’s Alluring Season (Book 2.5)

  Alyssa’s Autumn Affair (Book 3)

  Korina’s Wild Winter (Book 4)

  Wanton Wastrels

  The Rapscallion’s Romance

  The Marauder’s Mistress

  Sensual Scandals

  A Jolly Little Scandal (0.5 prequel)

  Novellas

  The Harlot’s Hero

  Frozen Fancy

  Novels

  Behind a Moonlit Veil

  The Secrets of Shadows

  The Piper’s Paramour

  Kiernan Fantasy Series

  The Kingdoms of Kiernan (Kiernan – Book 1)

  Collections

  An Everlasting Amour (A collection of short stories)

  An Everlasting Christmas Amour

  An Everlasting Regency Amour

  An Everlasting Regency Amour – Volume 2

  The Wedding Wager

  The Brazen Belles Anthology

  Heyer Society (non-fiction essays)

  For Dawn Brower who invited me to join the original “Christmas on Scandal Lane” anthology set which turned into a brand new series! Something so simple got the wheels of imagination turning for the Bevelstroke sisters!

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  London, England

  December 1823

  “It appears that we’re causing quite a stir, ladies,” Miss Araminta Bevelstroke said sarcastically as she took a seat in the Duke of Marlington’s private box at the Theatre Royal. Although, with the recent death of her half-sisters’ shared sire, she supposed it now belonged to them.

  She lifted her opera glasses to her gray eyes and surveyed the assemblage with a twitch of her lips. She could feel the haughty stares on them, telling them that they didn’t belong, but she didn’t really care because honestly… they did. Their blood was as blue as any single one of the ladies here, gossiping behind their twittering fans. The only difference was that they had chosen to move to London and live together under one roof at number twenty-five Grosvenor Square without a “proper” chaperone.

  “We are the latest novelty, Minty.” Isadora’s dry voice came from next to her. She was the eldest of the Bevelstroke sisters at eight and twenty. “Four sisters with different mothers who have found means in which to live independently without the ties of marriage? Why, the drawing rooms are a veritable beehive of activity that we should prefer this sort of meaningless existence.” Her lips lifted at the corners. “We will be creating a stir for some time, I imagine.”

  “I agree with Isa,” Calliope tossed her red hair and added to the conversation from where she sat behind her two elder siblings. “Since this is our first public outing, we’ll likely be in the papers tomorrow, even though we moved in just yesterday afternoon.” She turned to the quiet blond woman at her side who had yet to voice an opinion. Olivia was the youngest of the Bevelstroke women. At only eighteen years of age, she was barely out of the schoolroom. “Surely you have an opinion, Livy?”

  The girl shrugged. “Not particularly—”

  Araminta waved a hand and interjected, “The excitement will die down soon enough, once another scandal arises to take its place. I daresay it won’t be long before some unsuspecting heiress is tempted by a charming gentleman to travel down the road to ruin on Scandal Lane.”

  “Ah, yes. Scandal Lane,” Isadora murmured. “Many women have been brought down by that notorious path in Hyde Park.”

  “Then perhaps we should take a stroll there some afternoon and see what all the fuss is about,” Calliope suggested, as she leaned forward with a wicked gleam in her gaze.

  Araminta rolled her eyes, for their red-haired sister had always been rather daring when it came to… well, just about anything. She had been the hoyden who had tucked her skirts into her waist and climbed trees with a daring display of more than just her ankles. Entire legs had been visible and her exploits had caught the attention of several of the village boys, much to their father’s dismay.

  But if there was one thing the Duke of Marlington was known for, it was the love and patience he’d had for all four of his daughters. He had gracefully ignored the fact that he was known as the Black Widower with the deaths of four wives from various ailments.

  Isadora’s mother had been the first duchess, and although she had been an accomplished horsewoman, she had died of a broken neck in a fall from her favorite mount when her daughter was just a year old.

  Araminta’s mother was next. She died of a fever the year Araminta turned three, but she was told her mother’s health had always been rather frail.

  Next, came Calliope. Her mother left the earth when Calliope was six months old after suffering from a weak heart following her birth.

  Olivia’s mother didn’t even live long enough to see her daughter, for she perished on the birthing bed.

  After mourning four wives, the duke decided that he was through trying to beget an heir and that he wished to spend the rest of his life in peace with his beloved girls. He became a devoted father and never pressured them into marriage like many men of the aristocracy were wont to do. In the face of such grief, he had been rather lenient with their upbringing, some would claim too much so, and encouraged them to find their own way, even if marriage wasn’t part of the bargain.

  Granted, he had employed a governess, although the sisters never went away to school, the duke choosing to teach them how to run a proper estate instead. As if they were the true heirs that would take over upon his demise, which they all knew would be impossible since it had to be a male. While Araminta had never been certain who would take over the dukedom after their father’s passing, she prayed it would be someone who would take care of the tenants’ needs, just as their sire had.

  When their father had died the previous summer, Araminta and her sisters had wept for days, his acute loss felt by all of them. Six months later, when they had come out of mourning, his will had been read by the London solicitor. He told them that the duke had saved each of their mother’s dowries for their personal use and bequeathed the town
house in London to them, which wasn’t entailed, so they had begun to pack up their things to begin a new life, each vowing that they would honor their father’s memory by continuing to be the independent women he’d taught them to be.

  Araminta glanced down at her bright red satin gown and decided that this display of rebellion was her first act as a six and twenty-year-old self-reliant woman of the ton. She would love to have the chance to be a role model to other women who wished for the same sort of individualism. And she intended to start an afternoon tea for like-minded ladies for just that purpose at the earliest opportunity.

  With that goal in mind, she sat back in her seat and settled in to enjoy the rest of the play.

  Greyson Hartfield, the Earl of Somers, narrowed his eyes as he turned to the gentleman next to him. “Do you think the rumors are true, that those women are Marlington’s daughters?”

  Sebastian didn’t even lift his head where it was laid back against his seat, although he did open an eye and peer back at his companion through a slit lid. “I can’t really say since I was enjoying a bit of relaxation until I was interrupted.”

  Grey rolled his eyes and muttered, “I don’t know why you bother attending the theatre if all you do is sleep through the performance.”

  Seb just shrugged his shoulders and said, “I come because I enjoy the flirtations to be had during intermission—” He paused with a decided tilt to his mouth. “Although backstage is where the real fun happens.”

  “I have no doubt you know each actress personally.”

  This time Seb opened both of his eyes. “And what’s wrong with that?” He frowned slightly. “It’s not as if you haven’t sampled the delights to be had from time to time.”

  Indeed, Grey himself had certainly enjoyed his share of sexual exploits for most of his three and thirty years, but he was starting to find it all rather… unsatisfying. His expression turned somber. “Perhaps it’s time I settled down.”

  His announcement surprised him as much as it had Sebastian Ford, Viscount Blakely. Grey had first met Seb in Eton and since then, they had been good friends. There was no one he would trust more with his life, although when Grey’s sister had made her come out ten years before, he’d made sure Seb was nowhere around her. Females were a completely different story, for he knew too much of the viscount’s history. In truth, it rather mirrored his own. But while Grey was actually finding it time to think of doing his duty to his familial line, Seb could care less.

  “Are you mad?” Blakely stared at him as if he might jump over the box and leap to his death at any moment. “Surely you can’t be serious about setting up a nursery. Haven’t you enough nieces and nephews to keep you occupied?”

  It was true that Grey’s sister had made their mother rather proud by giving birth to her ninth child just a fortnight ago. In truth, ever since she’d said her vows and married Eli Seaton, Viscount Montrose, her belly had been swollen each time he’d paid a call, but it was the brilliant smile on her still youthful face that he hadn’t quite been able to forget.

  Grey looked back across the expanse to where the brunette in the red dress was sitting with her sisters and murmured, “Things change, Seb.” He tore his eyes away and returned them to Blakely. “And what would make my mother more thrilled than a Christmas proposal?”

  Sebastian blinked in horror. “That’s only three weeks away! My God, you have lost your senses. I believe an intervention is in order. Perhaps I should summon a physician—”

  “Oh, stuff it,” Grey snapped, although the smirk belied the annoyance he wished to convey. “The only thing I need is an introduction to the lady in red.”

  Sebastian finally appeared interested enough to sit forward and take a pair of opera glasses to inspect the box situated across from them. After a moment he said, “I suppose she’s a comely enough chit, but for the rest of your days?” He shuddered. “Heaven help me if I’m saddled with only one woman day in and day out. The constant nagging would be enough to send me to an early grave.” He lowered the glasses. “If you are serious about this quest then I would suggest having your tailor expand the waist bands on your trousers.”

  Grey chose to hold his tongue as Seb put the glasses back up to his eyes. “Oh, now that’s interesting.”

  “What is?” Grey asked dryly, almost dreading to hear the answer.

  He expected Sebastian to note how when the lady in red smiled it was a bit “toothy,” or some such nonsense, but instead, he murmured, “I didn’t know Marlington sired a red-haired gel.” He lowered the glasses a second time and flashed him a wicked grin. “Indeed. You are quite right about those introductions.”

  Grey snorted, although he knew that flame haired ladies were one of Seb’s few weaknesses when it came to the fairer sex. He seldom resisted the urge to bed a woman who sported those copper locks. “I would prefer to make a good impression, so if we get the opportunity to meet them, perhaps you might curtail your urges for a time.”

  “What a killjoy you’re turning out to be, and rather surly in your dotage,” Seb returned sourly. But he heaved a sigh. “Fine. I’ll give you to Christmas before I engage her services.”

  Grey shook his head, but he agreed. “I appreciate that, Blakely. Now the question is, who do we know who can assist us in making their acquaintance?”

  Seb seemed to ponder this for a moment, and then said, “I may be able to help with that.”

  “Those gentleman are rather unnerving.” Araminta glanced at Isadora, who was scanning the box across from them with a critical eye. “They keep staring at us.”

  “Who wouldn’t?” Araminta said with a smirk. “Honestly, Isa, put those things down and watch the play. We will deal with the mob at intermission.”

  Isadora reluctantly set the glasses aside. “I merely feel it is my responsibility, as the eldest sister, to watch out for the rest of you.”

  Araminta took her hand. “Isa, the whole purpose of this endeavor in London is to be independent. That doesn’t mean you have to assume the role of chaperone. We vowed to make our own decisions, no matter the consequences. Father always told us that the only way we shall learn is to forgive our mistakes. How shall we do that if you choose to flutter about like a mother hen?”

  Isadora frowned, but she seemed to be contemplating her words.

  “Besides,” Araminta added with a shrug. “What’s the harm in a bit of flirtation?

  We are intending to join society, are we not? We shall have to learn how to survive the dangerous waters of the ton. You won’t be there to protect us all of the time.”

  “I see no reason to unnecessarily tempt fate either,” Isa pointed out. “We didn’t come here to be ridiculed and shunned by our peers. We wanted to prove that we could survive without marriage.”

  “And we shall,” Araminta agreed firmly. She lowered her voice as her eyes shifted to their younger sisters sitting behind them. “Although I worry so about Livy. She has never been quite as outspoken as the rest of us. I fear for her future if something should happen to us. I think we should encourage a proper match for her.”

  Isa nodded. “I think you’re right. But what about Calliope?”

  Araminta rolled her eyes. “That girl has more spirit than you and I combined. The only thing I should be concerned with her is the trail of broken hearts she will leave across London.”

  Her elder sister laughed, knowing that it was true. Callie was like a kite flowing away on the breeze, completely without restraint. If any gentleman managed to tie her down, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

  As intermission came upon them, it didn’t take long before their box was filled with curious spectators of society, matrons eager to meet the secretive Marlington sisters who had spent very little time in the city. Under the guise of paying their respects to a man they had barely even known, Araminta found that it didn’t take much for them to start peppering them with questions. When it became clear that they were living under one roof without a chaperone, several eyebrows lifted to
their hairline in surprise and more than a touch of censure.

  “Surely there is an aged aunt who might assist you,” one lady suggested.

  “On the contrary,” Araminta pointed out proudly. “We are quite content with our current situation. Besides, it’s not as if my sister and I are fresh out of the schoolroom.”

  “Indeed, not.” The lady had huffed indignantly. “But I’m not sure being a spinster is something I should be proud of.”

  Araminta merely smiled. “I choose to consider it as self-reliance.” She lifted a brow. “Or perhaps freedom from enslavement.”

  She took a bit of pleasure in seeing the woman’s mouth drop open before she flounced out of the box with a decided huff.

  “Making friends already, I see,” Isadora drawled from beside her.

  “I have a particular talent for chasing away the unwanted,” Araminta said proudly.

  Her sister merely snorted in return.

  Araminta was still wearing a smile when she glanced toward the back of the box where the crowd had thinned. But it slipped slightly, her heart picking up speed when she spied a tall man ducking to enter. He was quite breathtaking with his pitch-black hair and shocking blue eyes that seemed to take in more than his expression would ever reveal. He was dressed in the height of fashion, in stark black and white, but she decided that made him appear even more appealing than if he was decked out in color like a dandy.

  Their eyes clashed and she quickly looked away, something that rather shocked her, for she was usually the stronger one. As her gaze shifted to the man at his side, equally appealing with his shock of blond hair and dark eyes that held a wicked gleam in their depths, he didn’t affect her nearly as much as the first.