A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran Page B

do with three or four dresses—not the cheap sort, but silk and satin, the kinds you see in the photographs.”
    She paused, cheered by the thought. It was a lowering thing to consider his offer only because he could have her arrested if she refused it. But this plan was
flash
. Even if she’d felt certain of being able to refuse him without consequences, she would have considered this road. “No matter if he changes his mind about marrying me, I’ll still have the dresses. Imagine how much Brennan would pay for just one of them!”
    Hannah drummed her fingers against the leather bench. “I don’t know. Aye, they’d fetch a handsome price,” she said softly. “But what if he set the police on you for taking them?”
    “But he could do that right now if he wanted.” Of course, right now he thought he had a use for her. Once that changed, he might throw her to the dogs for fun. “It’s a risk,” Nell admitted. “But no greater than the one I’m running already.”
    Hannah pressed her hands together at her mouth, a prayerful posture that caused her lips to whiten. Nell went still, recognizing it as the preparation to a verdict.
    “You said he wants your money,” Hannah said finally. “He wants to
marry
you. If he’s not having you on, then … then he’ll really want to marry you.” She blinked very rapidly, then crossed herself. “Begging your mum’s forgiveness … you could be a countess, Nell.” Her eyes got wide. “A
countess
.”
    Nell opened her mouth but words failed her. A
countess
. Her laugh felt slightly hysterical. “What a mad idea. If you’d only seen the inside of this place …” Or him in it. St. Maur’s indifference to the luxury in which he lived—the impatience with which he’d glanced around his library, as though seeing nothing to hold his interest—
that
was what it meant to belong in his world.
    She’d never manage that.
    “He’s a looker,” Hannah murmured. She was eyeing Nell queerly. “Do you like him, then? Would you want to be marrying him?”
    Nell leaned back. The leather seat felt like a warm, steady hand against her back, holding her up as all the butterflies came back to life in her stomach. “He’s … clever,” she said. “Slippery.” More than that, of course. Sorcerer’s eyes, the devil’s mouth. Smiles that came and went like quicksilver.
    He’d kissed her. If she agreed to this plan, he’d want more.
    “It wouldn’t come to marriage,” she said.
    Hannah tipped her head, looking doubtful. “He doesn’t seem mean, at least.”
    “No. I don’t know.” He hadn’t threatened her, butshe supposed a man of his ilk would have subtler ways of bullying. “I suppose I’ll find out.”
    Hannah didn’t like that. “If he’s mean, you’d leave the dresses and run!”
    Nell gave a pull of her mouth. Easy to say for Hannah, with a family who loved her and would support her through aught. “Not the dresses,” she said wryly.
    They met each other’s eyes and laughed.
    “A purple one,” Hannah said after a moment, wistfully. “Oh, do try for a purple one—like we saw in Brennan’s that time.”
    That dress had been ripping, though far too dear even to touch. “Aye,” Nell said. “And a pair of white gloves, never worn.”
    “Never worn,” Hannah breathed.
    “And silk stockings. Why not? And a new petticoat—” Nell came to a stop. “I
have
to do this. It’s a chance, isn’t it? I have to take it.”
    Hannah looked down at the handkerchief. “Even if you only managed another ten of these …”
    “Keep it.”
    “Oh, I couldn’t!”
    Nell gave her a crooked smile. “Yes, you can.” She reached into her jacket and plucked out the ten-pound note from one pocket and the fork and knife from the other. “Keep these for me, too. If I’m not back in two weeks, they’re yours.”
    “Good Lord.” Hannah’s hand trembled as she took the loot. “This is—this is a fortune! And these—are they silver?”
    “Aye, I think