A Scandalous Past (Regency Romance, Book 4) by Ava Stone

downstairs and stopped a
footman for directions to the breakfast room.
    “Miss, you follow this hall, and—”
    “I’ll show her,” interrupted a voice Cordie
could have gone the rest of her life without hearing again.
    She took a deep breath and looked over her
shoulder at Captain Gabriel Seaton, handsome as ever in his blue
naval regimentals. His light brown eyes assessed her and he nodded
in greeting. “Cordelia.”
    Cordie hadn’t seen him since she’d broken
off their engagement and his presence here was most surprising.
“Captain,” she answered stiffly. It would have been nice to know he was here.
    The captain offered her his arm, which she
grudgingly took, not seeing a way around the situation. “I am
surprised to see you here.”
    He sighed. “As I was surprised to find
myself seated next to your mother at dinner last night. Are you
feeling better this morning?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    He directed her down a long corridor, before
making a turn. “I have missed you,” he said softly as they
continued.
    She couldn’t say the same, not even to be
polite. Escaping life as his wife had been a lucky stroke. “Aren’t
naval captains supposed to be at sea?” she asked amiably. At one
time he’d promised to take her with him on his voyages. While that
fate would remove her from her current predicament, it would only
be trading one jailer for another. There was also the fact that
Clayworth’s kiss made her forget every single one the captain had
ever given her.
    “I’ve come at the Admiralty’s request.
Commander Greywood has retired, but his advice is still in
demand.”
    She nodded at the explanation, wishing he’d
come to visit the commander at another time.
    “I’m certain you’ve now seen the error of
your loyalties.”
    Cordie looked up at him. “I beg your
pardon.”
    A disbelieving smile curled his lip. “I
mean, she’s now raising his bastard daughter. No gently bred woman
would agree to such a thing. Your loyalties are misplaced in her,
Cordelia.”
    He was talking about Livvie? She hadn’t
known that fact. It was shocking. “Are we speaking about the
Duchess of Kelfield?” She hoped Livvie was all right. Did Kelfield
expect that of her?
    “Who else?” he scoffed angrily. “You broke
our engagement due to my lack of support for her situation.”
    Cordie drew herself up to her full height
and released her hold on his arm. “We were never technically
engaged. And I ended our association due to your lack of
support for me.”
    He looked at her, hurt in his eyes. “I never
saw this side of you before.”
    “Then aren’t you fortunate to have
escaped?”  She then stalked down the corridor, ignoring the
soreness in her back.
    “Cordelia!” he called after her. “You don’t
know the way.”
    “I’m certain I can find my own way.” 
The words meant much more than he would ever know.

~ 11 ~
     
                
    Cordie followed the soft sounds of a
harpsichord until she stumbled across Phoebe in the music room. Her
friend’s eyes were closed as she focused on plucking the strings of
her instrument.  Cordie must have made a noise, because
Phoebe’s eyes flew open and she smiled brightly.  “Oh, you’re
up? Millie thought you might be out for a while.”
    As her friend rose from her seat, Cordie
smiled nervously, the events of the night before embarrassing her
all over again.  She cleared her throat. “I ran into Captain
Seaton before breakfast.”
    Phoebe winced. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I meant to
tell you last night…” Her voice trailed off.  Then she
frowned. “Are you all right?”
    Cordie nodded her head firmly. “Nearly
perfect.” She didn’t want to talk about what Phoebe had witnessed.
No one knew about her mother’s punishments, not even Livvie, and
she hoped to keep it that way.
    “So,” Phoebe said, as she carefully linked
her arm with Cordie’s, “you’ve decided on Haversham?”
    She supposed she had. He was the logical
choice, after