The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride by Victoria Alexander

understand. “As I had incorrectly assumed that you were an employee of an associate
     of Grayson’s, I thought you might be, well, intimidated—”
    He laughed.
    She glared. “What do you find so amusing?”
    “That you thought I would be intimidated.” He chuckled. “By what? By Lady Hargate rather than Mrs. Hargate?”
    Her eyes narrowed.
    “You’re a snob, aren’t you, Lady Hargate?”
    “I most certainly . . .” Her lips curved upward in a superior smile. “I simply know
     my place in the world. Do you?”
    “ I always have,” he said in a mild manner he suspected might drive her mad. Her smile
     wavered a bit. He was right. “I don’t need a title to prove it. We don’t have titles
     in America.”
    She sniffed. “Pity.”
    He laughed again.
    “This is not why I’m here,” she said through clenched teeth then drew a deep breath.
     “I simply thought it would be more, oh, democratic to introduce myself as Mrs. Hargate
     rather than Lady Hargate as you were so very . . .” She squared her shoulders as if
     the admission was difficult for her. “Well, friendly and I will admit I was enjoying our encounter.”
    “I see.” He circled around her, retrieved his glass from the table where he had left
     it, and moved to the desk. “Would you care for something?”
    “I never drink hard spirits.” She shrugged off the offer and stepped closer. “And
     then the second time we met, well, it was embarrassing to admit that I had not been
     entirely honest.”
    He filled his glass then filled a second. “Not entirely, no.”
    “I don’t know what came over me really,” she said more to herself than to him. “There
     are standards to be maintained and I have never veered from them. A certain model
     of behavior is expected and I do adhere to it. As should we all. I can’t imagine what
     might happen if people didn’t. If everyone went their own merry way without a thought
     as to honesty and principles and moral behavior.”
    “Anarchy I suspect.” He handed her the glass and she sipped absently.
    “The very thought is appalling.” She sighed. “I do pride myself on my honesty, you
     know. Why, I never dissemble or prevaricate. And I’ve never been one to deal in falsehoods,
     no matter how minor, even when it might have made things a great deal easier.”
    “Then you are indeed meeting Gray near the maze even as we speak?” He cast her an
     innocent smile.
    She stared at him for a moment. “Obviously not. But that was for a greater good and
     as such can be overlooked.”
    “I suspect there are any number of deceptions that are well meaning at the start.”
     He studied her over the rim of his glass. “And what greater good is that?”
    “Speaking to you privately of course.” She raised her chin. “I wish to apologize to
     you.”
    “For which part?”
    “What do you mean—which part?”
    “For deceiving me in New York about who you really were or having your way with me
     and then throwing me out into the cold.”
    She gasped. “Mr. Russell!”
    “Sam.”
    “ Mr. Russell. ” She glared, anger sparking in her eyes. He noted how very similar it was to passion
     of another kind. “Please be so good as to watch what you say.” Delilah shot a quick
     glance at the door, then stepped closer and lowered her voice. “The last thing I want
     is to be overheard. Goodness.” She tossed back at least half of her drink. “I would
     think after this afternoon you would understand that.”
    “It was hard to miss.”
    “And that is what I wish to apologize for. My manner this afternoon was unacceptable.
     I was very nearly rude and I am never rude.” She sighed in surrender. “My purpose
     in not being entirely forthright about my name really was well intentioned. But you
     do have my apologies for misleading you. As for the rest of it . . .” Her gaze hardened.
     “I did not have my way with you or at least no more so than you had your way with
     me.”
    He nodded slowly. “I