A Scandalous Deception by Ava Stone Page A

“Leave
us, please.”
    “Of course, sir.” The butler turned on his
heel and strode back into the corridor.
    Before Lissy could soundly reprimand him for dismissing her servant, Fin crossed the room and
clutched her hands in his. “Sit, Lissy. You look like you might
faint.”
    Did she? All she could do was stare up at
him, unsure how to respond to that.
    “Good God.” He frowned, distorting his
handsome features. “You’re trembling.” Fin dropped onto the nearby
settee and tugged Lissy down beside him. “Tell me what’s wrong.
You’re headed for The Chase. Is Juliet all right?”
    “I-I don’t know,” she said, barely
recognizing the scratchy sound of her own voice.
    “Oh, sweetheart.” Fin’s dark eyes softened as
he brushed a tear from Lissy’s cheek.
    Heavens, she was a ninny. She hadn’t even
known she was crying. “Sh-she has to be all right.” And she did
have to be all right. Edmund and Juliet were all Lissy had left in
the world. The only people who truly mattered to her.
    Fin drew her into his arms and held her,
comforting her more than his words could have ever done. “Shh,
Lissy. I’m right here.”
    He had always been right there. He’d always
been a pillar of strength. He’d always made certain she was all
right, that Edmund was all right. Her tears fell faster now, his
jacket must be soaked through. “L-Luke said…”
    “What did Luke say?” he asked, pulling back
slightly from her. Fin’s warm brown eyes soothed her, calming her
from within, and she took a steadying breath.
    Lissy pushed her brother-in-law’s letter into
Fin’s hand. The viscount read the missive quickly then turned his
attention back to Lissy.
    “All he said was that this confinement has
been more difficult than the last.”
    “I know,” Lissy admitted, feeling a bit
sheepish under his scrutiny. “But his tone was urgent, Fin. Jules
must not be doing well at all, not if she couldn’t even write her
own letter.” At that thought, panic seized her heart once more.
“She can’t even write her own letter! And if something happens to
her…”
    “Juliet is the strongest woman I know,” Fin
said softly. “She’ll come through whatever this is.”
    “But the baby,” Lissy began, then she bit her
tongue to keep from telling him something she shouldn’t tell
anyone. She shook her head to keep from thinking of her own lost
child and said instead, “Cordie miscarried a few months ago, you
know. I don’t want to think the same could happen to Juliet.”
    Fin tucked one of Lissy’s curls behind her
ear and said, “She’s had one child successfully, I’m certain she’ll
be fine.”
    “Cordie has had a child as well, Fin. I don’t
think that necessarily guarantees success.”
    He took a long slow breath and squeezed her
hand. “I hate to see you so upset, sweetheart. Why don’t I escort
you to Derbyshire?”
    Somehow Lissy found herself nodding. She
could use his strength, his even presence. But she didn’t truly
want to travel to Derbyshire with Fin, did she? Wasn’t she still
furious with him? He’d probably end up behaving like his usual
controlling self, and she didn’t want to suffer his condescension
all the way to Prestwick Chase. “Well, I—”
    “Very well.” He kissed her brow. “We’ll take
my coach, if you don’t mind. It’s a bit faster, I think.”
    Faster was definitely a plus. Very
well, she’d travel with Fin. Besides, his strength could be a
blessing. Lissy nodded once more. “Speed would be best, all things
considered.”
    “Then it’s settled. We’ll leave today.”

    Fin stepped over the threshold of his Charles
Street home. He smiled at Ames, his butler, and requested the man
have his carriage readied for travel, then he made his way to his
study. Before they left for Derbyshire, he’d need to send the Prime
Minister a note explaining his absence, and he’d need to send his
regards to Caroline Staveley since he’d miss her soiree the
following evening. But