The Perfect Mistress. Victoria Alexander

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      “Perhaps the voices simply don’t speak to her when you are there.” Portia’s smile was entirely too sweet and not the least bit legitimate.

      Veronica frowned. “You’re being exceptionally nasty today, Portia. What on earth has possessed you?”

      Portia opened her mouth to issue a sharp retort then apparently thought better of it. “My apologies. It’s my mood I’m afraid.” She rolled her gaze toward the ceiling. “My cousin is having yet another dinner party tonight. Inevitably I shall be seated next to the most eligible gentleman there who has been invited with the sole purpose of marrying me.”

      Veronica smirked. “Again.”

      Julia stifled a laugh. In recent months, Portia’s loving and well-meaning family had apparently decided it was time for her to remarry. While she did indeed wish to marry again, her family’s interference did not sit well. The woman who had never had a rebellious bone in her body found herself in the unfamiliar role of mutineer.

      “Whether she is truly mad or merely odd with the eccentricities of age scarcely matters. After my husband died, I wanted to bring her to London to live with me but she refused. She insists she is happy where she is.” Julia shook her head. “But I am reaching a point where I can barely support one household let alone two. Therefore …” Resolve straightened her spine. “I shall sell my great-grandmother’s manuscript and use whatever it fetches to support her daughter. The gentleman you saw here is a publisher.”

      Portia gasped. “Surely you’re not serious?”

      “I have never been more serious in my life.”

      “I’m not sure publishing will provide you with the funding you need,” Veronica said thoughtfully.

      “If it sells well, it should provide a steady income.” Julia wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince herself or her friends. Still, she had nothing else.

      “Perhaps it isn’t scandalous enough to sell well.” Portia’s gaze settled on the manuscript. “As your friends, it might be wise if we all read—”

      “It is a risky proposition.” Veronica thought for a moment. “I think Portia’s suggestion might better serve.”

      Portia glanced at the other woman. “What suggestion?”

      “Blackmail,” Veronica said in an offhand manner.

      “I suggested nothing of the sort.” Portia huffed then paused. “Did I?”

      Julia stared. “I don’t recall blackmail being mentioned nor would I consider such a thing.”

      “You should,” Veronica said, “although blackmail might be the wrong word as it implies something, well, wrong.”

      Julia’s brows drew together. “Probably because it is.”

      “What did I suggest?” Portia said.

      “You said some people have very long memories.” Veronica nodded at Julia. “There are no doubt any number of people who would prefer that past scandals stay in the past.”

      “Don’t be absurd.” Julia waved away the comment. “You said it yourself. My great-grandmother’s adventures were half a century ago. No one cares about those scandals now but hopefully they are interesting to read. However, I shall allow you to judge for yourself.” She selected a section she had copied and handed it to Veronica. “This chapter is about a gentleman related to you.”

      “How delightful,” Veronica murmured, and paged idly through the pages.

      “Isn’t there anything in there about a relation of mine?” Portia craned her neck to peer at the manuscript.

      Julia shook her head. “Not that I’ve found thus far.”

      “We have never been a scandalous lot. Still …” Portia eyed the manuscript with barely concealed longing. “It would be advisable to look. Just to make certain, you understand. For no other reason than that.”

      “Of course not.” Veronica’s innocent tone belied the amusement in her eye.

      “Besides, who among us is better suited to assess just how scandalous the work is?” Portia said primly. “I know scandal when I see it.”

      “Then you should certainly read a chapter.” Julia selected another section she had copied, anticipating Portia’s request, and handed the pages to her friend.

      Portia frowned at the small number of pages. “Is that enough? To be able to ascertain the scandalous nature of the work, that is. Perhaps I should read more?”

      “I’m certain when you finish reading, Julia would be happy to provide you with more,” Veronica said smoothly. “For purposes of assessing the level of scandal, of course. Nothing more than that.”

      “My life is exceptionally dull,” Portia said under her breath, leafing through the pages. Her gaze jerked to her friends as if she were surprised by her own words. “Not that I am interested in this in any way other than to help my dear Julia.”

      Veronica smiled. “We never thought otherwise.”

      “Not for a moment,” Julia added, casting Portia a reassuring smile.

      It was indeed odd that this disparate trio had become friends but friends they were and, Julia suspected, friends they would be for the rest of their days. She sent a silent prayer of thanks heavenward for these women, adding an additional prayer that the memoirs were indeed scandalous enough to provide true financial salvation even if that might not be the type of request the Almighty would be amenable to granting. Still, she would be most grateful if he would consider it.

      And perhaps, she cringed to herself at the absurd thought, she would have to thank her great-grandmother as well.

       Chapter Two

      “This is unacceptable.” Harrison Landingham, the Earl of Mountdale, glared at the pages laid out on the desk in front of him. “Completely unacceptable.”

      “If you think the first page is unacceptable …” Amusement gleamed in his sister-in-law’s eyes. “Wait until you read the rest.”

      “Good Lord,” Harrison muttered. What he’d read thus far was bad enough. He didn’t dare consider what the rest of these memoirs might contain. “This family has avoided scandal in the past and scandal will not touch us on my watch.”

      “More’s the pity,” Veronica murmured.

      He glanced up. “I do appreciate your bringing this to my attention, however.”

      She smiled pleasantly. “I thought you would find it interesting.”

      He raised a brow. “‘Interesting’ is the very least of what I find it.”

      Veronica shrugged. “I found it rather amusing as well.”

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