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and LOVE IN THE TIME OF SCANDAL
Six Degrees of Scandal
Scandalous #4
Caroline Linden
Releasing March 29th, 2016
Avon Books
Olivia Townsend is in trouble and
out of options. Pursued by a desperate man in search of a lost treasure, which
she doesn’t have, she’s got only two things in her favor: her late husband’s
diary, which she was never meant to see… and the man who was her first-and
only-love. Losing him broke her heart, though she’s been careful to hide it for
the last ten years. But when he comes to her aid and vows to stand by her this
time, no matter what, she can’t help but hope things will be different this
time.
James Weston has blamed himself for letting Olivia down when she needed him years ago, and he will not do it again. Fortunately, his unusual life has equipped him well to outsmart the villain chasing Olivia. Unfortunately, being so near her again threatens to expose every secret in his heart…even those that should stay hidden forever.
James Weston has blamed himself for letting Olivia down when she needed him years ago, and he will not do it again. Fortunately, his unusual life has equipped him well to outsmart the villain chasing Olivia. Unfortunately, being so near her again threatens to expose every secret in his heart…even those that should stay hidden forever.
To Olivia’s mingled delight and surprise, Mother herself brought
up the Westons that evening. “Haverstock House!” she exclaimed. “They’ve bought
Haverstock House! Everyone in town is speaking of it. What is the neighborhood
coming to, Sir Alfred?”
Father grunted. “I hear Weston paid a very pretty sum for it.
Lord Malke’s steward mentioned wagons of new furnishings from London.”
That gave Mother pause. “Indeed!”
“I told you: well-heeled.” Father glanced at her, sitting
quietly in the corner stitching her sampler. “Their boy seemed to like our
Olivia.”
Instead of protesting that she was only a child, Mother turned
to look at her as if struck by a new thought. “Did
he . . . ?” But although Olivia was curious to hear what
her mother thought, that was the last of the conversation.
Within days, true to Jamie’s prediction, Mrs. Weston came to
call on Lady Herbert. Olivia only saw her leaving, but the next day Jamie
himself came to Kellan Hall. He greeted her mother very politely, even
charmingly, and then glanced at Olivia. “I’ve come to escort Miss Herbert to
Haverstock House.”
Olivia barely managed not to goggle at him like a fool, but her
mother was beaming. “Yes, of course. Olivia, fetch your bonnet. Mrs. Weston has
invited you to visit her daughters, and I consented. Good society is so
important to raising young people with manners and decorum!”
“Yes, ma’am,” she managed to say, even as her heart jumped. She
ran for her bonnet and pelisse.
Jamie grinned as they left her house. “I told you my mother
would call.”
Olivia couldn’t keep back an excited laugh. “I just didn’t know
it would result in this!”
From then on she was permitted to visit the Westons almost at
will. Daphne was also invited, but she went only a few times, and stopped
entirely after getting into an argument with Penelope Weston over whether
ladies should be allowed to drive carriages. But Olivia was soon fast friends
with both Abigail and Penelope, who became as dear as sisters to her as the
years went by.
Jamie was there as well, although less frequently as they all
grew older. He wasn’t sent away to school as most boys were but had a series of
tutors and instructors. Mr. Weston traveled frequently on business and often he
took his son with him. Olivia thought that sounded dull, but Jamie said he
enjoyed it immensely.
“It’s far better than sitting at home learning Latin verbs,” he
told her. “I’d much rather visit shipyards and manufactories and see how things
are really done. Even visiting the bankers is more intriguing than any
mathematics exercise.”
She had to smile. “When you put it that way, perhaps I agree.”
He laughed. “It’s all in the way I put it! You’re much too easy
to persuade, Livie. You’d let yourself be tempted into all kinds of bad
behavior, wouldn’t you?”
Only by you, she thought. He’d been able to lead her astray
since that first morning in church. “I don’t know what you mean,” she told him.
“I’m a very respectable girl.”
“And yet I like you anyway,” he replied gravely.
She put out her tongue at him and he pulled one of her loose
curls, just like any brother and sister.
Caroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a math degree from Harvard University and wrote computer software before turning to writing fiction. Ten years, twelve books, three Red Sox championships, and one dog later, she has never been happier with her decision. Her books have won the NEC Reader’s Choice Beanpot Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA’s RITA Award. Since she never won any prizes in math, she takes this as a sign that her decision was also a smart one. Visit her online at www.carolinelinden.com.
Caroline is sharing the first issue of 50 Ways to Sin. Click on the picture below to read to read it on her website.
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