A Proper Scandal (Ravensdale Family Book 2) (40 page)

“You.” Minnie didn’t recognize her own voice. It was small and trembled, drowned out by her racing heart.

Please, please, be mine, Alex.

“What?”

“I said you. I want you, Alex.”

He stiffened, his eyes glazing over.

“I think, that is….I don’t know why it’s taken…” Minnie stuttered. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing to fade away instead of begging at Alex’s feet. “I’ve been the biggest fool.”

“Open your eyes.”

He leaned forward, tipping his weight on the mattress to draw them closer. He peered down his broken nose at her, still straight-faced and serious. Dread. That was all that filled her.

“You’re the world’s worst liar. Have I told you that?” She opened her mouth to protest, but he pressed his finger to her lips, silencing her. “Are you done proving your point now?”

He didn’t remove his hand as Minnie eyed him warily. Alex slipped his fingers from her lips and rested them under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his.

“What point?” she whispered.

“That you can’t live without me.”

“I did,” she answered, her mind still reeling. “I mean, I
can
live without you.” She stopped for a moment, searching for the right words to explain. “It’s just that I’ve found it to be…it’s intolerable. And when I found you at the club, I thought I had died there right alongside you. For the second time.”

“Is that the truth?”

As she nodded, a few tears escaped the brims of her eyes.

Alex pulled her close carefully and kissed her slowly, making unspoken promises. “Have you come back to me?”

“Yes,” she said, sniffing back her tears. She fumbled at the collar of her nightgown and pulled free the long length of chain where she had kept his ring safe all those years. “I cannot promise it will be easy, but I want to stop this foolishness.” She clumsily unlatched the tiny clasp and slid the ring free into her palm. “And I’m sorry.” Minnie held out her hand, watching with a smile as Alex took the ring in his hand and looked it over.

“I thought this was lost.”

“I always kept it. I’ve worn it,” she said tapping over her heart, “for all those years.”

“You deserve something nice, Min. You can have any ring you want.”

“I want this one,” she said, sticking out her left hand. “Let me come home. Let me be yours. For good. Forever.”

Alex looked up at her, his hand hovering with the ring over her finger. “This means…” he started.

“Yes, I know. I’m asking you to be my husband, Alex. If you’ll have me.”

His grip tightened over her hand, before pushing his signet ring down the length of her finger. “Leave it to you, Minnie Ravensdale, to propose to your husband.”

Minnie looked up eagerly.

“You’re worth the trouble,” he said over her lips. “C’mere, darling.”

London, Four months later

T
he curtain slowly descended to the floor, dampening the stage lights. The crowd still clapped, a thunderous roar that, despite the curtain, echoed through the set pieces and scurrying actors backstage eager to end another performance.

And in the center, her head bowed, her arms full of pink roses, stood Minnie lost in reverence.

Alex stood in the wings, his hand pausing from bouncing the rubber ball, his attention, as always, pinned to the woman who was much larger than a star of the stage. She was far better than the acclaimed actress London adored now, far lovelier than the snooty society ladies gave her credit for, even when they tried to copy everything about her.

Minnie Ravensdale was a magical girl, a woman far too great for the cage the world tried to place her in. And tonight, she took flight under the cover of darkness. Wild hearts might not be predictable, might not be easy to love, but Minnie had proven over and over that she loved wholly, recklessly.

And by some miracle, she had loved Alex, the boy who fled from the edge of the earth to make a life for himself, to discover a name for himself. He’d made a man out of a boy left for dead, a shameful secret. Falling for Minnie was easy. Loving her wasn’t, but Christ did he ever want to keep trying day after day.

“I see you skipped the club tonight, Mr. Marwick,” Minnie said, slowly walking toward him. The skirts of her dress swished softly over the polished floors. She was a dream wrapped in satin and diamonds. And that smile of hers, the one that could right every wrong for Alex, pierced through the dim light. She lightly touched his arm, trying to walk past.

Alex hauled her back. “I had other plans tonight, I believe. Or so Boyd told me.” He kissed her brow, then her cheek, and then her neck for good measure. “Do you have plans tonight, darling?”

She wiggled out of his hold, peeking at him over her shoulder. “Perhaps.”

Grace waited by Minnie’s dressing room and ushered her sister inside, winking at Alex. “I’m not my sister, Mr. Marwick. Your charms don’t work on me, much. You know the rules. You have to stay out here. Boyd should be here sorting out the rest of the arrangements.”

He laughed, turning before she rushed up, straightening the tie on his tux.

“I’m going to be glad to have you as a brother, in truth this time.” Grace, the name personified, daintily pinned on a corsage. “Thank you for loving my sister, for your kindness, for fighting for her when the rest of the world turned their back.”

He swallowed, his stomach suddenly knotting. “Gracie, you’re—”

“I’m a great many things, Alex. Or so everyone tells me. I’m a girl in love who wishes only to have a chance at having my happy ending as you find yours. Congratulations.” She left, entering Minnie’s dressing room before poking out her head once more. “No peeking. We’ll be out shortly.”

The wedding filled the papers, fashion designers all but tripping over themselves to design the wedding gown of Minnie Ravensdale. It was going to be the event of the season, even if society did not fully embrace an actress marrying the Irish tycoon from Whitechapel. There were those who had turned their backs on the Ravensdales, and others, with the encouragement of the Duke of Ashbornham allowed them to remain in the good graces of society.

The wedding would be large, the guests including some of the biggest names in Europe. And it wouldn’t be happening as planned for June.

Alex stood in front of the priest, Boyd standing right behind him. The theater was empty, the curtain once again raised. A grand piano had been wheeled in for Grace. She exited the dressing room, winking to the two men, then waving to the rest of the Ravensdales, who sat in the front row as she took her seat at the piano.

The bridal march began softly, quickly filling up the theater with the same riotous beat that echoed in Alex’s chest as Minnie emerged, dressed in a simple white dress and lace veil. Her stage makeup was gone, and instead of the large bunch of roses, she held a small posey as she proceeded up the small aisle Boyd had made with some carpeting from the props department. She was the girl who smelled of roses, the one he fell in love with who was bed sheets and sunshine; those hazel eyes.

He couldn’t help it as she approached. Alex grabbed her hand for wanting to kiss her, then bowed and pressed his lips against her knuckles. “Lovely, as always.”

“And equally charming,” she whispered, her eyes brimmed with tears, a wide smile spread across her lips. “Are you going to regret this?”

“Marrying you?”

“No, eloping.”

“My darling, what’s another scandal between the two of us?”

They both turned toward the priest, their hands clasped together.

T
he
E
nd

I want to thank you, yes you, my lovely reader! I hope you enjoyed
A Proper Scandal
. I appreciate the time you took to read this book and would love to hear what you think. Please consider leaving a review—whether on Goodreads or wherever you prefer. Reviews help other readers discover new books and help us authors, too!

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Stay tuned for the third book in the Ravensdale saga series, SOCIAL GRACES, out Summer 2016.

The Ravensdales Series, #3

Even unrequited love falls under the rules of society…

Since she was first introduced as a child piano prodigy, Lady Grace Ravensdale has been the darling of the London ton. Unlike the rest of the rowdy Ravensdale family, she follows society’s rules, acting always as a proper lady should. But Grace harbors a secret that she only shares with the keys of her piano—she’s in love with the gardener’s son.

And even if it’s possible, can it overcome the scars of war?

Growing up at Burton Hall, Theodore Nash was considered one of the Ravensdales—even if his station was so far beneath them. But as he grew, Grace became more than a childhood friend. Knowing he couldn’t have her, he leaves to fight in in Boer War to bring honor to his family. Taken as a prisoner of war, everyone Theodore loves thinks he’s dead until he returns to London blinded and badly scarred four years later.

Theodore’s return challenges everything Grace has known. Suddenly, her engagement to a titled violinist doesn’t seem so fitting, nor the wedding that’s supposed to rival all weddings that season. With Theodore, Grace is free to be the less than proper lady everyone has come to expect. With all of society against them, can their love survive?

Coming Summer 2016

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This book wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for you, my readers. So thank you! The Ravensdales are a rowdy bunch and I’m so grateful I get to bring you their stories. I’m especially thrilled to write a heroine such as Minnie. She was inspired by a slew of women of the Belle Epoque period who pushed boundaries and faced both social scorn for their behavior and praise for their beauty. Sadly, most didn’t find their happy ending. I’m glad Alex is a horrible pickpocket with a soft spot for an independent and spirted woman like his darling Min.

I’d like to thank my editor, Heather Webb. I’d also like to thank my copy editor, Meghan Hogue for polishing up my words.

I’d like to thank Molli Moran and Sybil Bartel who cheered me on during this project. They’re support meant the world to me.

And of course I’d like to thank my husband. He’s the inspiration behind every hero I write, and has shown me that happily ever after is just the start.

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