Page 7 of His Revelation
“So she is beautiful on the outside.”
“But corrupted and spiteful at her core,” Lysander bit out.
“And ye needed to see her today to remind yerself of that?”
Lysander nodded to the groom who brought out his horse, but spoke to his sister. “Nay. I needed to see her today to remindherof how muchshewantsme.”
Athena raised her brow. “Full of yerself, are ye?”
“I’m a viscount.” Lysander shrugged and patted his mount, then moved to check the saddle cinch. “I suppose I should be grateful. There’s no’ many second sons who can claim a title such as that, but thanks to our mother’s father, I do. And anyone with half a brain can tell Tiffany is grasping for a title.”
“So ye think she is trying to impress ye so ye will ask her to marry ye?”
There’d been a moment, right before her mother had dragged her away from the ball, when Lysander had considered it. He’d never wanted for female companionship, but there had been something about Tiffany which had reached into his gut and tugged; something visceral and primal which had wanted to claim her as his. Those perfect blue eyes, that perfect smile… He’d called her his angel and had meant it.
Whenever she touched him—and today had been no exception—or when he caught her scent, his cock reminded him she was exactly the sort of woman he wanted to callhisfor the rest of their lives.
He’d only danced with her a few times, but that had been enough. His feelings for her had been almost…magical.
Thank the saints he’d learned what kind of woman she really was before he’d yoked himself to her for all their days.
But how to explain that to Athena, who had accepted the groom’s help into the saddle, but sat astride in her typical fashion, eschewing propriety now that her reputation had been ruined.
“I think…she’s interested in money and influence, and she kens she’s beautiful enough to get them, but no’ important enough—or wealthy enough—to search for them elsewhere. I’m the most eligible bachelor around, no offense to our brothers.”
“They are no’ here to be offended,” Athena said dryly as she nudged her horse into motion. “But dinnae forget handsome. The two of ye make quite the pair.”
“Aye, and that is the problem. Lyon is an Earl’s heir, and his wife will one day—no’ for many years, God willing—have all the power and influence she can stand. But Tiffany dismissed him as unworthy of her because of his appearance.”
When he glanced over at his sister, Athena was frowning thoughtfully. “Then I suppose it is just as well ye will no’ have anything more to do with her.”
“I didnae say that.” If things went well, he’d haveplentyto do with her, but she wouldn’t like it.
“It is well-kenned that the females of the family are far more intelligent than their brothers.” She raised a brow. “I do not like it whenyescheme.”
“Well, my scheming sister, I cannae say ye’d approve of this plan.”
“We will no’ ken until ye tell me.”
Was she genuinely curious?
Lysander debated explaining to his sister, then shrugged. “I intend to give her a taste of her own medicine. The foul-tasting stuff, no’ the brews flavored with honey.”
Athena’s lips twitched. “I never doubted. So ye will teach her a lesson, eh?”
“I want her to have to acknowledge how judgmental and cruel she is. No’ just to me, but to herself. When I’m done, I want her tokenI ken who she really is, deep down. I want her to ken there’s nae mask she can wear anymore,anywhere, because I’ll be certain to make everyone aware of her true nature.”
“That is…uncharacteristically brutal of ye, Lysander.”
Brutal.
That’s what he’d be. Just as she accused Lyon of being.
“I’ll no’ stand by and let someone speak of our brother that way,” he growled.
“Fair enough.” Athena blew out a breath; a sound his horse echoed. “I hope ye offer her the chance to repent before ye ruin her future.”
Ruin her future.
