The Debutante's Scandal: Western Historical Romance (Debutantes of Durango Book 4)
Sylvia McDaniel
The Debutante’s Scandal
Debutantes of Durango #4
Sylvia McDaniel
Virtual Bookseller, LLC
Contents
Blurb
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Thank you
More books in the series…
About the Author
Scandal at the Debutante Ball…
Much to her mother’s dismay, Meg Trippe isn’t interested in rushing to the altar. At eighteen, she’s a forward-thinking woman who dreams of independence and never relying on a man. But her mother dreams of her marrying wealth. Unfortunately, Meg falls right into her mother’s scheme when she flees the debutante ball.
Martin Scott’s father is a wealthy railroad tycoon. With mothers shoving their eligible daughters at him like candy in the wedding market, marriage is the least of his desires. Until a young woman literally falls into his arms with her skirt above her head. Caught in a compromising position, the girl’s distraught mother and his powerful father force them to marry.
Will they divorce or can two strangers overcome their anger and build a life together? Could the defiant debutante and the spoiled rich boy be meant for one another?
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Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Sylvia McDaniel
All Rights Reserved
Cover Design: Dar Albert
Edited by Tina Winograd
Release date: September 1, 2020
ebook ISBN 978-1-950858-31-6
Paperback ISBN 978-1-950858-32-3
This book and parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the author and publisher, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Chapter 1
Meg Trippe and her sisters, Fannie and Daisy, walked around the dress shop gazing at the newest fabrics and the latest fashion the small town of Durango, Colorado, had acquired.
“Look at this yellow silk. Wouldn’t that make a beautiful dress?” Daisy said.
“Do you think Papa would let you buy that? Ha!” Fannie said.
“Probably not, but Mama would. When she comes back from her tea, I’m going to ask her.”
Meg shook her head. “Just put it on the bill. Mother will give you anything you want. You are the favored one.”
Meg’s fingers trailed across the bolts of material. Oh, how she loved creating her own designs from fabric. The very reason she wanted to go to New York City and learn how to professionally design the latest fashions.
Even her mother admitted she was quite the dressmaker, stitching her own clothes, cutting out a pattern, making small changes that gave the design her own special flare.
As soon as the weather warmed, she would be leaving to attend Miss Johnson’s Design School in New York City and she could hardly wait.
Fannie lifted a purple taffeta material. “What do you think?”
“I think with your auburn hair, you would be the belle of the ball,” Meg said.
“Not if I’m there,” Daisy replied.
Fannie stuck her tongue out at her. “Brat. It’s all about you.”
Daisy laughed and tossed her blonde hair to the side. “Why not? As you and Meg like to say, I am the favored one.”
“Let’s all pick out a fabric and Meg can make us a dress. That way we’ll have it for the debutante ball,” Fannie said.
“But I can’t attend this year. Not for two years,” Daisy whined.
“It’s because you’re a baby,” Fannie said.
Oh, how Fannie loved to antagonize Daisy, but usually her baby sister gave back as good as she received. Sometimes even better.
“Ladies, I hear rumors that there is going to be a special visitor at the ball this year,” the dressmaker Madam Juliette called out. “Meg, I have some new catalogs you might be interested in checking out. Some gorgeous new fashions.”
Meg didn’t care about meeting a special visitor or finding a husband. She had plans. Plans that didn’t include a man. But this would be an opportunity to showcase her designs.
Papa was wealthy enough he could afford for them all to have a new dress.
“Thank you, Madam Juliette.”
Tonight, she would spend time devouring the latest fashions. Then she would sit with her sisters and create the perfect gown for the ball.
Carrying a bolt of peach satin to the counter, she also took a small bolt of the same color of organza. With her dressmaking skills, she would create beautiful party dresses for everyone, but Daisy.
She would have to wait.
Chapter 2
Nellie Trippe would sell her soul to make certain her girls advanced in society by marrying the most eligible young men. And fate had just delivered her a golden prince.
Nellie and the other women in the Durango Ladies’ Club sat around drinking tea in the Hotel, the nicest building in Durango, Colorado, while her beautiful daughters were at the dress shop.
The older women preferred to meet at least once a week, weather permitting, and discuss their current charity project, plus catch up on the news in town. Especially the juicy gossip.
As she stared out the window at the snow-covered streets, Nellie was only half paying attention to Agnes newest ramblings until the words reached her ears. With a jerk, she gazed at the uppity woman.
"So, when Mr. Webb told me Benjamin Scott and his handsome son, Martin, would be in town, I insisted that we hold a Valentine’s Day Debutante ball," Agnes said in a haughty way that always made Nellie want to grind her teeth.
Agnes pompous air, her perfect children, and the way her husband's ranch was the largest in the state of Colorado, tended to be off putting. Well, fiddle de dee. Nellie’s own husband owned the second biggest spread, and this year, they would make more money than Nellie ever dreamed possible.
Not bad for a poor girl from New York. Though she expected her daughters would do better. They would be the social queen she'd always envisioned becoming and never had the opportunity. Now her girls would live in the mansions her mother once worked in as a maid and cook.
Martin Scott had a reputation for the ladies, but once he saw her beautiful daughter Meg, he would be instantly smitten and put his wandering days behind him.
Meg would be the first Trippe to be in the upper crust of society. She would be the one hiring maids to run her household.
"Why is your daughter any better than the rest of our daughters?" Nellie asked. Why was her own daughter not being considered for the wealthy railroad tycoon’s boy?
"All of our daughters will be there, and I think it will be Mr. Scott’s decision which one he thinks best suits his needs." Francis Harris lifted her cup to her mouth, then paused. “Or none at all."
"Well, of course," Agnes said smiling. "Like any mother, I think my daughter would be better suited for the man. She's a beautiful, accomplished young woman."
"Wait a minute,” Dora Catlett said, leaning back in her chair. "Our daughters are all beautiful, accomplished young women and other worthy men will be there. I think you should invite the most suitable bachelors from Colorado. We all want our girls to marry the best and there are plenty of wealthy men looking for wives."
Leave it to Dora to be the more reasonable voice in the group. Of all the women, she was the peacemaker. But Meg’s future was at stake and Nellie would accept nothing but the best for her daughter.
This morning, only eight ladies attended the Durango Ladies’ Club. Only the top tier of the social group was in attendance.
Still, Nellie liked a good challenge, and now more than ever, she wanted Meg to capture the heart of the wealthy man’s son just to rile Agnes. That would certainly be a thorn in the woman's social crown.
Holding her tea cup, she smiled at the ladies and made a toast, "May the most beautiful girl in Durango land Martin Scott’s heart."
"No doubt, my Edith will win his hand. I'll be sure to send you an invitation to the wedding," Agnes said with an evil laugh.
With a little more ump, Nellie’s tea cup crashed against Agnes, breaking and spilling tea on the woman. "Oh my," she said, feigning surprise. "Let's hope that's not a portent of things to come. Who knows, it could be me inviting you to my daughter’s ceremony."
Gasping with outrage, Agnes dabbed at the tea splattered on her dress. "Nellie Trippe, how careless."
No matter how much Nellie tried, her temper always seemed to bubble up and spew from her lips. Sometimes her ire spilled out, not showing her best personality trait.
"Oh, dear, Agnes, I'm so, so sorry. Your beautiful white blouse."
The woman fumed. "If our daughters were not best friends, I’d never speak to you again.”
"They are best friends, not caring that their mothers compete against one another," Nellie said with a smile that she knew didn't reach her eyes or her heart.
"Ladies, on that note, I think it's time to adjourn today's meeting," Francis said, trying to suppress a giggle.
Francis was right, but Nellie did enjoy sparring with Agnes, and tomorrow would be another day.
With a quick glance out the window at the melting snow, she said, "Maybe the February storms will hold off long enough for us to throw the best debutante ball ever.”
Chapter 3
Meg Trippe sat at the dinner table with her family, trying not to appear eager, wanting to rush back to her room and devour the new catalog Madam Juliette had loaned her. The woman shared her love for fashion and whenever one of them received a magazine or catalog, they passed it along to the other one.
Three more months, and she planned on setting off for New York to attend a fashion school she read about. Her father promised her he would help her fulfill her dream if she promised to return to Colorado if she became unhappy.
Why in the world would she be disappointed in New York?
Of course, at the moment, they were keeping this a secret from her mother until he had a chance to talk to her about Meg’s plans.
Plans her mother had not been interested in hearing about every time she tried to speak to her about her desires. Mother only had one thing in mind for Meg: A husband. A wealthy well-to-do man.
Which convinced Meg even more she needed to escape to New York City before the woman found someone for her to say I do to.
"The Quincy’s are hosting the annual debutante ball, which is now a Valentine's ball, because, the railroad tycoon, Benjamin Scott and his son are attending,” her mother announced, her eyes dancing with merriment.
Shocked, Meg glanced up. "Edith hasn't mentioned it to me."
Why did she have a bad feeling about this since her mother was so gleeful.
"Well, Agnes told all of us about the dance today at the social club. Seems the railroad tycoon is coming to town and he's bringing his son."
At first, no one looked up from their food, but continued eating. With a frown, her father asked, "Why is he coming to town? What's going on?"
Narrowing her eyes, Meg stared at her two younger sisters, giving them a warning look. Fannie rolled her large emerald eyes and tossed her long auburn hair. Daisy grinned like she could hardly wait.
Unfortunately, her youngest sister was her mother's daughter. Always hungry for a party. Often getting into trouble.
"Oh, Sidney, how am I supposed to know. All I heard from Agnes is that one of the most eligible bachelors in the state is coming to Durango.”
A groan escaped Meg’s lips and she wanted to be excused but feared that would not be allowed. Gazing around the table, her mother all but jumped up and down in her chair, brimming with excitement.
Still no one appeared enthused, except Daisy, whose large sapphire eyes grew wide. "Oh, is he the man who the gossip columnists have with a different woman every week? The one who dated a dancer in a saloon? Oh Meg, that could be your man."
How did this child ever learn this stuff? Meg narrowed her eyes at her youngest, irritating sibling.
"Where did you hear that information?" her mother asked, staring at Daisy.
Her sister knew how to get away with murder as long as she did what their mother wanted. She was beautiful, a book lover, and very smart, though a tad bit on the mischievous side. Or wild side.
A giggle came from Daisy. "Oh, Momma, the newspapers, of course."
A snort came from her father. “Nellie, your youngest daughter always reads the latest news."
It was true that her sister did enjoy a good newspaper, especially the society columns. Nothing earth shattering, only gossip.
"Well, maybe she shouldn't," Nellie said, looking at their father. "Besides, I don't believe the columnists. They're just trying to sell papers. I'm sure he's a fine, outstanding young man."
Almost choking on her food, Meg couldn't fathom her mother's determination. If a man came from high society, their mother didn't care what he did. As long as he was rich, he was potential husband material for her young daughters.
"And you would sell our daughters off to him," her father said.
"Not sell. But he would make Meg a wonderful husband."
Fear clutched her chest and lungs. Why did her mother act like she was not sitting at the table?
"Meg is not searching for a husband," she said, shooting an irritating look at her mother. "She has other plans."
Shaking her head, her mother barely acknowledged her words. "You are the most obstinate child. As your mother, I know what's best for you and a rich man will give you everything you need."
Why did her mother only want to focus on one thing, finding her a rich man to marry when Meg wanted a career as a dress designer, to see the world. Visit new places away from the mountains and snow and miners. Everywhere you looked there was a miner.
How exciting to experience life in New York City. Possibly even Paris. Anywhere, but nowhere Colorado.
Wisely, she realized now was not the time to mention her decision to her mother. Glancing at her father, he gave a quick shake of his head, confirming her intuition. Papa would help her mother see that Meg’s dreams did not include a man.
"When is the ball?" she asked, knowing how much she would enjoy making everyone a new dress. "I have that beautiful peach material, we bough just the other day."
Meg watched with interest, as her mother's face brightened and realized her mother assu
med she was designing the gown to impress the tycoon’s son. Who she could care less about.
In reality, it was because she enjoyed creating new designs. What the tycoon’s son thought of her new ball gown, she didn't really care.
Fannie smiled at her in that secretive sisterly way that let Meg know her sister understood she was only placating their mother. The dress would satisfy her until her father could talk to her mother about the school in New York.
At least her papa accepted her passion, her desire to work in the fashion world, even if he didn't like the idea of her going so far away.
"Are we going to the party?" Daisy asked.
“Everyone but you,” her mother replied. "This could be Meg’s opportunity to meet a fine young man. Just think, we could have a triple wedding."
There would be no marriage ceremony. After all, Daisy was only sixteen. Why did their mother want them to be married so quickly? What would keep her occupied once they were gone?
"Over my dead body," their father John said. "None of my girls will wed before they are eighteen and Daisy is too young. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, my daughters are not old enough to wed. You're the one pushing them out of the house."
“Meg is almost twenty, Fannie is eighteen and our baby is sixteen. Hardly children any longer.”
