A Scandalous Proposal by Julia Justiss Page A

usual in the completion of a design, when she was seized from behind and two hands clamped over her eyes. After an initial terrified squeak, she caught at the imprisoning wrists. “Evan, stop! I’ve work to finish.”
    â€œIt will wait, sweeting. I’ve a surprise to show you that cannot. Come, Francesca will take you.”
    â€œBut the shop…the customers—”
    â€œCan return later. Francesca has your cloak and reticule. I’ll see you shortly.” He leaned over to give her a lingering kiss, then released her wrists. “You know the place, Francesca?” He turned to the maid.
    â€œAye, my lord. Half an hour, we come.”
    â€œGood.” Grinning like a small boy inordinately pleased with himself, he strode out.
    Totally at sea, Emily followed the maid outside and into the waiting hackney. During the drive, she tried to questionFrancesca, but the maid would only shake her head and smile, her dark eyes dancing with excitement.
    Wherever could he be sending her? Panic flared briefly and died. No, if he were thoughtful enough to honor her unspoken preferences and provide a hackney to convey her separately, rather than taking her up in his crested carriage, surely he was not going to meet her in some public place. And she’d detailed in quite plain, emphatic terms that she neither wanted nor would accept gowns, jewels or other frippery gifts. What could it be, then?
    The jarvey left the mercantile district near St. James and headed south. At last the conveyance pulled to a stop on a quiet street before a handsome brick town house.
    A liveried footman escorted her up the broad front stairs. Francesca trailing close behind, she followed him through the graceful Adam doorway into a marble entry hall. A smiling Evan awaited her.
    â€œHush, don’t say anything yet.” He put a finger to her lips. “Let me show you around.”
    â€œBut I have work and—”
    He silenced her with a kiss. “Indulge me for just a little while. Francesca, there’s tea in the kitchen.”
    With a curtsey, the maid left. Clamping her hand on his arm, Evan proceeded to conduct her through the dwelling, from the reception rooms on the first floor to the spacious parlor and dining room and several bedchambers above.
    It was indeed a lovely house. A lovely little love nest in which a rich man could install his mistress. As they went from room to room, her distress and anger grew until, as he grandly opened a door to lead her into a bedchamber so truly lovely she wanted to weep, she could stand it no more.
    Jerking free of his arm, she paced to the window, staring sightlessly at the street outside to keep her voice steady. “I do not want it. I will not have it! Did I not tell you so before?”
    â€œBut my dear, I thought you were very satisfied with the growth of your millinery business.”
    â€œI will not be—” His words finally penetrated her fury, and she stopped short. “My business? What has the shop to do with this?”
    â€œEverything, of course. What did you think I had in mind? Come, sit.”
    Before she could think to resist, he took her arm and led her to an elegant Georgian settee upholstered in pale jade satin, tugging the bellpull as they passed. His face guileless as an altar boy’s, he turned back to her. “Francesca will bring us tea.”
    Irritation returned in a rush. “I’ve no need of tea. I have that business you mentioned to run.”
    â€œWhich is precisely what we need to discuss. Sit, sit!” Placing both hands on her shoulders, he urged her onto the sofa and took a place beside her.
    â€œHave you not several times said how it pained you to design a bonnet, only to see the effect spoiled by having the silly client pair it with a disaster of a dress? That you would like to create the entire ensemble, from bonnet to gown to half-boots?”
    â€œWell, yes, but I don’t