perhaps seek the help of one of
the many crackpot members of the Vanzagarian Society. Either way, she would put herself at great risk if
her fears proved true.
If they proved true.
There were a thousand reasons not to get involved with this woman, he thought. But he could not seem
to think of any of them at the moment.
"I will make some inquiries," he heard himself say cautiously. He saw her lips part. He raised his hand to
silence her. "If they confirm your concerns, we will discuss the matter further. But I make no promises
beyond that."
She gave him an unexpected smile, one that made the lantern light seem pale in comparison. "Thank you,
sir. I assure you that when this is finished, you shall have my father's journal to do with as you like."
"Yes," he said. "I will." One way or another.
"Now then," she said crisply "I expect you have some questions."
"I have a great many questions."
"I realize that what I have to tell you will sound somewhat bizarre, to say the least."
"No doubt."
"But I assure you, I have good reasons for my concerns."
"Speaking of the truth, madam ..."
She gave him an inquiring look. "Yes?"
"Since we have agreed that we will be honest with each other, you had best know here and now that I
find you very attractive, Madeline."
There was a heavy silence.
"Oh dear," she said eventually. "That is most unfortunate."
"No doubt, but there you have it."
"I had rather hoped we could avoid that particular complication."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"That makes two of us, madam."
"Nevertheless," she said briskly, "I expect you have an advantage over the other gentlemen who are
similarly afflicted."
"Afflicted." He thought about that. "Yes, the word does appear to apply to the problem."
She frowned. "You are certainly not the first man to suffer this peculiar interest in me."
"I should no doubt be relieved to learn that I am not alone."
She sighed. "There is no comprehending it, but in truth, I have received any number of notes and
bouquets from gentlemen during the past year. All of them seeking a romantical connection, if you can
believe it."
"I see."
"It is really quite odd, but Aunt Bernice has explained to me that a certain sort of gentleman is attracted
to widows. That sort is apparently under the impression that a lady in my position has had some
experience of the world and therefore a man need not concern himself with her, uh, lack of experience,
shall we say."
Artemas nodded wisely. "In other words, he need not be held back by a gentlemanly regard for her
innocence."
"Precisely. As Aunt Bernice says, there is, apparently, something about a widow."
"Mmm."
"Mind you, I can understand the appeal of experience to a man who is bent on conducting an affair with
a lady."
"Mmm."
She shook her head slightly. "But one would think that the rumors surrounding the manner in which I
achieved my widowhood would be somewhat off-putting to gentlemen."
"Indeed."
"Experience is all very well as far as it goes, but I confess I cannot comprehend the appeal of a lady who
is said to have murdered her husband in cold blood."
"There is no accounting for taste." He decided not to mention the standing wager in the club betting
books. The guarantee of a thousand pounds to any man who succeeded in spending a night with her was
quite sufficient to explain the bouquets and invitations she had received. But she might not appreciate that
fact.
She gave him an admonishing look. "My advice, sir, is to call upon your Vanza training to fortify yourself
against any interest you may have in forming a romantical connection with me."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He framed her face with his hands. "I am sorry to tell you that even my status as a master does not seem
to be proof against a desire to form a connection with you, Madeline."
Her eyes widened. "Truly?"
"Truly."
She swallowed
the many crackpot members of the Vanzagarian Society. Either way, she would put herself at great risk if
her fears proved true.
If they proved true.
There were a thousand reasons not to get involved with this woman, he thought. But he could not seem
to think of any of them at the moment.
"I will make some inquiries," he heard himself say cautiously. He saw her lips part. He raised his hand to
silence her. "If they confirm your concerns, we will discuss the matter further. But I make no promises
beyond that."
She gave him an unexpected smile, one that made the lantern light seem pale in comparison. "Thank you,
sir. I assure you that when this is finished, you shall have my father's journal to do with as you like."
"Yes," he said. "I will." One way or another.
"Now then," she said crisply "I expect you have some questions."
"I have a great many questions."
"I realize that what I have to tell you will sound somewhat bizarre, to say the least."
"No doubt."
"But I assure you, I have good reasons for my concerns."
"Speaking of the truth, madam ..."
She gave him an inquiring look. "Yes?"
"Since we have agreed that we will be honest with each other, you had best know here and now that I
find you very attractive, Madeline."
There was a heavy silence.
"Oh dear," she said eventually. "That is most unfortunate."
"No doubt, but there you have it."
"I had rather hoped we could avoid that particular complication."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"That makes two of us, madam."
"Nevertheless," she said briskly, "I expect you have an advantage over the other gentlemen who are
similarly afflicted."
"Afflicted." He thought about that. "Yes, the word does appear to apply to the problem."
She frowned. "You are certainly not the first man to suffer this peculiar interest in me."
"I should no doubt be relieved to learn that I am not alone."
She sighed. "There is no comprehending it, but in truth, I have received any number of notes and
bouquets from gentlemen during the past year. All of them seeking a romantical connection, if you can
believe it."
"I see."
"It is really quite odd, but Aunt Bernice has explained to me that a certain sort of gentleman is attracted
to widows. That sort is apparently under the impression that a lady in my position has had some
experience of the world and therefore a man need not concern himself with her, uh, lack of experience,
shall we say."
Artemas nodded wisely. "In other words, he need not be held back by a gentlemanly regard for her
innocence."
"Precisely. As Aunt Bernice says, there is, apparently, something about a widow."
"Mmm."
"Mind you, I can understand the appeal of experience to a man who is bent on conducting an affair with
a lady."
"Mmm."
She shook her head slightly. "But one would think that the rumors surrounding the manner in which I
achieved my widowhood would be somewhat off-putting to gentlemen."
"Indeed."
"Experience is all very well as far as it goes, but I confess I cannot comprehend the appeal of a lady who
is said to have murdered her husband in cold blood."
"There is no accounting for taste." He decided not to mention the standing wager in the club betting
books. The guarantee of a thousand pounds to any man who succeeded in spending a night with her was
quite sufficient to explain the bouquets and invitations she had received. But she might not appreciate that
fact.
She gave him an admonishing look. "My advice, sir, is to call upon your Vanza training to fortify yourself
against any interest you may have in forming a romantical connection with me."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He framed her face with his hands. "I am sorry to tell you that even my status as a master does not seem
to be proof against a desire to form a connection with you, Madeline."
Her eyes widened. "Truly?"
"Truly."
She swallowed
Similar Books
