him. No small part of him had the meanness
she despised. Oh, he was selfish, no doubt. But not mean.
No, she felt no triumph in this victory.
She felt drained. She felt beaten.
She walked out of the room, closing the door
softly behind her. And even though the sun still shone, she went
to her room, laying wearily on the bed, and slept until morning.
Seven
J ameson and Robin arrived for dinner the next
night. Jameson gave her ear a small sniff going in. “Just seeing
if you’ve recovered yet from our little escapade.”
She sniffed. “Yes, although it was not
without some loss of dignity. And you?”
He held his arms wide. “You’re welcome to
test me.”
She gave him an arch look. “And your valet?
Has he recovered?”
“Should he eventually recover, I think it
unlikely he will ever forgive me. I’ve been forced to order an
obscene amount of clothing to placate him.”
“An expensive outing.”
“You’ve no idea. However, to see your smiling
face is all the thanks I need.” He smiled charmingly at her.
She looked at him, surprised. “Am I smiling?”
“My dear, any expression less murderous than
what you were previously directing at me I will consider happy
and carefree.”
She laughed. “Then you may consider it
successful; kindly do not upset me quite so violently again. I
have no desire to revisit the Smithfield cattle market ever again.”
He looked crestfallen, then rallied. “I
thought it unlikely I could ever get you there again. I shall
have to find another destination; that will be easier than
keeping you happy.”
She pursed her lips and turned toward her
dinner. “You mean easier than restricting yourself to socially
acceptable behavior.”
“That, too.”
It took only a whispered word from Jameson to
her mother to clear the room after dinner. Lady Beckham
absconded with Robin and Amelia was left alone with the
reprobate.
She nodded at his offer of a drink and he
turned to fill their glasses. “My mother is on your side, I
see.”
“I can’t decide if she thinks me a good
candidate for son-in-law, or if she thinks it unlikely you will
ever accept so why not play along, or if at this point any
bachelor would get her help in getting you married. In any case,
I will accept any assistance from her. Or anyone, really.”
“I did wonder at cook’s choices for this
evening. All my favorite dishes. Was that to put me in a good
mood?”
He threw a smile over his shoulder. “Noticed,
did you? I can’t even take the credit. Your mother did that on
her own.”
“Hmm. I don’t like this collusion between you
two. At least Robin is not in on it.”
“I don’t know what you did to the boy but he
will not hear a word about it. And I, his closest friend.”
He handed her a drink and she nodded her
thanks. “I had to make it clear early on that he was not to
interfere in such matters. It would have become too much for
either of us.”
“Well, he is heeding your word. I’m surprised
your mother was able to get him to quit the room so easily.
Don’t give him too much grief for it.”
She smiled slightly. “No. He has always been
the dutiful son; mother could get him to do anything. It is
lucky for me she does not abuse the power.”
“Lucky for him, I suspect. Was your mother
anymore like you, poor Robin would be trapped between the devil
and the deep blue sea.”
She laughed self-reproachfully. “And this is
what you wish to marry? Perhaps you should put this fanciful
notion out of your head and consider yourself lucky I did not
accept.”
“My dear, I would be the luckiest of men if
you accepted my proposal, despite your sharp tongue. I wish you
would reconsider it. You would keep me in line and I would keep
you entertained. What more are you looking for?”
“I don’t know what I am looking for. I had
thought I would recognize it when I saw it.”
“I recognize
she despised. Oh, he was selfish, no doubt. But not mean.
No, she felt no triumph in this victory.
She felt drained. She felt beaten.
She walked out of the room, closing the door
softly behind her. And even though the sun still shone, she went
to her room, laying wearily on the bed, and slept until morning.
Seven
J ameson and Robin arrived for dinner the next
night. Jameson gave her ear a small sniff going in. “Just seeing
if you’ve recovered yet from our little escapade.”
She sniffed. “Yes, although it was not
without some loss of dignity. And you?”
He held his arms wide. “You’re welcome to
test me.”
She gave him an arch look. “And your valet?
Has he recovered?”
“Should he eventually recover, I think it
unlikely he will ever forgive me. I’ve been forced to order an
obscene amount of clothing to placate him.”
“An expensive outing.”
“You’ve no idea. However, to see your smiling
face is all the thanks I need.” He smiled charmingly at her.
She looked at him, surprised. “Am I smiling?”
“My dear, any expression less murderous than
what you were previously directing at me I will consider happy
and carefree.”
She laughed. “Then you may consider it
successful; kindly do not upset me quite so violently again. I
have no desire to revisit the Smithfield cattle market ever again.”
He looked crestfallen, then rallied. “I
thought it unlikely I could ever get you there again. I shall
have to find another destination; that will be easier than
keeping you happy.”
She pursed her lips and turned toward her
dinner. “You mean easier than restricting yourself to socially
acceptable behavior.”
“That, too.”
It took only a whispered word from Jameson to
her mother to clear the room after dinner. Lady Beckham
absconded with Robin and Amelia was left alone with the
reprobate.
She nodded at his offer of a drink and he
turned to fill their glasses. “My mother is on your side, I
see.”
“I can’t decide if she thinks me a good
candidate for son-in-law, or if she thinks it unlikely you will
ever accept so why not play along, or if at this point any
bachelor would get her help in getting you married. In any case,
I will accept any assistance from her. Or anyone, really.”
“I did wonder at cook’s choices for this
evening. All my favorite dishes. Was that to put me in a good
mood?”
He threw a smile over his shoulder. “Noticed,
did you? I can’t even take the credit. Your mother did that on
her own.”
“Hmm. I don’t like this collusion between you
two. At least Robin is not in on it.”
“I don’t know what you did to the boy but he
will not hear a word about it. And I, his closest friend.”
He handed her a drink and she nodded her
thanks. “I had to make it clear early on that he was not to
interfere in such matters. It would have become too much for
either of us.”
“Well, he is heeding your word. I’m surprised
your mother was able to get him to quit the room so easily.
Don’t give him too much grief for it.”
She smiled slightly. “No. He has always been
the dutiful son; mother could get him to do anything. It is
lucky for me she does not abuse the power.”
“Lucky for him, I suspect. Was your mother
anymore like you, poor Robin would be trapped between the devil
and the deep blue sea.”
She laughed self-reproachfully. “And this is
what you wish to marry? Perhaps you should put this fanciful
notion out of your head and consider yourself lucky I did not
accept.”
“My dear, I would be the luckiest of men if
you accepted my proposal, despite your sharp tongue. I wish you
would reconsider it. You would keep me in line and I would keep
you entertained. What more are you looking for?”
“I don’t know what I am looking for. I had
thought I would recognize it when I saw it.”
“I recognize
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