The Regency Season: Blackmailed Brides. Sarah Mallory

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      It was very quiet in the drawing room and she wondered perhaps if Lord Adversane had had enough of his cousin’s inconsequential chatter and retired. She stepped back into the room, and gave a little start when she realised that it was Mrs Dean who was missing. Her host was standing by the empty fireplace.

      ‘You are very quiet this evening, Miss Halbrook.’

      She sat down and folded her hands in her lap. She must take this opportunity to say what was on her mind.

      ‘I was wondering, my lord, if you wished me to leave. If I go now there is still time for you to find someone else.’

      ‘Do you wish to go?’

      She shook her head. ‘My circumstances have not changed. I am still in need of employment.’

      ‘And I am still in need of a fiancée. It seems logical, therefore, that we should continue.’ He paused. ‘You are smiling, Miss Halbrook. Have I said something to amuse you?’

      ‘You make it all sound so simple. A mere business arrangement.’

      ‘Which is what it is.’

      She looked down at her hands.

      ‘But this afternoon, in the stable yard—’

      ‘A little misunderstanding,’ he interposed. ‘Brought on by the excitement of the ride. It will not be allowed to happen again.’

      ‘No, my lord?’

      ‘You sound sceptical.’

      ‘I am, a little.’ She continued, with some difficulty, ‘I know—I have been told—that when a man and a woman are thrown into a situation, when they are alone together...’

      She blushed, not knowing how to go on.

      ‘I understand you,’ he said quietly, ‘but you have nothing of that nature to fear. Let us speak plainly, madam. I have no designs upon your virtue and no intention of seducing you.’

      His blunt words should have been reassuring, but she was contrary enough to feel slighted by them. She kept her eyes lowered and heard him exhale, almost like a sigh.

      ‘Believe me, Miss Halbrook, you will be quite safe here. I can assure you that even strong passions can be assuaged with hard work and exercise. And if not... Well, for a man at least there are establishments that cater for his needs.’ Lucy bent her head even more to hide her burning cheeks. He continued after an infinitesimal pause, ‘But perhaps that is a little too much plain speaking, and a subject not suited to a young lady’s ears.’

      ‘Not at all. I value your honesty, sir.’

      She had not raised her head and now she heard his soft footsteps approaching. She looked up to find him standing over her.

      ‘And I value yours. You are a sensible young woman, which is what I require in my hostess. A simple business transaction, Miss Halbrook. Can you manage that?’

      She did not answer immediately. It should be easy, he made it sound so reasonable. Yet some instinct urged caution. She stifled it. If Lord Adversane could approach this in a logical fashion, then she could, too. After taking a few deep breaths she straightened her shoulders.

      ‘Yes, my lord, I can.’

      * * *

      A simple business transaction.

      The words echoed around Lucy’s head when she lay in her bed through the dark reaches of the night. She could do this. The remuneration was worth a little sacrifice, surely. And if she was honest, the only sacrifice was that she should not allow herself to flirt with Lord Adversane. He roused in her a girlish spirit that had no place in her life now. When he was near she wanted to tease him, to make him laugh and drive away the sombre look that too often haunted his eyes. But his sorrow was none of her concern and she must be careful not to compromise herself.

      ‘I must not be alone with him, that is all,’ she told herself.

      Surely that was no very arduous task when he had even brought in Ariadne to act as chaperone. All she had to do was to live like a lady in this beautiful house for another few weeks and she would walk away with more money than she could earn in a year. She turned over and cradled her cheek in her hand, finally falling asleep while engaged in the delightful task of thinking just what she might do with such a sum.

      * * *

      Lucy awoke to another brilliantly sunny day. Her spirits were equally bright. For a while, yesterday, she had thought she would be leaving all this luxury behind. Instead, she had a delectable prospect ahead of her. A visit from the dressmaker.

      * * *

      ‘Byrne, where is Lord Adversane?’

      Miss Halbrook’s enquiry echoed around the stone walls of the Great Hall. If the butler noted her flushed cheeks or the martial light in her eye he showed no sign of it and calmly informed her that she would find his lordship with Mr Colne.

      It took Lucy a little time to find the steward’s office for she had not before entered the service wing of the house, but the delay did nothing to cool her temper. She knocked briefly and walked in without waiting for a response.

      Lord Adversane and Mr Colne were standing by a large table, studying a plan of the estate.

      ‘I would like to speak to you, my lord,’ she said without preamble.

      He raised his brows.

      ‘Can it not wait?’ One look at her face gave him his answer. He turned to Mr Colne. ‘Harry, will you go on to the stables and have the horses saddled? I will join you in five minutes.’ As the door closed behind the steward he leaned back against the table. ‘Very well, Miss Halbrook, what is it you want to say to me?’

      ‘It concerns the dressmaker.’

      He glanced at the clock. ‘Has she not arrived?’

      ‘Oh, yes, she is here, my lord. She informs me that you have given her instructions—precise instructions—on the gowns she is to provide, down to the very colours and fabrics to be used.’

      ‘What of it?’

      ‘What—?’ She stared at him. ‘It is usual, my lord, for ladies to make their own decisions on what they wear.’

      ‘Do you not like the colours?’

      ‘That is not the point—’

      ‘And are the gowns too unfashionable for you?’

      ‘Not at all, but—’

      ‘Then I really do not see the problem.’

      Lucy drew in a long and angry breath.

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