Page 18 of Only a Lyon Will Do
“I thought you were over your feelings for Rowley, my pet,” Oliver sneered while he examined the sleeve of his jacket with feigned nonchalance.
“I am,” Florinda murmured as she masked her face in what she hoped appeared as unconcern. She was becoming increasingly aware of Oliver’s jealous side, and it had begun to make her uncomfortable and wary of triggering it. Although Oliver had been generous with his gifts to her of late, his performance while in bed had become a bit rough for her tastes and she wasn’t entirely sure she wished to continue their association.
“Your face tells me differently. I must admit I enjoyed taunting the man at the Lyon’s Den recently when he lost a fair number of coins to me in one hand of cards, but I was disappointed to learn he did not seem to unduly regret the loss of his fundsorthe loss of you. He didn’t seem to care one bit that you had taken me as a lover,” Oliver said with an evil looking smile.
“You told him about us?” she said.
A chuckle rumbled within his chest. “Oh, I did and I took great pleasure in doing so. Rowley has been a thorn in my side since our days together at Oxford. He was always a step or two ahead of me and it made me… well… let us just say I don’t like coming in second to him—or anyone, for that matter,” he snarled while watching her intently.
But youweresecond to him, she thought.That can’t be changed.Oliver was her lover now, but there was no denying that he had come into her life only after Asher had grown disenchanted with her company—he had been a happy diversion when Asher’s absence made her lonely. And he had been a magnificent lover until the last few days. What had changed? Did the confirmation that Asher no longer had any interest in her diminish her value in Oliver’s eyes? Everything between them had certainly changed after Asher had given her a settlement and left her the townhouse.
A snort and some other grunt that sounded much like displeasure left the man sitting next to her. “You think of him even now, don’t you, my pet?” he snarled in disgust. “But no matter. You are mine to do with as I please. However, I think my patience and our outing for the day are both at an end.”
She stole a glance at the man who clearly felt he had some kind of hold on her. Instead of responding to the latter part of his words, she answered the first part. “I never said I was thinking of Lord Rowley.”
He reached over to roughly take her hand. “You didn’t have to. I am not some simpleton that you can wrap around your finger to get whatever you may want, nor am I foolish enough to think your feelings for Rowley are at an end just because he no longer desires you.”
She couldn’t help the flinch that followed his assessment and his laughter rang out in the afternoon air. When his fingers tightened around her wrist, she gasped at the pain before she quickly recovered. “I would never call you a fool, my lord.”
He let go and Florinda rubbed away the ache from his touch. “Good! Then we understand one another.”
Oliver quickly gave instructions to his driver to return to her townhouse. Florinda could only dread whatever the remainder of the afternoon would hold for her. As soon as they returned to her townhouse, she would end her association with Oliver Pitt. If the knowledge that he held some long-standing grudge against Asher hadn’t convinced her, then his recent treatment of her certainly did. She would be better off alone than under his dominating control.
Chapter Thirteen
Much to hisregret, Asher could no longer deny he had growing feelings for Persephone…Patience, he quickly corrected inside his head. Although she had remained mostly silent during the carriage ride the other day, he could see for himself the natural grace the lady comported herself with. She was indeed a rare jewel compared to the ladies who had previously been thrust upon him in Society. His brother had been right… she was one of the most beautiful women Asher had ever beheld.
Which brought to mind the problem with Gideon. Clearly his own brother felt some claim upon the lady. Asher halted his thoughts and downed his drink before asking a servant to bring him another. He had to admit that he had completely forgotten all about poor Gideon once Patience had been properly introduced to him, even though in the moments before Patience had entered the room, all of his thoughts had been for Gideon, and his clear excitement.
His brother had been so happy knowing the nurse he held some affection for was about to meet his older brother. His gushing admiration for the woman had only made Asher wonder if this woman could possibly do any wrong. But when Asher had turned from the window to see for himself the lady hisbrother cared for, any further thoughts flew from Asher’s mind. Unfortunately, that included any thoughts of consideration for the feelings Gideon clearly had for the woman.
The reality of the situation was brought to his attention after their ride when Asher had been assisting Gideon back to his room at the doctor’s residence. His brother had ranted about how Patience would just be another thing that he would lose to his titled brother. The hatred that had spilled from Gideon’s lips tore at Asher’s heart until he left the room. His brother was dealing with enough mental anguish from his time in France. Asher didn’t want to be the cause of more.
But what was the solution? To avoid Patience and allow a romance between her and Gideon to develop? No, he couldn’t reconcile himself to that when after just one look into the eyes of the lady, Asher became completely besotted. The sound of her voice haunted him day and night for the past week. A flash of memory when she would gaze upon him with those mesmerizing hazel eyes would pop into his head at the most unexpected moments. And that kiss they shared… Bloody Hell! A part of him rose to the occasion whenever he thought of her in his arms too. It was as though she had been made just for him. Yes… as Patience had mentioned, there was a first time for everyone and Asher had to finally admit that he was falling completely under the lady’s spell.
“Your drink, my lord,” a servant said pulling Asher out of his thoughts and returning back to the present.
Asher nodded as he returned his attention to his friends who stood before him. But Lucius and Valentine were both conversing as though Asher had been listening the entire time. Even when Asher stood to tell them he would see them in the gambling room, they continued their discussion leaving Asher alone with his thoughts—including the dreaded realization that if he didn’t do something quickly, he would lose the one womanhe had ever met that had held his fascination. He couldn’t allow her to marry some other man, not when there was any breath left in his body.
He made his way into the gambling room and went to the first bouncer he saw. “Demetrius, would you find out if Mrs. Dove-Lyon would see me?” Asher inquired. He could only imagine what the woman’s face would appear like once she learned that Asher was requesting an audience with her.
“Right away, my lord,” the wolf said as he went to find the widow.
She kept him waiting for a full half of an hour. When Demetrius finally returned, he informed Asher that Mrs. Dove-Lyon would see him in a private salon. He followed the bouncer to another place in the Lyon’s Den Asher hadn’t been before—a pleasing room filled with roses of every color. The widow must have a hot house somewhere on her property to have roses in full bloom at this time of the year.
“Lord Rowley… what a pleasant surprise. I understand you wished to have a private word with me,” she cooed sweetly.
Asher could only imagine the smug look of satisfaction the lady had on her face beneath her heavy veil. “Thank you for obliging me, Mrs. Dove-Lyon.”
“I do what I can for my most…waryclients,” she declared raising a blood-red rose to her veil. She held the bloom there for several seconds before she dropped her hand to her side.
“And am I?” Asher inquired as politely as he could manage. He felt as though he had become trapped in a plan of this woman’s making despite Asher’s best attempts to remain unentangled.
“Are you what, my lord?” The woman’s voice practically dripped with sweet sarcasm.
“One of your wary clients?” he finally admitted.
A light laugh emitted through her veil and she finally went to an empty chair to sit. “You tell me, my lord. You have certainly been one of the more difficult men I have dealt with. I can see for myself that you are definitely guarded.”
