Page 52 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
James ground his teeth together. He left and thought he might as well check this vicarage out. It was his only lead.
A sinner in a vicarage was the thought that amused James as he got into the carriage. “Vicarage,” James called to the driver.
It took them little time to find it, as the locals were all too eager to help. James peered out of the carriage window at the house. “Appalling,” he whispered. He stepped down out of the carriage. “I, hopefully, will not be long.”
“Right, Sir,” the driver said with a nod of his head.
James went to the door and gave it a sharp tap with the cane he carried. A moment later the door opened, and James’ eyes lowered at the boy who answered. “Tell Miss Browne that Lord Stanhope is here to see her, Boy,” he said with visible disgust.
The boy took off, letting the door swing shut. James rolled his eyes at being kept waiting outside by a child. When the door opened again, Miss Browne gave him an apologetic smile. “I am so sorry that you were left out here. Please come in,” Miss Browne pushed the door open wider and allowed him entrance.
Upon seeing the inside, James’ first instinct was to decline the invitation, but that would do nothing to ingratiate himself with his hostess. He stepped in with a smile. “When I realised that you had left London, I came to find you,” he said, fully expecting her to exclaim over his grand gesture, yet Miss Browne just turned to look at him in surprise.
“Find me?”
“Yes, well,” Lord Stanhope began, then stopped short as a chubby toddler ran between them. “Is there somewhere we can talk that is more private?”
Miss Browne frowned. “Their mother is out shopping, but I suppose Josh can watch them for a moment.” The boy who had answered the door nodded. “We can step outside the back door.”
Lord Stanhope followed her to the back door and stepped out onto a wooden porch. “Quaint,” he said before he turned to Miss Browne. “I promise I will not take long.”
Miss Browne frowned. “What is it that you want, Lord Stanhope?”
“I was hoping that you would consent to return to London,” he said with a charming smile. He watched Miss Browne and knew the woman found him attractive.
She had consented to go alone with him to a backyard. Her reputation was quite clear, and James was counting on it being absolutely true. “Hear me out,” James said as the woman opened her mouth to reply. “I want to marry you.”
That stopped Miss Browne in her tracks. Her mouth fell open. “You want to marry me?”
“Yes,” James said with a smile. “I adore you. You must know that.”
Miss Browne shook her head. “I do not know that. After all that has happened, why would you choose to marry me?”
“Do you mean that little thing at the tea party?” James waved his hand. “It is true that I was heartbroken to learn of your falsehood, but I want to give you the chance to make that right.”
Miss Browne shook her head. “Your offer is very generous, but I am afraid that I cannot.”
“Of course you can,” James said as he looped his arm around her waist. Miss Browne’s eyes went so wide that James wondered at how she was so good at that innocent act. He crushed his mouth against hers but she was pushing against him, hitting him. James released her and spat, “Stop the innocent act, Miss Browne. We both know exactly what you are.”
Miss Browne stared at him. “No matter what lies you believe, Lord Stanhope. I do not deserve this.”
“Just like every other harlot in London,” he quipped. “Come now, do you really think you will get another offer?”
Miss Browne’s eyes flashed, and James grinned. Miss Browne turned and went back inside with James right behind her. “This is not over. I made you a perfectly respectable offer, Miss Browne. Maybe marriage is not what you want. That could be arranged too.”
She turned so quickly that James had no time to block the slap that she laid across his cheek. “Get out of here! Get out and never come back!”
James looked around at the children who had come to the kitchen door to stare at them. Josh called, “Do you need help, Charlotte?”
“No, Josh,” Miss Browne said as she jutted her chin out proudly. “Lord Stanhope was just leaving.”
James sneered at the woman then elbowed through the gawking children. He left the vile house and spit upon its door. “Back to the inn,” he grumbled as he climbed into the carriage.
Miss Browne was a fool to turn him down. Even the life of a mistress was better than what she was enduring. Let her rot in that house with those brats.
*
After Lord Stanhope left, she spoke to the children to make sure they were unharmed. She had been a fool to let the man in, and she shook her head at herself. It was clear that Lord Stanhope believed the rumours about her.
