Page 49 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
He reached to take her hand once more and stroked her knuckles. “I will do what she wants, Gus.”
“Ah. And will I?” she threw back at him.
“I hope you will agree,” he said with equanimity. “I wish to go in peace and with your aunt’s blessing.”
Gus considered that, for whatever good reason came to her.
Kane had to give her cover and solace. “Darling,” he appealed to her in a murmur. “We must be rational. We need to do this with full cooperation from your aunt. She can tell others of her approval and not raise any eyebrows.”
He would need the countess to present his and Gus’s absence in the best light. They would be gone, and for who knew how long? He needed cover, and so did Gus. If the countess did not provide it, both of them were sure to encounter problems when they returned, no matter how well they succeeded or failed in their search for St. Antoine. “Gus, it is essential that your aunt approve of us.”
She heaved a big sigh of acceptance and spun away from him. “Tell him, Aunt, what you want.”
“Thank you, sir.” The countess, in her element of unimpeachable power, was gracious in her victory.
He waited.
“I ask this of you, sir, because you are a man of integrity. You would not be here with the duty to negotiate these contracts were you a charlatan.” She strode near and resumed her chair. “You grow intimate with each other. Enchanting kisses often lead to more. On the verandas, in carriages. Receiving theapplause, no less, of passersby. Yet days are too early for you to decide to go away together.
“But I do not debate your timing, only the results of this holiday you share. You may have only kisses now, but we know what they lead to. For a man, it’s one thing, a feather in his hat, to say he’s claimed a lover. It is even better for his manly reputation if he can say he has enjoyed many women, many affairs. I know not how many you have had, Lord Ashley, and I will not ask. The number is irrelevant to my needs. I simply want the best result for my niece. She can decide to go away with you, sir. It is her right. She is old and wise enough to do this. But I am old enough and wise enough to ask one thing.”
“Name it,” he declared, eager to be done with this confrontation.
“If Augustine returns a woman educated in the fine arts of intimacy, I have no objections to that. It can be a joy to learn. You appear to be the man, sir, who can enlighten her. If, however, she has asked you to remain celibate with her until such time as she decides if she is infatuated with you, that is better.”
The woman pursed her lips and, for a moment, gazed toward the window…and, dare he say, he thought she stared with melancholy into her past.
“Do know, sir, I have taught Augustine the ways to prevent pregnancy. It is up to her and—I hope—up to you to employ them if indeed neither of you wishes to have issue from this escapade. Yet I know, as do you both, those measures often fail. But if Augustine returns here with child, I will press you both to marry.”
He could have predicted as much. “Yes. I hear you.”
Gus’s green eyes grew wide with anger. “Let us go, my lord.”
“No need to leave. I shall!” The countess got to her feet. “You will, I assume, Lord Ashley, take appropriate precautions as you leave the city?”
Kane appreciated the woman’s thoroughness. “I have protections for us.”
The countess put out her hand. Approval was in her stern expression. “Take excellent care of her, sir. I have loved this child since the day she was born. I have saved her from all sorts of terrors from her parents and their inadequacies. I wish my niece to have a joyous life, and that does include the opportunity to fall in love without impediments. But I also wish to see she have a happy life beyond this room, this time, this court. Should you provide any deterrents to that, sir, I warn you, I may look like a shallow woman, but I have my abilities. I will use them.”
He took her proffered hand. “I understand. Thank you.”
Gus stood, arms crossed, tapping one foot against the glossy marble tiles.
When the countess had retired and the door was closed, Kane braced himself for the torrential storm he’d now navigate.
*
Gus headed towardthe door, where she bent and snatched up her parasol. Then she swirled toward him. Her face held all the emotions he expected. Insult, anger—and a staunch determination. “Shall we go?”
Awash in pride for her, Kane stepped forward to offer his arm. “I thought we’d take a drive across to the left bank today.”
“Perfect.” She bit off the word even while her nails dug into the sleeve of his superfine frock coat. She jabbed her parasol tip into the floor as they strode from the salon to the staircase. “I want to kiss you in broad daylight.”
He said nothing. He wanted more than that, more than one kiss today. More than the threat of none ever after.
They had climbed into the landau, he facing her in the seat opposite.
He waited until the coachman directed the horses to walk on before he spoke. “Tonight we leave the city in the still of the night.”
