Page 107 of The Viscount's Seduction
“Have you?” Her dark eyes sparkled. “His lordship has been talking.”
“Yes.”
“He didn’t approve of my marriage. One doesn’t marry one’s mark, he said. Had he been in town then, I might have exercised those combat capabilities on his person.”
“Is that why you agreed to be my—“
“Bakeley. Stop. The possibility of inflicting pain on the old man by toying with his heir sweetened the chase for me, but do not fear that was the only reason I pursued you.”
“Youpursuedme?”
She waved the question away. “My marriage was practical and friendly, but my husband’s health issues... Ah, well, in spite of my services to His Majesty’s Government, I went to Arbrough as a maiden and we both did our duty. However, after his death, I wanted to experience...the virility of a handsome young man. And I knew you would be safe. Sensible.”
“Safe and sensible.” His jaw ached with clenching it. Why not addboring.
“Safe and sensible with me, a woman you didn’t love, and would never love. That is a compliment, Bakeley. I am sure you are reckless and feckless with Lady Sirena, which is how it must be when a man is head over ears with a woman. It’s good you came to me to help her achieve justice. What is it you’d have me do?”
He was head over ears in love with Sirena?
He scratched a spot on his jaw that he’d missed with his hurried shaving.
Love? Was that what this was?
Lady Arbrough laughed. “Clever girl. The seduction has not all been one way, I see. Now, I have another engagement this morning, so if there’s something you wish—”
“Yes.” He blinked away the muddling thoughts—Jocelyn pursuing him, Sirena seducing him. “Yes, there is something I wish.”
Awhilelater Bakeley rose to escort Lady Arbrough out.
“Go ahead, Bakeley. I shall find my own way. It’s not wise for us to be seen together.”
“Perhaps.” He took her hand and tucked it under his arm. “But come. Let us brave Madame together.”
They’d talked long enough that the modiste had opened her shop to at least one customer, a plainly dressed lady, a maid surely, who she chatted with at the ribbon counter.
Madame left her and hurried to the rich viscount and wealthy widow. “May I help you with anything else, my lord, my lady?”
Just then the dark figure at the counter turned and shock spread across the maid’s face.
Bakeley’s breath froze. It was Barton, his future business partner.
He nodded to her and turned back to Madame. “Thank you for allowing us the use of your office.” Then he bowed to Lady Arbrough. “Good day, my lady.”
As he trotted down the steps and called for his horse, he calculated how long his next business with his father would take, and how long it would take Barton to return to Shaldon House.
An unmarked carriage waited a few doors down, for Jocelyn perhaps, though the rig must be a new one. The Shaldon coach was not around. Barton must have come alone and walked.
Blast it, he needed to get home to Sirena before Barton reached her with the tale.
Sirena washedand breakfasted in her chamber. Lady Jane and Barton had gone out on errands, so she’d have to fend off visitors with no more than the aid of Lady Perry.
In no hurry to meet callers, she let Jenny help her into one of her new gowns and dress her hair in an elaborate, time-consuming coif of small braids and curls.
She eyed herself in the looking glass. “Put a daisy chain around my neck, and I’ll look like the pony for the May crowning cart.”
Jenny’s lips firmed, and Sirena touched the girl’s hand.
“Oh, this mouth of mine—don’t be offended. It’s lovely, it is, Jenny. You’ve a knack for turning me into a thing of beauty. It’s only that I’m not used to it.”
