Page 28 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘Yes, her grace insisted that I be included in the invitation.’
‘Surely, as my mother’s companion, you would be included at entertainments at the Court as a matter of course?’
Florentina smiled. ‘For some reason I don’t find favour with the duchess.’
Once again Adam laughed. ‘Why am I not surprised to hear it?’
‘I’ve shown her nothing but the respect due to her position so I can’t see why she should object to me.’
Adam smiled and kissed the end of her nose. ‘I dare say you cannot.’
‘You shall not mind the occasion?’
‘I shan’t mind it if you’re there.’
‘Oh, I shall fade into the background and defer to my betters.’
‘I doubt you’ll be permitted to do that by the gentlemen present.’ Adam cocked a brow. ‘But I hope you don’t encounter any of your customers there.’
‘What customers?’ Florentina frowned. ‘Oh…oh yes, I see what you mean. However, I’m sure that situation won’t arise.’
Adam appeared vastly amused. ‘And what else did my mother have to say about tomorrow’s entertainment?’
‘She wondered if you would wear your dress uniform. She said you’d look very handsome if you did and that it would make the duchess realise what she’d thrown away. That’s not my opinion, of course.’ Florentina thought it important to make that point clear. ‘About your looking handsome in your uniform, I mean. It’s merely a mother’s partiality clouding her judgement.’
‘And so you wouldn’t wish me to wear my uniform?’
‘It’s not of the slightest consequence to me what you wear.’ Florentina tossed her head. ‘You must do as you see fit.’
‘I will wear it then, but only if you ask me to.’
‘But that’s not fair!’ She felt most put-upon. ‘If I say you should not wear it you will disappoint your mother. But if I suggest you do, you will think it matters to me.’ He said nothing, and smiled in a disarming manner that she refused to acknowledge was attractive. ‘Oh, very well then, for your mother’s sake, perhaps you ought to wear your wretched uniform.’ She tilted her chin with as much dignity as she could muster. ‘But I hope it’s far too hot and that you suffer for the entire evening.’
‘I dare say I shall suffer, but not for the reasons you suggest. Come on.’ He helped her with her clothing and draped her cloak around her shoulders. ‘I’ll escort you safely back to the dower house before I forget myself entirely.’
Chapter Seven
Florentina shot frequent quizzical glances in Adam’s direction as he walked her back to the dower house. It was full dark but thanks to the moon he could clearly detect the confusion in her eyes, no doubt brought about by the change in his attitude towards her. She had expected to be used like a courtesan but he had treated her with the courtesy due to a lady of quality. It would be enough to confuse anyone. She shivered and pulled her cloak more closely about her.
‘Are you cold?’
‘A little. I don’t think I shall ever get accustomed to the damp climate in England.’
‘In which case we ought to get you back indoors.’
Her poise deserted her completely when he bowed formally over her hand, kissed the back of it and wished her good-night.
‘But, I don’t?’
‘Shush!’ Adam placed a finger against her lips. She had not lowered her voice and sound carried at night. ‘We will talk another time.’
He left her before the desire to kiss her witless overcame common sense and strolled back to the Court, his mood exuberant. Florentina wasnota courtesan. He’d known it almost immediately and his newfound knowledge filled him with huge joy. It also explained a great deal about her behaviour, so innocent and unworldly that all along he’d had great difficulty believing she was what she claimed to be.
Not that she’d ever actually said she was a courtesan. He had made that assumption and she hadn’t denied it, even though it put her position with his mother in peril. Why? What was her real connection to Christine? Why would she offer herself to him rather than reveal her true reason for being in the district?
Adam fully intended to find out.
By the following morning he was still in high spirits when Philippa cornered him in the breakfast parlour.
