Page 30 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘So you have already said, my dear. But as you have yet to explain what it is that you fail to understand, I don’t see how I can enlighten you.’
‘Lord Fitzroy, of course. I don’t understand what he requires of me.’
Christine arched a brow. ‘After last night, I should think that would be obvious.’
‘But that’s precisely my point!’ Florentina paused in her pacing and turned to face her friend, impatient with her for being so dense. ‘Nothing happened between us.’
‘What! Adam didn’t do anything?’ Christine frowned and nibbled the end of her index finger. ‘This is very strange indeed.’
‘That is what I’ve been trying to explain.’
‘Tell me everything that did happen, from the moment when you arrived in the summerhouse, and we will see if we can make any sense of it all.’
‘It all started as you predicted. He awaited me and seemed to admire my gown very much.’
Christine chuckled. ‘I am perfectly sure that he did.’
‘And we had a glass of champagne and conversed for a while. He was as detached as always, if slightly less severe, and then…’
‘Yes,’ Christine encouraged when Florentina’s words trailed to an embarrassed halt. ‘Then what happened?’
‘He asked me about my customers here. If I frequented the card rooms and whether Lord Witherington still liked to play backgammon.’
‘Ah!’ Christine appeared to be having trouble maintaining her countenance. ‘What did you tell him?’
‘I don’t have a clue who Lord Witherington is, obviously. But I thought it safe to say that I sometimes play backgammon with him and that he always beats me.’
Christine’s helpless laughter was the last response Florentina had expected. She felt her cheeks flaming. ‘Adam couldn’t stop laughing either. It was most insulting!’
‘I’m sorry,’ Christine spluttered, mopping her eyes. ‘But you see, Witherington is a sodomite, darling.’
‘Oh.’
‘It’s common knowledge.’
‘Yes, but?’
‘Backgammon is brothel slang for his penchant. Even the newest recruit to this establishment would be aware of that.’
‘Dios mío!I suppose that would explain it. I made a complete fool of myself and he must realise now that I do not work here.’ Florentina felt rather stupid and glared at Christine for having the audacity to laugh at her. ‘But he seemed to be in a very good mood after his discovery and treated me with great respect.’ She threw herself into a chair and continued to work upon her scowl. ‘I do not understand the English mentality at all. It is all most confusing.’
‘Oh, Florentina, you are such a simpleton. He treated you with respect because he didn’t want you to be a courtesan.’
Florentina blinked in confusion. ‘He did not?’
‘Most assuredly. Something in your manner must have given you away and so he tested you with the question about Witherington. Anyway, I fail to see why you are in such a dudgeon. You didn’t want to enter into the assignation in the first place.’ Christine regarded Florentina with a shrewd expression. ‘Or did you?’
‘Of course not! And I am not in a dudgeon, but simply confused.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Christine’s eyes were again alight with amusement. ‘Forgive me.’
‘I think you could be right, about his being glad that I don’t work here, I mean. He said my position with his mother is secure, at least for the time being.’
‘Well, there you are then. We both know he wouldn’t countenance having a lady of loose morals in constant company with his mother.’ It was Christine’s turn to scowl. ‘This does however present us with a different set of problems.’
‘Yes, now he will want to know what brought me here at the dead of night after he rescued me from the Feathers.’ Florentina pulled a face. ‘What on earth shall we tell him?’
‘It won’t be easy to dupe him. He’s nobody’s fool.’
