Page 45 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘Fowler is very experienced and knows the estate backwards.’
‘That will not serve,’ she said stubbornly. ‘James has lost all confidence in him.’
Adam sighed. ‘What precisely is it that you’re trying to say to me?’
Her eyes gleamed with determination. With a wave she dismissed the servants and leaned towards him, placing one hand over his. ‘Ah, so we come down to it at last. I knew it wouldn’t take you long. You understand now the sacrifices I have made for your family and overcome your jealousy. You realise I had no choice but to marry James but, rest assured, nothing of an intimate nature occurs between us anymore.’ She offered him a dazzling smile. ‘You and I will be able to resume our old relationship without fear of interruption. Only this time there need be no barriers between us.’
Adam had known she wanted something from him but never in his wildest dreams would he have suspected this. ‘Let’s see if I have got this straight.’ He clenched his teeth so tightly that his jaw ached as he struggled to control the fulminating rage ripping through him. ‘You married my brother to stop anyone else doing so, managed to get him to impregnate you and?’
‘Yes, my love. If the child’s a boy, then James has an heir and you will have control of the estate until he’s of age. If it’s a girl, then you will become duke. It’s perfect!’
‘My God!’ Adam regarded her through eyes narrowed with contempt. ‘I knew you were ambitious but had no notion you could be quite so calculating.’
‘Someone had to take control.’ Her voice resonated with pride.
‘You have overlooked one small fact. In order for your plan to succeed you require my cooperation. And,’ he said, putting aside his napkin and standing, ‘I think it only fair to warn you that hell will freeze over before that happens.’
‘Don’t go. I am not finished yet.’ The steel in her voice stayed him. ‘I have done all of this for your sake and won’t be cast aside because you are disappointed.’
‘Your situation is of your own making.’
‘I did what was necessary for the sake of your family, although precious little thanks I got from your mama. But you won’t turn your back on me, Adam, nor will you look down your nose at me. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll treat me with respect and show me some gratitude for the sacrifices I’ve made. You should have been the only man to share my bed. Do you imagine I enjoyed allowing James to take your place?’ Tears coursed down her face. ‘Do you imagine I enjoyed having his hands pawing at me, doing all the things I…’
Her words trailed off, the heavy silence broken only by her racking sobs. Adam was unmoved by her display and regarded her passively. When he didn’t offer her comfort she recovered her composure with remarkable speed.
‘If you don’t demonstrate your affection for me then I will use my influence with your brother to ensure that the two of you are permanently estranged.’ She imbued her tone with cold determination. ‘That will deprive you of access to the Court.’ He frowned but her expression of absolute resolve didn’t falter. ‘Don’t doubt me, for I mean what I say. Given the fragile nature of your relationship with James, it will be easy for me to poison his mind against you. His reliance upon me is absolute, as you have already observed for yourself.’
Adam stared at her for a protracted moment, seeing her now in an entirely different light. She was not only ambitiously determined but dangerous too. Why hadn’t he realised that about her before? She actually appeared to believe that he would meekly step into his brother’s shoes. Not when he was dead?a situation that Philippa appeared ready to anticipate with unseemly haste?but while he was still alive and living beneath the same roof. Not trusting himself to answer her, he made do with throwing a scathing look her way and leaving her still seated at the dining table.
Alone in his room, Adam contrived to calm down and reason the matter through. Philippa had made it clear that she would undermine Fowler at every opportunity unless Adam resigned his commission and remained at the Court.
Unless he remained at the Court and entered into an affair with her.
He fumed, disgusted by the very idea. But what choice did he have? If he rejected her he’d be banished from the Court and be obliged to watch from the sidelines whilst Philippa mismanaged the Fitzroy affairs out of sheer spite. Worse, his mother would be deliberately exposed to the company of dissolutes such as King. Philippa wasn’t aware he knew the child she carried wasn’t James’s. But Adam was deeply conscious of it. And if the child proved to be a son, it would be heartbreaking to see the proud Fitzroy dynasty brought to its knees.
He would have to watch King’s bastard being groomed to ascend to the dukedom and there wasn’t a thing he could do to prevent it.
Chapter Eleven
Florentina didn’t change out of the cream muslin gown she’d worn at dinner that evening. Nor did she bother to redress her hair or make any improvements to her appearance. She was still too disgruntled about Adam’s disinclination to be seen with her to make any special effort for their rendezvous. As soon as the dowager retired she made her way to the summerhouse and was sitting on its steps when he arrived.
‘I apologise for keeping you waiting,’ he said. ‘You ought to have gone inside. The door isn’t locked.’
‘It’s a beautiful evening and I was enjoying the fresh air. Look,la luna rosa.’ She pointed to the moon that appeared to be glowing a soft pink. ‘It is very beautiful, no?’
‘Indeed.’ But Adam was looking at her, it seemed, rather than the moon.
He reached for her hand and helped her to her feet. She wasn’t wearing gloves and she felt a bolt of awareness rock her body as his long, capable fingers closed about her palm. She gazed at him in confusion, assuming from the look of astonishment that passed across his face that he’d felt it too. She snatched her hand free. This really wouldn’t do.
Adam’s gaze lingered on her features for a protracted moment but he made no comment about the incident. Instead he ushered her inside the building and lit two candles. She took possession of the corner of the daybed, acutely aware of how matters had progressed the last time she’d occupied this particular seat.
He arranged himself at the opposite end, appearing perfectly relaxed as he stretched his legs out in front of him. He propped his elbow on the back of the seat and angled his head, resting it in his splayed hand and keeping his gaze focused on her face. He conveyed the impression that he was accustomed to conducting late-night liaisons of this nature and had nothing more than the plight of her refugees on his mind. She, to her mortification, had barely spared them a thought. Instead her insides were churning with a whole range of carnal sensations that fragmented her senses, leaving her fraught with anticipation.
Anticipation of what precisely? He’d invited her here to help resolve her problems. She had to keep reminding herself of that. Disconcertingly, being alone with Adam made her forget about everything except his compelling, perfectly disgusting and totally irresistible charm.
‘You appear preoccupied, Mrs Smith.’ His soft voice startled her. ‘Is there something on your mind?’
‘Is that not what we came here to discuss?’
