Page 76 of My Gentleman Spy
“So, what did you do with my father’s rug?” sheasked.
Will sipped his hot chocolate and relaxed back in the chair. It was time to put aside his questions and for them to concentrate on smaller matters. Tomorrow was another day, one in which she suspected he intended to press ahead with hisenquiries.
“I had it rolled up in a dust cover and placed in the attic. While I might consider your father's taste in furnishings to be very different from mine, I do not have the right to destroy his property. Rest assured Hattie that when your parents do return from Africa the house will be put to order once more,” hereplied.
Trust Will Saunders to be an honorable man unwilling to let anything befall her father'sthings.
“Somehow, I knew you would say that, though I would be prepared to turn a blind eye if you did happen to lose one or two items. I could give you a list,” sheoffered.
If Will broke her father's collection of puzzle jugs she was certain she could see her way to forgiving him. She could even be trusted to hide the pieces. Her own mother had developed the gift for accidentally swiping one or two of them from the side board onto the floor. The last two jugs her father purchased had been stored on the top shelf of a high cupboard, safely out of harm'sway.
A yawn escaped her lips and Will followed suit. He set his cupdown.
“It's late, I suggest we defer our discussion to the morning. Though when we do continue our discussion, there are one or two things I will ask of you Hattie,” hesaid.
“Yes?”
“I need you to start being honest with me. I am sticking my neck out for you by allowing you to remain under my roof. Your honesty in dealing with me is a fair price to ask. You may not hold a lot of value to your reputation, but I do. I also have my own reputation and that of my family to consider. My Uncle Ewan is the Duke of Strathmore and my Uncle Hugh is the Bishop of London. They are both powerful and well- respected men. I would never wish to lose their good opinion ofme.”
He left her with little choice. Her agreement was already a foregoneconclusion.
“And the otherthing?”
“A promise that when we have managed to sort through things you reconsider my marriageproposal.”
* * *
After making as eleganta retreat as she could, Hattie headed to her old room. Mrs. Little soon joinedher.
“Well that turned out so much better than expected. I tell you I was certain he was going to throw us all out at one point,” shesaid.
Hattie picked up her nightgown from off the bed. It had been neatly folded. She gave a glance at Mrs. Little who was busying herself with arranging Hattie's hairbrush and mirror on the top of the dressingtable.
Will’s words continued to rattle around in her head. She was now at his mercy. There were no more ships for her to leap over the side of, he had her right where he wantedher.
“Nice man that Mr. Saunders. So, he is the one who rescued you in Gibraltar. Funny how things worked out and that he was the one who took the house. I wonder what his family islike.”
Mrs. Little was kind in her gentle rebuke. She had been with the family long enough for Hattie to feel terrible about lying to her. For someone who constantly protested about falsehoods and mistruths she had become far too ready to use them when she felt theneed.
Mrs. Little came to her side and gently prised the gown from out of Hattie'sfingers.
“It’s alright my dear, I understand why you felt you couldn’t tell me the truth. You are back home safely, and that is what matters. I am sure Mr. Saunders was the perfect gentleman while he brought youhome.”
Hattie felt her cheeks burn. If Mrs. Little had any inkling as to what she and Will had done during the long afternoons and nights on the boat, the housekeeper would be out of the house and knocking on Edgar’s front door demanding anaudience.
She quickly changed into her nightgown and bade Mrs. Little good night. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she pondered this unexpected turn of events. She had expected at some point to encounter Will once more. What she had not expected was for him to be living in the very same house. And for him to still be insistent on his demand for them tomarry.
Placing a fingertip on her lips, she remembered the fierce way he had kissed her. Will still lusted for her. His kiss also held the promise of something else. He cared deeply abouther.
When he held her in his arms, her hunger for him had stirred within once more. She longed to be naked in his bed as his skillful fingers worked their magic on her heated body. She ached for him to be deep within her once more, claiming her body as he brought her to the pinnacle of sexualpleasure.
But to have him once more as her lover, she would have to agree to his demand for them to marry. Marriage meant Will having a major say in her life, and her work. London society wives did not walk the streets of St. Giles unchaperoned and they most certainly did not spend their days cleaningchurches.
As she slid beneath the warmth of the blankets, Hattie allowed her mind to drift once more to Will and the kiss they had shared. When her mind began to touch on the point of examining her feelings for him, she pushed away. Allowing her heart to give itself over to Will was folly. Heartbreak could onlyfollow.
