Page 10 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘Ah, Saragossa. I see.’
‘I doubt that very much.’
‘Then perhaps you’ll have the goodness to explain. You’ve had ample opportunity to invent a convincing story, knowing that you’d soon be meeting me again.’
Florentina inverted her chin, breathing deeply as she struggled to remain in control. She was aware that her entire future, to say nothing of those dependent upon her, rested upon her ability to convince this elegant and very angry sophisticate not to give her away. If she allowed him to provoke her into losing her temper then her cause would be completely hopeless.
‘My husband was Captain Simon Grantley and he gave his life in the Battle of Copenhagen.’
‘You have my sympathies.’
For the first time Florentina noticed a slight lessening in his antagonistic attitude and was hugely encouraged to see that he believed her. So he ought, since she’d spoken nothing but the truth in respect of her husband.
‘Thank you.’ She inclined her head in gracious acceptance of his condolences.
‘Your husband formed part of the army commanded by General Wellesley?’
‘He had that distinction.’
‘And so you returned to England to avoid the war that rages in your country. Presumably you had no family left in Saragossa to return to.’
‘No, I did not.’ Florentina couldn’t meet his eye as she added another falsehood to a growing list.
‘And so you placed yourself in the care of your husband’s aunt. Why aren’t you still there?’ He paused for a moment and then let out a short, mirthless laugh. ‘Ah, pray excuse me for being so obtuse. Obviously you’re not with her because she doesn’t exist.’
‘Indeed she does!’
‘Forgive me if I don’t believe you, but you only have yourself to blame for that. I first encountered you in an inn.Alonein an inn?’
‘Since I was travelling alone and the stage stopped there to change horses, what other option did I have?’
‘There was an elderly lady travelling on the coach. I heard her voice. You ought to have attached yourself to her.’
‘I didn’t think.’
‘So it would appear. However, where was I? Oh yes, you were in an inn where no lady worthy of the name would dream of appearing unescorted, pursued by an oaf of a man who was clearly no relation of yours. And if that were not enough to make me doubt your integrity, I then encountered you at a bawdy house and have just now had to sit in silence whilst you spun a web of lies which that my mother swallowed piecemeal.’
‘They werenotlies,’ she protested hotly. ‘Mrs Watson does exist but she’s not a wealthy woman. Neither does she enjoy the best of health.’ That part of her account was true, anyway. ‘She was kind to me but it was obvious that I was a burden to her. It soon became apparent that I would have to find a way to earn my own living. My husband didn’t leave me provided for, you see.’
‘But I still maintain that you were not returning from a visit to her when I first encountered you at that inn. You would not have arrived on the London stagecoach if you were.’ He watched her so closely that she blushed, deeply ashamed of her behaviour. ‘Besides, if you had an innocent reason for being at the Feathers, there was no occasion for you to lie about your true identity when you found out who I was.’
‘Yes, but I?’
‘All you needed to do was introduce yourself and ask me to escort you back to the Court. You must have known I would have gladly been of service to you in that respect.’ He slowed his pace, turned his head and looked directly at her. ‘Why did you not do that,Mrs Smith?’
Why indeed? She’d been asking herself the same question all night long. ‘Well, the thing is…that’s to say?’
‘Yes?’
The sarcastic manner in which he growled the one word was her undoing. ‘Had you behaved in a more gentlemanly manner and introduced yourself immediately, then naturally I would have done so.’
He winced and she knew her barb had struck home. ‘Ah, so you hold me to blame for your duplicity.’
‘I am not the conniving individual you appear to take me for.’
‘But you still gave me a false name.’
‘I was being cautious. I had no idea who you were.’
