Page 58 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘She swore me to secrecy. But that wouldn’t have prevented me from going back on my word if I’d known what she intended to do. I told her quite emphatically that she wasn’t to consider going anywhere near the masquerade and thought she had agreed to stay away.’ Christine frowned. ‘If I’d known she was thinking otherwise I would have?’
‘Never mind that now.’ Adam had thought she was alone at the dower house this evening and less than an hour ago had been trying to resist the urge to call upon her. How could he have sat calmly drinking port and not known she was in danger? ‘Tell me why you think she went.’
Christine frowned. ‘I can’t exactly say for sure, but suspect she has it in her head to try and get Lord King to admit he fathered Philippa’s baby. She suggested the possibility of charming the admission out of him but I told her not to be so foolish.’ She offered him a grim smile. ‘She wanted to help you, Adam.’
‘By allowing that braggart to seduce her?’ Adam was so angry, so afraid for Florentina’s safety that it was difficult for him to form any coherent thoughts. ‘Why the devil did you allow her to go?’
‘I didn’t know that she had. I wasn’t even aware that she was here this evening until my coachman came back from delivering some of my girls to the affair and informed me that all three had arrived safely.’ She glowered into the distance. ‘I thought he was mistaken about the number because at the last minute I only sent two.’
‘Would not your girls have realised Florentina was not one of them?’
‘They probably mistook her for the Spanish girl I have just employed.’
‘Ah.’ Brief feelings of optimism flared and then died.
‘There can be no doubt as to the identity of the third lady. I chanced to be in the dressing room and found this discarded there.’
She held up a plain afternoon gown that he had seen Florentina wearing. Adam’s dismay gave way to the urgent desire to be active. There wasn’t a moment to lose.
‘Can you lend me a domino?’
*
Florentina did her best to keep her nerves in check as King released her and refilled their glasses. She seated herself by the window, as far away from the bed as possible, and made some trivial remark. She still hadn’t removed her domino.
‘You live very comfortably here, my lord. I dare say there’s a fine prospect from this window during daylight hours.’
He seated himself beside her, his eyes lingering with transparent hunger on her face. He pushed the folds of her domino aside but didn’t insist that she take it off. Encouraged, she racked her brains for something light and amusing to say that might distract him. Unable to hit upon anything suitable, she decided she might as well broach the subject uppermost in her mind. There was no telling how long he’d be content merely to converse.
‘It was a very pleasant evening we had together at the Court. Do you often dine there?’
‘No, that was the first occasion actually.’
Florentina pretended surprise. ‘But you seemed so intimate with the duchess.’
He smiled. ‘Oh, Philippa and I are old acquaintances.’
‘Really?’ She arched a brow. ‘I wasn’t aware of that.’
His smile gave way to a scowl. ‘You’re merely a paid companion. The intimacies of the current duchess are no concern of yours.’
Florentina knew from his icy tone that she had overplayed her hand. ‘No, indeed not. Forgive me, my lord, but I’m nervous. Worried that I might disappoint you. I am given to babbling when I’m anxious about something.’
He leered at her, diverted from his displeasure by her flattery.
‘That’s a situation that can easily be remedied.’ He put his glass aside. ‘And I very much doubt if you will be a disappointment, my dear.’
‘Even so, talk to me until I feel more in command of myself.’
‘All right, I’ll indulge you.’ He sighed and smiled simultaneously. ‘Anticipation will increase the ultimate pleasure. Now, what you would like to talk about?’
‘How did you become acquainted with the new duchess? I only ask because I feel I ought to know as much as possible about the family that employs me.’
‘Oh, her brother and I often play cards together when in town.’ Lord King chuckled. ‘A reckless young pup with too much money for his own good.’ Florentina suspected that Lord King was referring to more than Mr Dennett’s inability to play a strong hand of cards. ‘He happened to remark that his sister was in town, some time after Fitzroy went off to play soldiers.’
‘Was not her grace once promised to Lord Fitzroy? I believe I heard it talked about somewhere.’
‘Hardly promised.’ He lifted his shoulders. ‘I believe she once had a slight, passing interest in him. When he went into the army, she joined her brother in town. I invited them to be my guests at the theatre and could tell at once that Philippa was a rare sort of girl. Not too high in the instep and ready to take a few risks and enjoy herself. Took her to Vauxhall Gardens, as a matter of fact.’
