Page 68 of A Scandalous Proposition
The dowager chuckled. ‘I wonder why?’
‘I wonder that too,’ Florentina said.
‘Perhaps she’s aware of your connection to Chamberleigh.’
‘What!’ cried Adam and Florentina in unison.
‘Do sit down, Adam, and close your mouth before your jaw hits the floor. Sometimes I wonder if you think I’m a complete imbecile. Chamberleigh has existed for years, right on our doorstep. I can hardly pretend not to be aware of its true purpose, especially since your father was a regular visitor there for so many years.’
‘I suppose there’s that.’ Adam’s sangfroid expression gave way to one of abject disbelief as the nature of his mother’s casual statement struck home. ‘But why do you imagine that has anything to do with Mrs Grantley?’
‘Oh, do try and think of me as a lady of advanced years with seven children of her own, rather than one who needs to be cosseted and protected from the world. It’s natural to treat one’s mother as an innocent, I suppose, but hardly appropriate in my case. Lady Madison is a close friend of mine and she told me something of your determination to rescue Spanish refugees who might otherwise be forced into prostitution. Perhaps now would be a good time for you to explain it all to me. If I know everything, I will be better prepared to fend off Philippa.’
Florentina and Adam exchanged another prolonged glance. After a moment’s deliberation, Florentina decided that if her employer knew as much as she already did and hadn’t made any objections, she deserved to know it all. She inclined her head and Adam took up the story, starting with how he’d rescued Florentina at the Feathers.
‘I knew all those visits to ailing relatives had to be a falsehood.’
‘I’m sorry, ma’am, but I didn’t know how else?’
‘Hush, child, it doesn’t signify.’ She patted Florentina’s hand. ‘I greatly admire your fighting spirit. Only to think what you might now be compelled to endure if you’d not managed to escape from that terrible man.’
Florentina hung her head. ‘I don’t deserve your compassion.’
‘On the contrary, it is I who feels humbled in the face of such courage. I just wish you’d felt able to confide in me before now. I would have enjoyed my share of the excitement.’
‘You will have excitement enough keeping Philippa in line,’ Adam said.
‘So, you intend to put this wicked man Dawson out of business?’ the dowager asked. Adam nodded. ‘I am very pleased to hear it. When will that happen?’
‘As soon as Madison sends word that he’s making landfall. We anticipate that it will be sometime during the coming week.’
‘You will take care, Adam. These people sound desperate.’
‘I’ll not permit him to take undue risks, ma’am.’
‘You are to be there, Tina?’ The dowager appeared surprised.
‘No,’ said Adam.
‘Yes,’ said Florentina.
‘Ah, I see how it is.’ The dowager stood up and smiled. ‘I think perhaps you’ll resolve this difference of opinion more easily if I were to leave you to yourselves.’
Chapter Sixteen
‘You appear distracted.’ Adam gently smoothed the hair away from Florentina’s face and smiled into eyes still cloudy with the residue of passion. She looked satiated, as she had every right to do, and totally comfortable with her nakedness. But he could sense that her mind was taken up with something other than their recent activities. ‘Tell me what troubles you, my sweet. We agreed no more secrets, remember?’
She stretched her arms above her head, curled catlike into a more comfortable position, and settled her head upon his chest. ‘Oh, I expect I’m just being fanciful.’
‘Whenever a lady says nothing troubles her, she’s usually very troubled indeed.’ As he spoke, his fingers casually traced the outline of her breast, drawing intricate patterns on it with a delicate touch that caused her nipple to harden, and Florentina herself to softly moan. Moonlight streaming in through the summerhouse windows gave him a clear view of her features and he could see that actions that would once have driven thoughts of anything else from her mind were tonight being less effective. ‘Don’t tell me that you’re tiring of my attentions already.’ He affected an appalled expression that made her giggle. ‘I am mortified.’
‘It is nothing you’ve done.’
‘Is it your brother?’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘You get a distant look in your eye when you’re thinking about him. I can always tell.’
