Page 50 of Seducing the Knave

ELLE AWOKE WITH A SUDDEN start, somehow knowing before she reached full awareness that she was alone in an unfamiliar place. Sitting upright, she quickly recalled the events of the prior day. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa in front of the fire in Max’s cavernous bedroom.

Her gaze flew to his bed. Although it was clear by the rumpled sheets that he’d spent the night there, he was now gone. From the room entirely, she noted when she glanced about and confirmed that her initial instinct was correct and she was quite alone.

Rising from the sofa, she lifted the ruby-red velvet coverlet and felt an uncomfortable rush of warmth at the thought of Max considering her comfort enough to cover her.

But then again...maybe she shouldn’t be surprised at all.

Shortly after he’d left her last night, a knock had sounded on the ominous double doors. She’d hesitated at first, uncertain if she should acknowledge it or not. But the hesitation lasted only a moment. He’d said she wasn’t to venture beyond the doors, not that she couldn’t open them. When she did, it was with some surprise to see the oversized butler from downstairs with a collection of dresses draped over his arm.

With his gaze directed over her head, he’d advised that the clothes were for her and that when she’d had a chance to sort through the items, she was to let him know if anything was ill-fitted or not to her liking. In fact, she was to let him know—by the bell pull in the corner near the bed—if there was anything at all that she needed while a guest of the residence.

It had been spoken in a low but flatly intoned cockney while the man stood with stiff discomfort.

His discomfort had been so obvious that Elle made an effort to be charming and friendly. She managed to discover that he went by the name Langworth and that he’d been working for Max for five years now after having worked on the docks for most of his life prior to that, which she couldn’t imagine had been that long since he appeared to be not much older than thirty or so.

What she did not find out, however, was where Max happened to be at that moment, where the dresses had come from, and whether or not the prior owner would be missing them.

After Langworth left with the remainders of the meal, Elle had sorted through the dresses. Many of them fit well enough, and though they weren’t made of the finest material or in the height of fashion, they were of good quality in lovely, modest designs. Some basic underclothes and a soft cotton nightgown had also been included.

Though she’d been tempted to strip off the clothing she’d been wearing for the last few days, instead, she’d tucked the garments away in the large wardrobe, looking forward to trying them on once she felt more comfortable in her new situation.

Which meant that she’d awoken this morning still dressed in the same clothes she’d left home in. Glancing toward the tub in the corner, she wondered if she’d have the time and boldness to request a bath. She had a great deal to think through and needed to devise a plan for how she wished to deal with Jasper. A cleansing soak sounded like just the thing to help her clear her mind and focus in on what she was to do next.

Wondering how long Max might be gone, she glanced about the room for any possible clues as to where he’d gone and her attention fell upon what appeared to be a piece of paper set in the center of the table.

Had he left her a note?

She crossed to the table and saw that he had. In handwriting that was as efficient, graceful, and brazen as the man himself, he noted that he’d be gone for most of the day and that she could make use of the room in any way she wished so long as it adhered to the terms of their agreement.

Elle rolled her eyes.

Did the man truly think she was that curious about what lay beyond the double doors?

She was insanely curious. But that didn’t mean she’d do anything about it.

And what did he mean by saying he’d be gone?

Gone from the bedroom or gone from the building?

She dropped the note to the table and strode purposefully to the bell pull. If the room was hers for the day, she was going to make the most of it. Starting with a bath and a change of clothes.

Langworth responded almost immediately and carried up the water for the bath himself.

Half suspecting Max would barge in at any moment, Elle bathed quickly before dressing in the borrowed underclothes—sans corset—and a lavender-colored day dress. Preferring not to wear her slippers, which had been effectively ruined over the last few days, she remained barefoot as Langworth brought up a hot and flavorful breakfast accompanied by tea that had been perfectly brewed.

Elle liked her tea very strong and extra sweet, and it was rare to not have to steep additional leaves in order to get it how she liked it.

After breakfast, Elle endured a few long hours of quiet solitude.

She used the time to pace about the room, stare broodingly into the fireplace, cast an occasional glare toward the forbidden double doors, or gaze out the window at the gritty neighborhood of St. Giles as she contemplated her options. But no matter how many mental routes she followed to discover a possible solution, they all brought her round to the same conclusion.

The only way to ensure a permanent escape from Jasper’s greedy clutches was to marry someone else. Once she was wed, Jasper would have no further recourse. Her dowry would legally and completely pass into her husband’s keeping.

Rather than finding relief that she had such a simple solution, Elle grew more and more infuriated.

Heaven forbid she simply be allowed to claim the inheritance as her own so she could buy a small house in the country and go on living a quiet life until the time she decided to wed and start a family. No, she’d have to wrangle up a gentleman of sufficient social standing and resources to stand strong enough against Jasper in case her cousin and legal guardian decided to publicly oppose the marriage. And then, should her plan work and Jasper’s intentions be sufficiently foiled, she’d have a virtual stranger as a husband for the rest of her life. A man responsible for her well-being and happiness who she could only hope might be generous enough to provide her with a nice weekly allowance out of her money.

It was ludicrous. And insulting.

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