Lady of Sin
Page 31
“For now it is my room.”
He ignored the barb. He examined the hat, turning it this way and that. It was the one she had begun remaking in the garden two days ago. No one would recognize it now. “You do have a talent at it.” He glanced to her sharply, then back to the hat, as if mentally putting the two together and picturing the hat on a head.
“Yes, well, but as I said, being a milliner is only choice number three. If a lady works in such a shop, she can no longer pretend she is a lady at all, can she?”
He set the hat down carefully. “No, she cannot. However, it is more respectable than being a soiled dove or thief, although far less lucrative. Your list is in the correct order if respectability is your goal.”
That was an odd thing for him to say. It almost sounded as if he thought she should have different goals and a differently ordered list.
She still hated him by the time they were finished with the tour. She could not deny he was less a stranger, however. Entering the private rooms together, seeing the artifacts of the family’s everyday lives, being so close, too close, on the upper levels, had created an unwelcome familiarity.
Her susceptibility to his overbearing presence had placed her at a disadvantage. She wanted to believe she was above such reactions, especially with this man who probably thought it his due from all women. She resented the entire, irritating hour with him.
They returned to the reception hall and he retrieved his hat.
She broached the reason she had agreed to receive him at all. “Mr. Rothwell, Timothy is distracted. He is not conveying the details to his sisters, if indeed he even knows them himself. If I may be so bold—”
“You have been plenty bold without asking permission, Miss Welbourne. There is no need to stand on ceremony now.”
She grimaced. She had been bold and outspoken. She had allowed her vexation to get the better of her good sense. In truth, she had not been very practical in a situation where she badly needed that virtue.
“What is your question?”
“When have you told Timothy that the Longworths must vacate the house?”
“I have not said yet.” He levelled a disconcertingly frank gaze at her. “When do you think is reasonable?”
“Never.”
He smiled. “That is not reasonable.”
“A week. Please give them a week more.”
“A week it is. The Longworths may remain until then.” He narrowed his eyes on her. “You, however . . .”
Oh, dear heavens. She had raised the devil with her free tongue. He was going to throw her out at once.
“My aunt has a passion for hats.”
She blinked. “Hats? Your aunt?”
“She loves them. She buys far too many, at exorbitant prices. As her trustee I pay the bills, so I know.”
It was an odd topic to start on the way out the door. In truth he sounded a little stupid.
“I see. Well, they often are very expensive.”
“The ones she buys are also very ugly.”
She smiled and nodded and wished he would leave. She wanted to tell Roselyn about the week’s reprieve.
Once more she received one of his piercing examinations. “A governess, you said. Your first choice. Do you have the education to be a finishing governess?”
“I have been helping prepare my young cousin for her season. I have the requisite skills and abilities.”
“Music? Do you play?”
“Yes. I am well suited to be a governess for any age, and especially young ladies. My own education was superior. I was not always as you see me now.”
He looked right into her eyes. “That is clear. If you had always been as you are now, you would have never dared be as rude and outspoken with me as you have been today.”
Her face warmed furiously. Not because she had been rude and he knew it, but because his invasive gaze was causing that annoying stimulation again.
“Miss Welbourne, my aunt will be taking possession of this house because she is launching her daughter in society this season. My cousin Caroline will require a governess and my aunt a companion. Aunt Henrietta is . . . well, a sobering influence in the household is advisable.”
“One that would keep her from buying too many ugly hats.”
“Exactly. Since the position matches your first choice in opportunities, and would ensure you need not contemplate choices four or five, would you be interested in taking it? If you are so honest with me in sharing your thoughts, I think that you would also tell my aunt when a hat is ridiculous.”
A variety of reactions barraged her mind. At first she thought he was teasing her about her list of choices, but she realized that he was serious.
He was asking her to stay in this house where she had lived as a family member, only now she would continue as a servant.
He was asking her to serve the man who had ruined the Longworths and reduced her yet further, pushing her down the path of diminishment begun when her father died and his heir refused the support he had promised.
Of course Mr. Rothwell did not see any of that. She was merely a convenient solution to staffing his aunt’s household. She provided a unique combination of skills that were perfect for the position. Even if he saw the insult, this man would not care.
She wanted to refuse outright. She itched to say something far more outspoken and rude than she had ventured thus far.
She bit her tongue and checked her anger. She could not afford insulted pride these days.
“I will consider your generous offer, Mr. Rothwell.”
LADY OF SIN
A Dell Book / March 2006
Published by Bantam Dell
A Division of Random House, Inc.
New York, New York
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved
Copyright © 2006 by Madeline Hunter
Dell is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc., and the colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
Published simultaneously in Canada
www.bantamdell.com
eISBN: 978-0-440-33582-5
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