A Most Improper Proposal

by Gail Whitiker

  'One of the teachers at the Academy...knew who you were,' Desiree said hesitantly.

  'Good Lord. You actually spoke of our interlude to someone at the school? You continue to surprise me, Desiree.'

  'I only told her because I knew that I could trust her implicitly,' Desiree explained in her own defence. 'When I explained what had happened and...mentioned your name, Helen told me who you were.'

  'I see. And was it...Helen's idea that you apply to me for protection?'

  Desiree gasped. 'Certainly not! The idea was mine and mine alone.'

  'I'm glad to hear it. But what else did she tell you about me, other than my title?'

  By the blush which appeared in Desiree's cheeks, Sebastian knew that it must have been quite a lot. 'Ah, let me guess.'

  'My lord, I—'

  'No, please, Desiree, you would be amazed at how good I have become at this. Let me see. She probably would have started off by saying that Viscount Buckworth is a gentleman of good family, not to be found lacking in either money or property, but that he has, upon numerous occasions, shown himself to be something of a rake and a ne'er-do-well,' he recited thoughtfully. 'He likes to gamble, both at cards and at horses, and has been known to lose a fortune in a single night's sitting—only to claim it all back again through a fortunate turn in luck the next.'

  'Lord Buckworth—'

  'No, wait, there is more,' Sebastian continued cheerfully. 'I have no doubt that my reputation with the fair sex precedes me. So I must assume that you are aware that I play with the affections of many of the young ladies who are presented to me, but that I continue in my bachelor ways and find pleasure instead with a string of beautiful young mistresses.' He glanced at her quickly to gauge her reaction. 'I see I have the right of it.'

  'Well, yes, you do, more or less.'

  'Was there anything I left out?'

  'No, not really.'

  'You are not being truthful with me, Aphrodite.'

  Desiree fidgeted in her seat. 'It is...not the type of thing to be discussed—'

  'Ah, but it is, my dear. Because there is nothing that we cannot discuss together, and I should like to know what advice she gave you. Did she tell you that I was a drunk and a reprobate—'

  'Of course not.'

  'Or that I was foolhardy and reckless—'

  'Not at all!'

  'Perhaps she intimated that I was a cruel beast with a vicious temper who beat my mistresses on a regular basis?'

  Desiree uttered another gasp. 'She said nothing of the kind! In fact, she told me that you treat your mistresses with the utmost kindness, and that you continue to do so even after you have—' She broke off in dismay, her eyes wide. 'Oh, dear! I never should have said—that is, I didn't mean to suggest—why are you laughing?'

  'Why am I laughing? Dear me, I should have thought that would have been very obvious,' Sebastian said when his laughter finally subsided. 'Your friend obviously had a good source of information indeed. Even I was not aware that I was possessed of such benevolence of spirit. Is that why you wrote to me, Aphrodite? Because you knew that if I agreed to offer you my protection, I would treat you well, both during our liaison and afterwards?'

  Desiree opened her mouth to speak and then abruptly closed it again. How could she tell him that he was her last resort? That she had applied to him because she had no other choice?

  Her silence was its own response. 'Well, you shall soon have opportunity to see if they are right,' Sebastian said softly. 'For as of tonight, you shall have a comfortable house in which to live, beautiful clothes in which to dress, and a big, soft bed in which to express your pleasure and gratitude. Not a bad way, I think, to start...how did you put it? Broadening your horizons?'

  Chapter Four

  The house that Sebastian had chosen for Desiree was of modest though pleasing proportions and was located in a discreet though respectable area of town.

  Sebastian was looking forward to reaching it. He was anxious to see Desiree settled, and then to return home to his own bed. He had no intention of spending the night with her. As anxious as he was to see her lovely young body again, he knew there was more to the young woman's story than she was telling him, and he sensed she needed some time alone to work things out in her mind.

  Sebastian had been totally in earnest when he had asked her if she wished to back out of their arrangement. He had never forced a woman in his life, and he certainly had no intention of starting now. But when she had declined, albeit with some hesitation, he had concluded that the part she was not telling him counted for a good deal. She was obviously of good though not high birth, and had been educated in more than just the ancient languages. So it was only natural for him to conclude that the life upon which Desiree had embarked would be as alien to her as it would be to any other well-brought-up young lady.

  For that reason, it occurred to Sebastian that if she would not tell him details of her most recent life, perhaps he could encourage her to speak of her earlier one.

  'When were you last in London, Desiree?' he asked as they reached the outskirts of the metropolis.

  Desiree had been eagerly glancing out of the carriage window, but at his question, a shutter dropped down over her eyes. 'A very long time ago, sir. I was born in London, but we...moved to the country when I was very young. My parents occasionally brought me back to visit relatives, but that was all.'

  Sebastian glanced at her quickly, surprised to hear that she had any relatives in London at all. 'Do you still see these relations?'

  Desiree shook her head. 'No. My grandfather was very angry when my mother went against his wishes and married my father. He told her that...she was marrying beneath herself and that if she went ahead with the marriage he would have nothing more to do with her.'

  'And she went ahead with it?'

  'Of course. My parents were in love,' Desiree said, as if that explained everything.

  Sebastian smiled at her naïveté. 'I see. And your grandfather never forgave her?'

  'Never. Even when I wrote to tell him of her passing, he did not reply. Nor did he come to her funeral.' Desiree glanced at him earnestly. 'Could you imagine not attending your own child's funeral, my lord?'

  Sebastian shrugged. 'No, but then such things seldom do to people who are not of such a nature, Desiree. Your grandfather may have thought that he was acting in your mother's best interests by forbidding her to marry a man whom he perceived to be unworthy of her.'

  'But how could he not have seen how much in love they were?' Desiree cried. 'Surely a father would wish to see his only daughter married to someone she loved, rather than to someone she did not, even if he was possessed of a title or a great fortune.'

  'Perhaps her father was hoping that by providing her with one, she might, in time, come to feel the other. It is not unheard of for love to develop within the confines of an arranged marriage.'

  Desiree sighed. 'I know, but for all that, I could never find it in my heart to feel charitable towards him. He came to see me when I was very young and he frowned at me the entire time. I thought him quite dreadful.'

  'I daresay you would,' Sebastian said, hiding a smile. 'Have you any desire to see your grandfather now?'

  'The possibility no longer exists,' Desiree said regretfully. 'I received a letter from his solicitor last year, informing me that Sir George Owens had died and that I had been left nothing.'

  'I beg your pardon!' Sebastian glanced at her in shock. 'Did you say... Sir George Owens was your grandfather?'

  'Yes, why? Did you know him?'

  'I certainly knew of him,' Sebastian muttered, not adding that what he had known of the crusty old termagant would not have endeared him to anyone. Good Lord, what a cock up this was turning out to be. It was bad enough finding out that his beautiful water nymph was an erudite young lady who taught Latin and Greek at a well-known girls' school. But to discover that Miss Desiree Nash from Steep Abbot was also the granddaughter of the late Sir George Bartholomew Owens cast an entirely
different light on the situation.

  How could he possibly make a baronet's granddaughter his mistress?

  Close on the heels of that dilemma came another. Namely, if he wasn't going to make her his mistress, and she had no desire to return to Steep Abbot, what in God's name was he to do with her?

  Sebastian thought hard for a moment, thankful that their destination was still some miles off. He had no intention of taking her to the house on Green Street now, but where else could he take her? Not to his own home, that went without saying. And if he put her at an hotel, there was a distinct possibility that someone might see them together and begin to ask questions. So where—

  And then the answer came to him. Of course! Why hadn't he thought of it before? Aunt Hannah would help him. She had done so more than once in the past.

  Sebastian thumped his cane on the roof of the carriage and instructed the driver to take them to an address in Mayfair.

  The abrupt change had Desiree glancing at him in alarm. 'Are we not going to our original destination, my lord?'

  'No. I suddenly remembered that...repairs are still being carried out in one of the rooms upstairs,' Sebastian told her. 'I had forgotten about that when I gave John the directions. I think it best that you stay with my aunt until the house is ready for occupation.'

  Mistaking his hesitation at having had his plans disrupted for annoyance, Desiree nodded. In truth, she was relieved at having been spared—if only for a night or two—the reality of entering her new life. But the idea of having to stay with Sebastian's aunt was not an entirely comforting prospect either. The lady would no doubt be a pattern card of propriety and one easily able to discern the nature of the relationship which existed between her nephew and the young woman travelling with him.

  After all, she reflected grimly, well-to-do gentlemen simply did not bring Single, unattended ladies to London with them for any purpose—but one.

  On first appearance, Sebastian's aunt was everything Desiree had expected her to be. A handsome rather than pretty woman, Hannah, Lady Charlton looked to be in her mid to late forties and conducted herself with all the grace and dignity of her position. Her hair was a rich, dark brown, elegantly styled, and her face was smooth and unlined. She was quite tall for a woman, standing a good head taller than Desiree, but her height lent her an elegance and stature that a shorter woman could never hope to achieve.

  'Sebastian, what a delightful surprise,' Lady Charlton said when her nephew and his guest had been shown into the comfortable drawing-room. 'I was only thinking the other day that I had not seen you this age. How are you, my dear?'

  'Very well, thank you, Aunt,' Sebastian said. He smiled as he bent forward to kiss her cheek. 'I hope you will forgive my stopping by so late—'

  'My dear, you know that you need never make apologies to me.' Lady Charlton's bright blue eyes flickered towards the young lady who was standing quietly in the background. 'But come, will you not introduce me to your companion?'

  'Aunt Hannah, may I present Miss Desiree Nash. Desiree, my aunt, Lady Charlton.'

  Silently drawing a breath, Desiree stepped forward and gracefully curtseyed. 'My lady.'

  'Desiree. What an unusual name. From the French, is it not?' Lady Charlton asked, glancing at her nephew.

  Sebastian shrugged his shoulders in a charmingly cavalier fashion. 'I thought it was Latin.'

  'Well, never mind, it is uncommon to say the least.' Lady Charlton looked at Desiree and did not even attempt to disguise her curiosity. 'How do you and my nephew come to be acquainted, Miss Nash?'

  'Actually—' Sebastian began.

  'I asked Miss Nash the question, Sebastian,' Lady Charlton said pleasantly. 'Can she not speak for herself?'

  'Lord Buckworth and I met in the vicinity of Steep Abbot, my lady,' Desiree said quickly. 'The small village where I was living.'

  'Yes. We were both enjoying the pleasures of a warm summer's day,' Sebastian piped up.

  'Really. And dare I ask how you were enjoying the pleasures of the day?'

  Aware that Sebastian had phrased his answer poorly, Desiree hastened to explain. 'We were swimming, my lady.'

  'Swimming?'

  'Yes. In the River Steep.'

  'Good gracious! Not in public view, I hope?'

  'On the contrary, the pool was located deep within the forest and was very private,' Desiree assured her.

  To her credit, Sebastian's aunt evidenced little of the shock she must have been feeling at the news. 'I see.' She turned to direct an amused glance at her nephew. 'And how did you happen to be in the area of a private pool in the woods near Steep Abbot, Sebastian?'

  'I was staying with Wyndham at Bredington for a few days and decided to go for a swim.' Sebastian's smile flashed briefly. 'Purely by chance, I happened to arrive at the pool the same time as Miss Nash did.'

  'And the two of you swam in it...together?'

  The word conveyed a wealth of meaning and brought a hot flush of embarrassment to Desiree's cheeks. 'Y-yes, my lady, but only for a very brief time. I was not aware of...Lord Buckworth's presence when I first arrived. I have never encountered anyone in the glade before, and was astonished and alarmed when I discovered that I was not alone.'

  'You may not have been aware of his presence, Miss Nash, but I find it difficult to believe that my nephew was not aware of yours,' Lady Charlton drawled.

  'Lord Buckworth informed me that he was asleep when I arrived, ma'am, and that he was not aware of my presence until my splashing woke him. He left shortly thereafter.' Desiree did not intend to tell her of the argument which had ensued before Sebastian had reluctantly agreed to leave.

  'I see.'

  Desiree felt the lady's eyes upon her and knew that she was assessing everything about her, from the colour of her hair to the unstylish cut of her clothes. She wished that Sebastian would say something, but he seemed content merely to watch the two ladies study each other. Finally, Lady Charlton walked back towards the bellpull and said in a voice that gave no indication as to her feelings, 'Have you dined, Sebastian?'

  'Not since lunch, Aunt Hannah.'

  'Good. Then you would not object to partaking of some light refreshment?'

  Sebastian inclined his head. 'I'm sure we would both be most grateful for the opportunity.'

  The door opened shortly to admit the butler. 'Yes, my lady?'

  'Grant, would you be so kind as to ask Cook to prepare a light supper for my nephew and his guest. Then perhaps you would show Miss Nash to the Green Room. I 'think she might like to freshen up before dinner.'

  Desiree glanced at Lady Charlton in surprise. 'Thank you, Lady Charlton, I would indeed.'

  'Travelling is a dusty occupation, but a necessary one,' Lady Charlton observed kindly. 'Grant will show you the way.'

  Desiree inclined her head and followed the ramrod-straight figure of the butler from the room.

  Lady Charlton waited for the door to close behind them before turning an inquisitive eye on her nephew. 'Now, Sebastian, would you care to explain what all this is all about—and tell me why you have brought your mistress to my house?'

  Sebastian winced. For all her grace and refinement, his aunt could be painfully blunt when she chose to be. 'Desiree is not precisely my mistress.'

  'Then what precisely is she?'

  He thought for a moment, wondering whether it would be judicious to temper truth with fiction, or whether he should just blurt it all out. He decided on the latter. He had learned long ago that when dealing with his aunt, honesty was always the best policy.

  'Miss Nash is a young woman I was bringing to London to become my mistress, but one who, on the way here, disclosed certain facts to me which made me think better of my decision.'

  Lady Charlton's eyebrows rose. 'Indeed. I think that before the young lady returns, Sebastian, you had best tell me all about Miss Nash. Brandy?'

  'Yes, thank you.' Sebastian waited while his aunt filled two glasses and then handed one to him. That was yet another of the th
ings he loved about her. She did not adhere to the custom of polite social drinking at the prescribed times. When she wanted a brandy, she had one. But then, Hannah Charlton had long been considered something of an Original.

  'Miss Nash is, or rather was, a teacher at a private girls' school in the village of Steep Abbot,' Sebastian began. 'We met, as she said, one afternoon last summer when she had slipped away to enjoy a swim in the River Steep. I had swum up from Bredington and was taking a brief respite on the bank, well hidden from view, when Miss Nash appeared out of the woods and started to undress.' Lady Charlton smiled. 'So you were not asleep?' He offered her a sheepish grin. 'No. I merely said that in an effort to allay her feelings of embarrassment. But I did wait until she had enjoyed her swim and had climbed back out on the bank again before making her aware of my presence.'

  'How gracious of you, Sebastian,' came the laconic reply. 'I will spare us both the embarrassment of asking you if the young lady was wearing any manner of clothing—'

  'As a matter of fact, she was—'

  'By asking you how you came to discover that she was a teacher.'

  'Actually, that was one of the things I learned today.' Sebastian had the grace to look contrite. 'At the time, I was not particularly interested in what Miss Nash did for a living.'

  Lady Charlton shook her head. 'Really, Sebastian. You saw a beautiful young woman and immediately dismissed her intellectual standing to think only about her potential as your bed partner.

  How typical of you and your sex. So, Miss Nash was employed as a teacher. Where?'

  'At Mrs Guarding's Academy for Girls in Steep Abbot.'

  'Mrs Guarding?' Lady Charlton stared at him in shock. 'Good Lord, could that be...Eleanor Guarding?'

  'I have no idea, Aunt. I did not think to delve into the identity of the headmistress either.'

  'What subjects did Miss Nash give instruction in?'

  'Greek, Latin, and philosophy.'

  Lady Charlton began to smile. 'Then it would have to be Eleanor Guarding's school. I am aware of no other establishment that would offer such advanced subjects to women.'