A Scandalous Proposition Read online

  Adam smiled and kissed the end of her nose. “I dare say you don’t.”

  “You shall not mind the occasion?”

  “I shan’t mind it if you’re there.”

  “Oh, I shall fade into the background and defer to my betters.”

  “I doubt you’ll be permitted to do that by the gentlemen present.” Adam cocked a brow. “But I hope you don’t encounter any of your customers there.”

  “What customers?” Florentina frowned. “Oh…oh yes, I see what you mean. However, I’m sure that situation won’t arise.”

  Adam appeared vastly amused. “And what else did my mother have to say about tomorrow’s entertainment?”

  “Well, she did wonder if you would wear your dress uniform. She said you’d look very handsome if you did and that it would make the duchess realise what she’d thrown away. That’s not my opinion, of course.” Florentina thought it important to make that point clear. “About your looking handsome in your uniform, I mean. It’s merely a mother’s partiality clouding her judgement.”

  “And so you wouldn’t wish me to wear my uniform?”

  “It’s not of the slightest consequence to me what you wear.” Florentina tossed her head. “You must do as you see fit.”

  “I will wear it then, but only if you ask me to.”

  “But that’s not fair!” She felt most put-upon. “If I say you should not wear it you will disappoint your mother. But if I suggest you do, you’ll think it matters to me.” He said nothing, merely smiling in a disarming manner that she refused to acknowledge was attractive. “Oh, very well then, for your mother’s sake, perhaps you ought to wear your wretched uniform.” She tilted her chin with as much dignity as she could muster. “But I hope it’s far too hot and that you suffer for the entire evening.”

  “I dare say I shall suffer, but not for the reasons you suggest. Come on.” He helped her with her clothing and draped her cloak around her shoulders. “I’ll escort you safely back to the dower house before I forget myself entirely.”

  Chapter Seven

  Florentina shot frequent quizzical glances in Adam’s direction as he walked her back to the dower house. It was full dark but thanks to the moon he could clearly detect the confusion in her eyes, no doubt brought about by the change in his attitude toward her. She’d expected to be used like a courtesan but he was now treating her with the courtesy due to a lady of quality. It would be enough to confuse anyone. She shivered and pulled her cloak more closely about her.

  “Are you cold?”

  “A little. I don’t think I’ll ever get accustomed to the damp climate in England.”

  “In which case we ought to get you back indoors.”

  Her poise deserted her completely when he bowed formally over her hand, kissed the back of it and wished her good-night.

  “But, I don’t—”

  “Shush!” Adam placed a finger against her lips. She’d not lowered her voice and sound carried at night. “We’ll talk another time.”

  He left her before the desire to kiss her witless overcame common sense and strolled back to the Court, his mood exuberant. Florentina was not a courtesan. He’d known it almost immediately and his newfound knowledge filled him with huge joy. It also explained a great deal about her behaviour, so innocent and unworldly that all along he’d had great difficulty believing she was what she claimed to be.

  Not that she’d ever actually said she was a courtesan. He’d made that assumption and she hadn’t denied it, even though it put her position with his mother in peril. Why? What was her real connection to Christine? Why would she offer herself to him rather than reveal her true reason for being in the district?

  Adam fully intended to find out.

  By the following morning he was still in high spirits when Philippa cornered him in the breakfast parlour.

  “Adam, I was expecting to see you at dinner last night.”

  “I had another engagement.” He made no apology for his absence and offered no further explanation.

  “Well, I dare say you were reacquainting yourself with our neighbours.”

  Adam concentrated on his coddled eggs and neither confirmed nor denied her assertion.

  “James has told you about my soiree this evening, I collect.”

  He inclined his head.

  “And you’ll make yourself available? After all, you’re the guest of honour.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “That’s good.” She smiled flirtatiously at him. “It will be such fun, being all together again. It’s been too long since we entertained at the Court.”

  Adam made no response to this. She filled the ensuing silence by telling him what people she’d invited for the evening’s entertainment, mentioning that there would very likely be impromptu dancing afterwards. Not once did she refer to James or speculate upon whether he was well enough to endure the event. Adam escaped as soon as he politely could and took himself off to the estate office.

  Fowler stood up and bowed low. “I’m delighted to see you back with us, m’lord.”

  “Thank you, Fowler.” Adam threw himself into the chair opposite the steward’s desk. “Now, tell me what’s been going on in my absence.”

  Fowler cleared his throat. “Can I speak plain, m’lord?”

  “I would expect nothing less of you.”

  “Very well then, it’s Her Grace that’s causing problems. She will insist upon interfering but she doesn’t know the first thing about estate business. We’re in danger of becoming a laughingstock as a consequence of her orders.” He coughed discreetly. “Beg pardon, m’lord, but I only speak the truth.”

  “I dare say, but I need to know precisely what trouble she’s caused if I’m to put it right.”

  “Well, where to begin?” Fowler scratched his whiskery chin and drew a deep breath. “One of our main difficulties is that she doesn’t care for the moveable hurdles.”

  Adam’s brows shot skyward. “The sheep hurdles? Why ever not?”

  “Well, it seems when we move the sheep into the southern pasture she can see them from her window and claims they spoil the view.”

  “What the—”

  “I’ve attempted to explain that we let them roam free during the day to fertilize the pasture before rounding them up into the hurdles for the night. But Her Grace doesn’t see the need for it and thinks we ought to get rid of the sheep altogether.”

  “The devil she does!”

  “We need the sheep and cattle to rotate on the pasture so as to grow the best corn.”

  Adam suspected that Philippa was well aware of this, and was at a loss to understand why she’d deliberately sabotage their arrangements. “I’ll take the matter up with the duke.”

  “I’m relieved to hear you say so, m’lord.”

  “Good man. Now, what else has the new duchess seen fit to interfere with?”

  Adam left Fowler an hour later. He was still in high spirits and greeted his brother with something approaching genuine affection. James declared that Fowler was an idiot and had misinterpreted Philippa’s meaning. He then gave Adam leave to rectify the situation in respect of the sheep. On other matters he dug his heels in, insisting his wife be allowed to have her way. Adam knew he was doing so partly to needle him and so he didn’t argue the point. There were ways ’round these incidentals, and he and Fowler would find them without Philippa or James being any the wiser.

  But now, he had another call to make.

  Once again Florentina paced in front of Christine’s fire. “I just don’t understand it.”

  “So you’ve already said, my dear. But as you have yet to explain what it is that you fail to understand, I don’t see how I can enlighten you.”

  “Lord Fitzroy, of course. I don’t understand what he requires of me.”

  Christine arched a brow. “After last night, I should think that’s obvious.”

  “But that’s precisely my point!” Florentina paused in her pacing and turned to face her friend, impa
tient with her for being so dense. “Nothing happened between us.”

  “What! Adam didn’t do anything?” Christine frowned. “This is very strange indeed.”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to explain.”

  “Tell me everything that did happen, from the moment when you arrived in the summerhouse, and we’ll see if we can make any sense of it all.”

  “Well, it all started as you predicted. He was waiting for me and seemed to admire my gown very much.”

  Christine chuckled. “I’m sure he did.”

  “And we had a glass of champagne and conversed for a while. He was as detached as always, if slightly less severe, and then…”

  “Yes,” Christine encouraged when Florentina’s words trailed to an embarrassed halt. “Then what happened?”

  “Well, he asked me about my customers here. If I frequented the card rooms and whether Lord Witherington still liked to play backgammon.”

  “Oh no!” Christine appeared to be having trouble maintaining her countenance. “What did you tell him?”

  “Well, I don’t have a clue who Lord Witherington is, obviously. But I thought it safe to say that I sometimes play backgammon with him but he always beats me.”

  Christine’s helpless laughter was the last response Florentina had expected. She felt her cheeks flaming. “Adam couldn’t stop laughing either. It was most insulting!”

  “I’m sorry,” Christine spluttered, mopping her eyes. “But you see, Witherington is a sodomite, darling.”

  “Oh.”

  “It’s common knowledge.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Backgammon is brothel slang for his penchant. Even the newest recruit to this establishment would be aware of that.”

  “Oh…oh, dios mío! I suppose that would explain it. I made a complete fool of myself and he must realize now that I don’t work for you, I suppose.” Florentina felt rather stupid and glared at Christine for having the audacity to laugh at her. “But he seemed to be in a very good mood after his discovery and treated me with great respect.” She threw herself into a chair and continued to work upon her scowl. “It’s all very confusing.”

  “Oh, Florentina, you’re such a simpleton. He treated you with respect because he didn’t want you to be a courtesan.”

  “Oh, do you think so?”

  “Most assuredly. Something in your manner must have given you away and so he tested you with the question about Witherington. Anyway, I don’t know why you’re in such a dudgeon. You didn’t wish to enter into the assignation in the first place.” Christine regarded Florentina with a shrewd expression. “Or did you?”

  “Of course not! And I’m not in a dudgeon. I’m merely confused.”

  “Ah, I see.” Christine’s eyes were again alight with amusement. “Forgive me.”

  “I think you could be right, about his being glad that I don’t work here, I mean. He said my position with his mother is secure, at least for the time being.”

  “Well, there you are then. We both know he wouldn’t countenance having a lady of loose morals in constant company with his mother.” It was Christine’s turn to scowl. “This does however present us with a different set of problems.”

  “Yes, now he’ll wish to know what brought me here at the dead of night after he rescued me from the Feathers.”

  Florentina pulled a face. “What on earth shall we tell him?”

  “It won’t be easy to dupe him. He’s nobody’s fool.”

  “I was wondering if you’ve had any further thoughts about Reynolds. That’s why I risked coming back here that night instead of telling Adam who I was. I still think Reynolds might have caught sight of Lord Madison’s carriage.”

  “I’ve spoken to Lord Madison and he’s confident that he wasn’t seen.”

  “Thank goodness for that. But it doesn’t alter the fact that we’re having increased difficulties finding employment for the poor souls we do manage to rescue. Looking further afield to place them is bound to draw unwanted attention towards us.”

  “Yes, you’re right. I suppose we must—” Christine’s words were interrupted by a knock at the door. “Enter.”

  A maid materialized. “Lord Fitzroy is here to see you, ma’am.”

  Florentina started. “Oh botheration, what shall we do? He can’t find me here again.”

  “Go down the back stairs and hide in the kitchens with your brother and sister until Adam’s gone. I’ve asked Ramon to put a fresh hamper in the gig but it won’t be safe to deliver it until Adam’s clear of the district.”

  “All right.” Florentina slipped out the side door. “Let me know when he’s gone and we’ll continue this conversation when I call tomorrow.”

  Adam encountered Doctor Marshall when he called at the Court to attend James. He couldn’t extract a definite opinion from him in respect of James’s ability to father a child. The man was clearly too conscious of his position as physician to a duke, and the cachet it afforded him, to be drawn on such a delicate subject. Adam, who’d always considered Marshall a pompous ass, wasn’t surprised by his prevarications but even so, his unwillingness to commit himself didn’t put Adam in the best frame of mind.

  Adam encouraged Rochester into a flat-out gallop as he made his way to Chamberleigh, hoping the exercise would blow away his curmudgeonly mood. His stratagem was partially successful and he entered Christine’s sitting room feeling a little more in control.

  “Adam, what a pleasant surprise.” Christine greeted him with her customary poise. “Have you had luncheon?”

  “Thank you, yes.” He seated himself opposite her. “And I won’t take up much of your time. I’ve called to ask your opinion upon a delicate matter.”

  “That sounds intriguing.”

  “It concerns my brother. Does he still frequent this establishment?”

  Christine’s smile was ripe with understanding. “Right up until the day of Julia’s death he was a regular. And it wasn’t long after she was laid to rest before we saw him again. As you know, he has somewhat unorthodox—”

  “Indeed.” Adam had no interest in his brother’s perverse proclivities. “But, can you tell me, was anything altered about him after Julia’s passing? Anything that would affect his reason for being here.”

  “Not after, no.”

  Adam had difficulty hiding his disappointment. “Ah well, there can be no doubt then, I suppose.”

  “But you haven’t asked me about before her demise.”

  Adam sat up straighter. “You mean, he lost the ability to—”

  “Yes, a good six months before Julia died. He’d had a heavy bout of influenza and never recovered the necessary momentum.”

  “And yet he still continued to call here.”

  “Oh yes, he never gave up hope. Two of my most skilled ladies took to helping him and sometimes he managed it but…” Christine paused and looked him straight in the eye. “It’s my considered opinion that he would have been quite unequal to the task of ravishing a young lady, especially when foxed, if that’s what you’re asking me.”

  “As always, Christine, you’ve anticipated me.”

  “I didn’t think it would take you long to ask. But what do you intend to do about it?”

  Adam grimaced. “That’s something I have yet to conjecture.” He stood and paced the room, hands clasped behind his back. “But if James isn’t the father of the child, I’d very much like to know who is.”

  “I thought you might say that.” Christine’s expression was sombre. “And I have some information that might be of use. Nothing definite. Just rumour and speculation, you understand.”

  “Anything you feel able to share with me will be helpful. As you know, I appreciate the importance of discretion.”

  “Very well.” She stood and walked to the window, staring at the view with her back to him. “I hear a lot about what’s happening in local society but know better than to repeat anything. I wouldn’t remain in business for long if I did.”

 
; “Absolutely.” Adam smiled at her, attempting to put her at her ease. As her back was still turned toward him the gesture passed unnoticed by its intended recipient.

  “Much of what I hear is of a contradictory nature. That’s hardly surprising when one makes allowance for misinterpretation and exaggeration. However, one thing I heard over and over again immediately after you left to join your regiment was that Philippa was furious with you. She felt humiliated by your desertion, took it as a personal slight and made quite an exhibition of herself to cover up the fact.”

  “What form did her exhibitionism take?”

  “She was seen about with her brother in situations that aren’t at all suitable for a young unmarried lady. She was in London a great deal and seen at Vauxhall Gardens with a group of rather unsavoury individuals. But that’s not the worst of it.” At last she turned to face Adam. “There was a masquerade held by Lord King a few months before her marriage, to which her brother was invited.”

  “Don’t tell me she persuaded Dennett to take her to that rake’s establishment?” Adam was appalled but not entirely surprised. His friendship with Dennett had cooled because of the man’s wild behaviour but even he ought to know better than introduce his sister to such a viper’s den.

  “Yes, several of my girls were there and they said the revelling was wild even by King’s standards.”

  “And they saw Philippa there?” he asked. Christine nodded. “But how could that be? Surely everyone was masked.”

  “In the public areas, yes, but when one of my girls was entertaining a gentleman in private she happened to see Lord King taking a young girl into his chamber. She was unmasked and Susanna is positive that it was Philippa.”

  Adam reacted instinctively, slapping the back of a chair with his open palm. “Damn it, Christine, that can’t be right!”

  “Please, Adam. If I had the slightest doubt about Susanna’s account, I wouldn’t have mentioned it.”

  “Yes, I know that.” Adam made a herculean attempt to bring his temper under control. “It’s not your fault.”

  “What will you do about it?”