Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(42)
“And how did you accomplish that?”
“I stayed up most of the night before, wandering the halls and complaining loudly that I could not sleep. I did my best to keep the whole household awake. The following night, when I announced I was tired and went early to bed, I think all were so glad of the rest themselves that they did not question it. The hardest was keeping my mother from her afternoon nap. I dropped things with a loud clatter twice, and I am ashamed to say I tripped the maid who was carrying the silver back to the pantries. I am still feeling quite guilty over the tongue-lashing the poor girl took, but I will arrange some form of recompense. An extra afternoon off, or perhaps I’ll be sure that one of my old day dresses is sent her way.”
He was smiling again. “Quite enterprising, but hard to repeat too often.”
“I will manage. And I believe I already explained about the last time I met you at Ruby’s, but I admit that was luck. However, I am sure I can figure something out.” She would. She had no choice. “So what is our next plan?”
“I think an inn. Even though Swanston will be discreet, it would be unwise to risk our luck at Madame Rouge’s again soon. There is always the possibility that someone else may have seen you.”
“Am I any less likely to be recognized at an inn?”
“I will choose a quiet one, visited by few of our class—and then perhaps I can borrow a friend’s house for an afternoon or two.”
“Borrow a house.”
“Yes, I know a couple of gentlemen who are between mistresses and may have spare accommodation.”
“And they just let you borrow a house?” It was of great interest that he did not own such a house himself, one kept for a mistress or secret dalliance—assuming he spoke the truth.
“There is normally some form of subtle trade involved. An introduction to an opera singer. A badly placed wager when they are in need of funds. Perhaps I will not buy a finely matched pair at Tattersall’s when I know they are interested.”
“Oh yes, I do know how that works.” Her trades normally involved letting someone else choose her gown first at the modiste or deliberately wearing a less-becoming bonnet, but it was all the same.
“Then I will send you a note.”
“No, that will not work; my mother will insist on reading it.”
“Should we just arrange to meet one night next week? Then I can take you on to wherever we are headed.”
“Oh, I can’t meet next week. I am headed to a party at Lady Perse’s estate. I should probably have mentioned it earlier, but it is one more on the great list of things I choose not to think of. My mother is quite convinced that I will find a husband. There is not the slightest chance that she would let me miss it for anything less than death.”
“And here I remain convinced that you are hunting me as a husband.”
“I assure you that I am quite past that notion.” Well, she had decided that she truly did not wish him as an unwilling husband, which still did not mean she did not wish him to ask. It was still such a delight to imagine turning him down, to dream of the look upon his face.
“Well, then, perhaps knowing that I am safe with you, I should visit Lady Perse’s myself. I am quite sure if I call on her she will extend an invite, and then there are all sorts of possibilities. It may even be better than trying to meet in Town. The country is designed for forbidden escape.”
“I am not sure…”
“My estate is barely a mile from Lady Perse’s, and I know every turn of her lands quite well. I assure you that I can think of a dozen ways for us to be alone, and all of them will grant us more than twenty minutes. Perhaps I will take you fishing.”
It sounded too good to be true. Also too…too…too…She didn’t know exactly what she meant. It would be wonderful to have more places to sneak off to, but it all seemed so much more like part of her life and less like escape.
And that was perhaps the crux of the matter. Ever since she’d bared herself in the garden, none of this had felt quite real. It was separate from her mother chiding her to find a husband.
She had called it a game, and it was—and games did not meld well with real life.
Still, the thought of being alone with Colton certainly had her body tingling and her legs tightening.
—
The house rose high and grand as the carriage pulled up the long walk. Angela had known that it would be a great estate, but this was almost like a duke’s home—not that she’d ever actually visited a duke, but her mother had once in her girlhood. This was far more reminiscent of those stories than anything Angela had ever seen, except perhaps for the royal palaces in London, but, then, those were royal palaces and anyone could see them—at least from the street. Angela had only been inside one upon her presentation to the queen, and that had been several years ago.
It would be interesting to see how this tall granite structure compared. It was hard to imagine that any house that the formidable Lady Perse had the management of would not hold up to the highest of standards.
Angela glanced to the side. Her mother had her face plastered to the glass of the window, much as Angela did, a delighted smile playing upon her face. It reminded Angela of Colton’s smile and the joy she had found in it.
Could any moment be better than when a loved one smiled?
Not that she loved Colton. She definitely did not.