“Well, maybe you should. I told you he’s a good prospect. Frankly, I expected you to run the other way from him simply because I suggested him. I’m delighted you find him amiable.” Lady Wrexham took a long, satisfied sip of her tea, but it wasn’t enough to hide her delighted smile. She was clearly over her brief moment of outrage at Priscilla’s behavior if it led toward her intended outcome.
“I do like him,” Priscilla said carefully. “He’s a good man from what I know of him. I’ve agreed to meet him in the park this afternoon.”
Priscilla waited for a response but was surprised when none came. Instead, her mother beamed while keeping her own counsel. Once again, Priscilla raised an eyebrow at her, but the marchioness didn’t rise to take the bait.
“Nothing to say to that, mother?”
“No, I don’t want you to feel pressured. I think it’s time to let things unfold naturally. I’m just happy you’re doing something in your own best interest for once.” With that, her mother put down her teacup and rose from the table. As she passed behind Priscilla, she leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head before leaving the room.
Priscilla sat, stunned. That was the least amount of fuss her mother had made in years. Perhaps Hampton was onto something after all. Yes, she was reluctant to be seen attached to another man, as it would limit her prospects of finding someone to carry on an affair with. But perhaps the price was worth it if she could find peace at home. If keeping her mother happy meant she would stay out of Priscilla’s business, it may be that faking a relationship was the way to go after all.
And spending more time with the marquess would hardly be difficult. She was still shocked by her own actions, but she could hardly regret kissing the man. Priscilla had felt more in their brief contact than anything she’d experienced with Lord Stern, and it only made her more determined to explore how wonderful lovemaking could be if done well. Maybe she should strike a bargain with Hampton after all.
West felt a bit nervous as he left the house and made his way to Hyde Park. The idea to feign a relationship with Lady Priscilla had truly come to him in the moment the evening before and a part of him wondered if the ruse was absurd; however, it would be nice to be able to focus on business matters without unnecessary distractions. If they could just maintain the deception through the season, he could escape town and return to Hampton House for the summer. By then, hopefully John’sinitial investments would have started to produce results, and he’d have more time to think about marriage next season when the Beaumont finances were more secure.
Yes, he’d still be busy for the next few months as he and Lady Priscilla would need to attend enoughtonevents while the season ran to keep everyone happy and speculation about them as a couple at bay. Although, he supposed spending time with Lady Priscilla wouldn’t be too terrible. Memories of their kiss last evening sprang to mind, and he could feel himself becoming aroused at the thought of how soft she had felt in his arms and her orange blossom scent. Though the contact had been brief and the kiss practically chaste, it had stayed on his mind all evening and he still had not completely recovered from its surprising impact.
Good lord, he needed to compose himself before meeting with her so his state would not be obvious. Taking a deep breath and straightening his coat before walking through the park gates, he saw Lady Priscilla patiently waiting at the agreed upon meeting place.
Lord, but she looked lovely.
Afternoon sunlight highlighted her cheekbones and made her brown eyes look like the richest chocolate. He wished ladies were not expected to wear hats in public so he could see the chestnut strands he’d wanted to run his fingers through the evening before. Seeing him approaching, a smile crossed her face though it was quickly blotted out by shadow when stepping forward, the sunlight on her face became dappled, shining through the trees.
“Lord Hampton,” she said, bowing her head in his direction.
“Thank you for meeting me,” West said as she tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. They began leisurely strolling down the path together.
“It’s hardly an option after I behaved so impulsively last night.” She stopped moving and turned to look at him. “I apologize for causing trouble, the last thing I intended was to get others talking and speculating about us.”
She looked truly upset at the possible consequences of her actions the night before. And though West knew she had a right to be concerned, he still felt a tug of disappointment that she seemed to regret their kiss, which he had not been able to stop thinking about.
“Well,” he said as they continued walking, “as I proposed last night, there may be a solution that will please everyone.” He glanced to his left and noted her frown. It did not bode well, and he started to question whether she would agree to his proposal to continue feigning a relationship between them.
His unease must have shown on his face because she broke into laughter after looking up at him. “Relax, I’m going to say yes. I just need a moment to resign myself to the idea.”
That was hardly a resounding acceptance. “I don’t want you to do something you are not comfortable with. I hope you do not feel I’m pressuring you.”
“No, no. It’s not that,” she said with a sigh.
“Then may I inquire about what is making you hesitant?”
Lady Priscilla stopped moving and took a moment before answering, as if choosing her words carefully. “It’s nothing to do with you,” she started. “In fact, I think we’ll get along quite nicely with one another.” She gave a slight tug on his arm, and they resumed walking. West noticed quite a few heads turning in their direction as they passed.
“And I do see the benefit in the plan you’ve proposed. Already, my mother has eased up on pestering me, and last night most gentlemen steered clear. I guess I’m just having a hard time letting go of my newfound freedom, even if I’m not truly bound to you.”
“Whatever do you mean? I’ll not control you.” West certainly did not intend to dictate what she did. He had no right to, as they were neither married nor even truly a couple.
“I know that, I just . . . oh, I’m not explaining myself well. I suppose it’s the perception.” Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him from beneath the curve of her bonnet. “Do you know this is the first time in my life I’ve ever walked with a man whom I was not married or related to without a chaperone present?”
West halted, stunned by her pronouncement. He couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to have someone trailing your every move, to never feel like you could converse with someone in complete privacy. He supposed it made sense. Women in the aristocracy were severely controlled, all in the name of their protection. The irony being that it was usually the gentlemen in their own circles who presented the biggest threat. As a widow, though, Lady Priscilla would have more ability to move about in society, her innocence no longer a concern.
“I see what you are saying . . . Though I have no right, or desire,” he hastened to add, “to dictate your movements, if we are understood to be a couple, you will not feel quite as independent.”
“Exactly,” she said. There was relief in her voice as she replied, and he was happy to know she felt understood.
“I’m sorry that I did not think of that, I don’t mean for this arrangement to hold you back, more to allow both of us to move about freely without fear or botheration.”
“And that is why I am agreeing to it,” she said quickly. “But I do have one stipulation I’d like to discuss with you.”
