“Of course,” West said without hesitation. Her happiness with the arrangement was paramount, as they would need to spend a great deal of time together in the coming months.
Lady Priscilla was looking around them and worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. West’s eyes were drawn to her mouthas if by a magnet and it took him a moment to process what she said next through his distraction.
“Not here, it’s too delicate for a public space. Is there somewhere more private we could talk?”
Mentally shaking himself back to the present He wondered what type of stipulation required such secrecy. “I came here from a meeting with my uncle, so my carriage is not far away. Why don’t I drive you home and we can speak there?”
She nodded and he thought she may have paled a bit, causing West to worry as they made their way back toward the entrance of the park.
Once they reached the carriage, he helped her into the small space and relished in the warm grip of her hand. Flexing his fingers, he climbed in after her and thumped the top, signaling they could leave. As soon as they began moving, he looked across the carriage at her expectantly.
She took in a deep breath, then said, “May I speak bluntly?”
“Please,” he said with a nod for her to continue.
“As was mentioned, I now have certain freedoms allowed to me as a widow that I did not previously. It was my intention to explore those freedoms this season. To be plain, I was rather hoping to engage in an affair.”
West sat motionless, utterly stunned by her statement. But it was nothing compared to the shock he felt at what she said next.
“If I am binding myself to you for the foreseeable future, even if falsely, then I won’t be able to look for another man to engage with. The last thing I want to do is start a scandal, and I’m sure you don’t wish to appear cuckolded.”
She raised an eyebrow in his direction as if waiting for an answer though she’d not asked a question. West swallowed. He couldn’t find a way to answer with words in his shock, so he just inclined his head.
“I find you more than attractive, and there seemed to be some spark behind that brief kiss yesterday, so my proposal is this—I think that it should be you with whom I have an affair.”
CHAPTER 10
Our investment in the cargo ship is now officially on the books with Allen. The Trade Winds is expected to dock within the next two weeks.
West smiled reading the note from his brother. Excellent. Business was good, providing a welcome distraction to keep West from constantly thinking about the bombshell Lady Priscilla had dropped the afternoon before.
After pulling himself out of the shocked stupor she’d left him in, naturally he’d agreed to the arrangement. What fool would say no to such an offer? Of course, adding physical intimacy could lead to complications in any relationship., but they had been clear in setting boundaries to help them navigate what this was and was not, as well as an end date at the conclusion of the season.
They’d not had long in the carriage before reaching her house, so she had quickly informed him she was hoping to experience pleasurable lovemaking now that the option was open to her. This was purely an experiment for her, and she did not wish to have a real relationship with him basedon the factors which they had already established made a marriage between them undesirable to both parties. Once the season ended, so would the affair. West would then return to Northamptonshire, and after a few weeks, news of their estrangement would slowly spread. The conversation concluded with an agreement that he would escort her to a ball four days hence.
West couldn’t pretend he wasn’t excited by the prospect. It had been quite some time since his last mistress, and despite finances being tight, he would not do a woman the indignity of not keeping her well. Not to mention that these days, the more he looked into different kinds of investments, trying to keep himself away from exploiting others labor, the idea of paying someone for their affection seemed hollow. He didn’t blame women for engaging in such arrangements, as there were few ways a woman could earn what she needed to support herself in the world they lived in. Nevertheless, such arrangements felt false when companionship paid for often stemmed from a need for security rather than attraction.
But what Lady Priscilla had proposed was a mutually beneficial relationship—one he was eager to proceed with. She was definitely a different woman from the one he had witnessed years prior. It seemed she was genuinely trying to be a better person. He had not observed her speaking down to anyone, or talking as if she were superior in the time he’d spent with her thus far. And she seemed sincerely upset about the part she had played in Lady Weston’s ruin when it had come up at the dinner party. He was keen to see what enjoyment they could get out of this season together, even if their relationship was a ruse.
Now, though, he needed to refocus on business. He had an appointment to meet with an employment agency where he planned to inquire about both instructors as well as a new valet.
Things were progressing quickly in terms of changing the family investments and he wanted to get started on John’s idea for a trade school as soon as he could. Yesterday, before meeting with Lady Priscilla, he had met with his uncle about how to withdraw as shareholders from the shipping company his grandfather had invested in so long ago. The sooner they could disassociate with such doings the better, both for his own conscience as well as the way his family was viewed.
West cringed as he heard himself echoing his father in his own thoughts. He would never be held captive to appearance at all costs as his father had been, but he did understand the need to feel the family had some honor. As long as his integrity was maintained, he could care less how his actions looked to others within theton,but any association with slavery was unacceptable.
A knock sounded on the study door and Morton poked his head in. “The carriage is ready for you, my lord.”
“Thank you, Morton. Please tell them I’ll be right out.” West stood from his desk and ran a hand through his wavy brown hair in an attempt to tame it back into some semblance of order. It seemed to always want to go wild on him. Tugging his coat over his arms, he readied himself to engage new employees.
Entering the building for the Stoddard Employment Agency, West observed a Black man roughly his age speaking spiritedly with the clerk at the front desk.
“I understand that I was not employed with the baron long, but it was because he died, not due to my work being undesirable.” The man was clearly trying to suppress his frustration. “I implore you to please reconsider and ask Mr.Stoddard again about helping me find a new position as a valet.” He paused and pursed his lips before looking down, then quietly added, “I’m rather desperate to find a new placement as quickly as possible.”
The clerk was scowling but nonetheless rose from his chair, presumably to consult with his employer, muttering under his breath the entire way down the hall.
West remained off to the side, not wishing to intrude until the matter was cleared up. He knew that as a marquess, the second his presence was known, the clerk would drop everything to help him, leaving the man before him waiting to be served. It wasn’t fair, but since becoming Hampton he had seen it happen time and time again.
The clerk reemerged from an office and made his way back to his desk, though he still looked disgruntled. “Very well, Mr. Roberts. Mr. Stoddard has agreed that you can have one more chance. Just make sure your next employer keeps you longer, or you’ll have no luck coming back to us for your next position.”
