I wrinkled my nose. ‘There is no need to be coarse, Mr Hart.’
‘My apologies. In plainer andless coarselanguage, no, I will not accept five hundred pounds.’
‘A thousand pounds then.’
‘You are getting slightly warmer. But I think you can do better than that, Felicity,’ he replied.
‘One thousand five hundred pounds,’ I said.
He shook his head.
‘One thousand eight hundred pounds.’
Mr Hart’s eyebrows raised. ‘Ooh, that might inspire me to get out of bed,’ he said with a laugh, shifting on the desk. I kept my eyes firmly on his face, away from his breeches. ‘But it’sstill not quite enough.’
‘Three thousand pounds,’ I said, growing desperate. ‘And that is my best offer.’
Mr Hart whistled. ‘You would pay me that much?’
I lifted my chin. ‘Yes, for the sake of my niece’s reputation and future happiness, I would.’
In truth, I felt a little faint as I had not meant to go that high. But my personal allowance was mine to do with what I liked, and it was in a separate account, so I could easily access it without Max knowing. I was quite prepared to go without new gowns, accessories, and any other trifles if it would deter Mr Hart from his pursuit of Lucinda.
However, the man was so ill-bred he did not even have the manners to accept the money immediately and say he would agree to my terms. Instead, he looked thoughtful, as if he was turning my offer over in his mind and looking at it from all angles.
‘It is very generous of you. But after careful consideration, I will have to refuse it,’ he said at last.
Oh no, I thought, my mouth going dry.
‘W-why must you refuse it?’
‘Because if I took your bribe, it would sully our acquaintance.’
He grinned and started swinging his leg again. ‘Sully our acquaintance’?The nerve of him! Our acquaintance was already well and truly sullied.
‘Is there anything I can give you to make you stay away from her?’ I asked shakily.
‘Hmm, I wonder ... What can you give me?’ He tapped his chin thoughtfully.
My eyes closed briefly, knowing exactly where he was going with that line of thinking—he was a rake after all.
‘That is impossible,’ I said flatly.
‘Oh, so you know what I’m considering. I thought you might, considering your penchant for erotica.’ He smirked, and I swallowed hard.
‘It will not get you your money, if that is what you are after.’
‘No, perhaps not. But enjoying myself with you will go some way to easing the pain of losing Lucy ... if that is what is to happen.’
‘Pain?’ I said scornfully. ‘You will not feel pain—more like the pain of losing her dowry. But there will be other women you can pursue. Leave my niece out of your schemes.’
There was a long silence, as if he was considering my words.
Then he spoke. ‘Very well,’ he said simply.
I blinked at him.
‘So youwill not pursue her?’
