Was there a chance…
Frances closed the thought off before it could completely form because hope always led to disappointment.
He put her glass of brandy on the bar then took her hand. “Let me show you around. You will want to become familiar with the place before tomorrow night. Then I will also introduce you to my staff.”
“Have you not listened to me?” she demanded as he pulled her down a darkened corridor. “I am not taking your club.”
“It is too late to change your mind, Frances. The deed has already been signed over to you.”
He led her into a small, neat office. On one side of the room was a dark fireplace and on the other, a tidy desk with two chairs in front of it and one behind. There were no stacks of unopened missives or ledger books on this desk. It was clean and without clutter except for one document in the center.
Seth crossed the desk and picked it up. “I signed it as soon as I returned. I am not certain if it is legal, but I will ask my man of business to prepare the proper documents if necessary.”
“I am not taking your club!”
“Let me show you the rest,” Seth said as if he had not heard her.
Why was he ignoring her?
Frances blew out a sigh and followed Seth as he showed her the kitchens, gaming rooms and then returned to the corridor and up a flight of stairs.
“There are times that I work late and am simply too tired to return home, so I will sleep here.”
He pushed the door open to reveal a neat bedchamber with a very large bed against the far wall.
Frances sucked in a breath.
Seth again took her hand and led her into the room. “I can assure you that the bed is quite comfortable if you find yourself in need of sleep, or a nap, or simply rest.”
At his low tone, her body heated. She had never been in a chamber that also had a bed with Seth before. It loomed large and a part of her wished she would have just let him win her garter so that she could finally experience what it would be like to be with him.
“This is still your club, Seth,” she said again.
“No, Franny, it is yours.” He placed a finger beneath her chin, raising it slightly then kissed her. “I no longer want it.”
She pulled back and blinked at him. “You do not?” What game was he playing? “This is your dream. It is what you always wanted.”
“I find that I want something else.”
Did she dare hope… “If I take your club, then what will you do?”
“I had hoped you would hire me. I will need an income.”
Frances could not comprehend owning The Emerald Garter while Seth worked for her.
She had thought that when she returned his club that he would be grateful and then they would part ways, hopefully as friends, if not lovers. But most of all, Frances had hoped that he did not hate her. What he was proposing was not at all what she had expected.
“What else is it that you want?” Frances asked because she had to know.
“I thought to marry.” He slipped his arms about her waist. “If she will have me, but I cannot ask her until I am certain that I will be gainfully employed.”
Frances had once hoped that he would marry her, but because he never said the words, just as he still had not proposed to her, she would not make the same mistake of assuming who he meant.
“What if your employer decided to make you a partner instead? Would your future wife be jealous?”
“No,” he answered. “She would be assured of my heart, and my love, and know that I could never love another.”
The pounding of Frances’ heart was almost painful as she waited and wondered if he would say the words.
