‘Oh .?.?. but it’sbeautiful,’ she gasped as he fastened it about her neck.
‘It’s nothing,’ he assured her loftily, then raising his hand to his head he said sadly, ‘Though it would have been nicer if I could have given it to you somewhere a little quieter. I have a bit of a headache. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of us taking our drinks up to your room, is there?’
The colour drained from Abi’s face as quickly as it had come as she stammered, ‘Well, I, er .?.?. I’ve never entertained a gentleman in my room before.’
A flicker of annoyance passed over his face before he was all smiles again. ‘Of course. I quite understand and I wouldn’t want you to. You see .?.?. I very much consider you to bemygirl. Youdohave feelings for me don’t you, Abi?’
‘I-I’m very fond of you.’
‘Good!’ As he leant towards her, she could smell the sharp clean scent of his cologne and when his lips pressed gently on hers her heart began to thump so loudly, she was sure that he would hear it, even over the sound of the piano.
Then he sat back in his seat and clipping the end off a costly cigar he struck a match and lit it, blowing a plume of blue smoke into the already smoky air as she stared at him adoringly.
It was then that Lilly approached them. She was smiling but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she said, ‘Might I have a word, Lord Medville?’
He waved his hand at her as if he were batting an irritating fly away. ‘Later, woman. Myself and this charming young lady are having a conversation.’
‘You’re also drinkin’ me most expensive champagne, I see,’ she answered and her eyes were as cold as marbles now. ‘So perhaps if I bring yer the bill you an’ your friends ’ave run up over the last few days you might like to settle it, eh?’
He had the grace to look uncomfortable as he told her, ‘Oh, just put it on the tab .?.?. I’ll pay you as soon as my allowance comes through.’
‘An’ when will that be?’
He shrugged. ‘Within the next couple of days, I dare say.Surelyyou can wait?’
She inclined her head. ‘Shall we say your bill will be paid in full by the end o’ the week then?’
‘Yes, yes.’ He was more than a little angry by then as with a nod Lilly turned about in a swish of lilac satin skirts and drifted away.
‘Bloody woman,’ he cursed. ‘Me and my friends must be amongst her best customers, the ungrateful old cow!’ The night wasn’t turning out half as well as he had hoped it would. For a start he had been convinced that tonight would be the night he would lure Abi into bed, especially after presenting her with the trinket that he had been ill able to afford until his allowance came through. No doubt that would mean another roasting from his father when the bill arrived with him. And then for Lilly to blatantly ask him to pay what was owed. Huh! She should just be grateful he and his friends chose to frequent such a hole.
Then suddenly remembering Abi was still sitting there, he pushed the thoughts aside and smiled as he turned on his charm again. He had thought she would be like putty in his hands but it appeared she was going to need a little more work, and because she was such a tasty little piece, he was prepared to take a bit more time in wooing her. But he wouldn’t wait forever.
‘I was wondering if you were free any time during the day tomorrow?’ he said, leaning towards her and she almost swooned with pleasure.
‘I-I could be,’ she answered through suddenly dry lips. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘I thought it might be nice if we had that little lunch together that I promised you to celebrate your birthday. Somewhere away from this place.’
She was nodding enthusiastically before he had even finished speaking. ‘Good, then shall I pick you up at one o’clock?’
‘Oh, yes please.’ She was breathless with excitement and for the next hour until he rose to go for a game of cards, she hung on his every word, already going over in her mind what she would wear for their lunch date.
Chapter Twenty-One
‘Are you not feeling well, Aunt?’ Emmy queried when she entered Imogen’s room to take her a tray of tea and toast early the next morning.
Without her heavy make-up and frills and flounces, Imogen looked very frail. Emmy surmised that she must only be in her early fifties but her illness had etched lines into her face and she looked pale and much older.
‘I’m perfectly all right,’ Imogen replied as she heaved herself up on to the pillows, wincing with pain.
Emmy placed the tray across her lap before bustling across the room to open the curtains and let the sunshine pour in. Like every other room in the house, this one was overly ornate. Pale-pink silk paper covered the walls and expensive pieces of Meissen, Spode and Royal Worcester were scattered along every surface. The elaborately carved four-poster bed was surrounded by fussy, heavily fringed velvet curtains, which matched the ones hanging at the window, and expensive multi-coloured Turkish carpets were laid across the floor. Emmy had now taken over the care of her aunt’s wardrobe and she crossed to it to see what she might like to wear today.
‘How about your lilac satin, or perhaps this pink muslin gown?’ she suggested as Imogen lifted the dainty cup from its saucer and sipped at her tea.
‘Actually, I thought I might have a bit of a lie-in,’ Imogen told her and when Emmy looked concerned, she waved her hand impatiently at her. ‘Now don’t get reading anything in to it, my girl. I’m entitled to an extra hour or two in bed if I’ve a mind to, without you going into a flap, aren’t I?’
‘Of course you are,’ Emmy told her hastily. ‘But if you aren’t feeling well I’d rather you say and I can get the doctor to call in to see you.’
