“I called at your house once more, but you were not there, and your mother told me where to find you,” Mr. Howard said.
“I’m glad you did. There are many wonderful books here,” she lied. In fact, right then, she wished he’d stayed away so Ambrose could continue what he had been doing to her. Clearly she was a woman of loose morals.
Did he often kiss women?
“What have you found to read up here, Miss Wilson?” Mr. Howard asked.
“Many things,” she said. Tilly wasn’t sure why she didn’t want Mr. Howard to see the book she had opened, but she didn’t. However, it was too late because, as she reached for it, he was there, turning the cover of the book so he could read the title.
Becoming a Trinitarian Christian Master Mason.
“That looks interesting, but it surprises me that a woman would want to study such a thing. To the best of my knowledge, you are not allowed to be a Freemason.”
“I am looking at these for my father,” Tilly said, improvising.
She could feel Ambrose standing there watching them.The weight of his gaze was burning into her spine.Will I always be aware of this man? What about when he is married?That thought settled in her belly like lumpy porridge. She’d just kissed and allowed a man who would marry another to touch her breast.He can never marry you even if he wished to,she reminded herself.
“Do you know anything about Freemasons or Societas Rosicruciana, Howard?” Ambrose asked. The words didn’t exactly come out as a demand, but it was a near thing.
“Not a great deal. I had an uncle who was a Freemason. I remember him mentioning odd handshakes and a few other things, but I’ve not heard of Societas Rosicruciana, sorry.”
Mr. Howard was a genuinely nice man, Tilly thought, but she felt nothing when she looked at him. There was no little spike of excitement, let alone a burning need, but then perhaps that was a good thing.
She wasn’t sure after that kiss if she could handle too much passion. Surely a man that kissed like that could get a woman to do what he wished? Or was it only Ambrose who could make Tilly respond as she just had?
“What interest has your father in this, Miss Wilson?” Mr. Howard asked.
“Well, as to that?—”
“Howard, I believe you have an excellent eye when it comes to horses,” Ambrose said, cutting her off.
Mr. Howard smiled. “I would not say excellent, but it is definitely passable.”
While the men discussed horses, Tilly stacked the books she wished to purchase. She needed to leave and get away from Ambrose so she could think clearly again.Think about that kiss.
“Is your maid waiting for you downstairs, Miss Wilson?” Mr. Howard enquired when he noted she was preparing to leave.
“My maid is not with me today as she is unwell. I am also past the age of needing a constant companion, sir.”
Mr. Howard clearly wanted to say something else about that, but unlike the man at his side, he refrained, which should have made her like him a great deal more.
Ambrose snorted. “Apparently the rules that other young ladies follow do not apply to Miss Wilson,” he said.
“Oh, do shut up,” Tilly snapped, much to the shock of Mr. Howard. She then walked around them both and back down the stairs to the counter.
“You will take all three of these, Miss Wilson?” Mrs. Lolly asked.
“I will, thank you.”
“Allow me to see you to your carriage, Miss Wilson,” Mr. Howard said when she’d paid for her purchases.
“I will find a hackney,” Tilly said.
That shocked the man again.
“Come, I will take you home in my carriage,” Ambrose said.
“She cannot go alone in your carriage, Lord Talbot. Surely you know that is improper?” Mr. Howard said.
