The Perfect Mistress (27 page)

Harrison did wish the man would stop bandying the word
passions
about.

“My behavior was inexcusable. I can only offer as an excuse the fact that, as I am a man of many passions—”

There was that word again.

“—they occasionally overtake my better judgment and I may say”—his gaze slid to Harrison then back to Julia—“or do something that I may later regret. Why, I have been known to reveal matters, secrets even, best kept to myself.”

If Harrison had doubts before, he had none now. The man was indeed threatening him.

“I hope, Lady Winterset,” Ellsworth continued, “that you can forgive my lapse in judgment and allow me to endeavor to make amends. And furthermore, that you do not let this influence your decision regarding the memoirs. Another chance, if you please, my lady.”

Julia studied him for a long moment. One might think she was weighing and measuring the benefits of a business alliance against having to associate with Ellsworth. It was extremely calculating and most admirable. Perhaps he’d been blinded by her charm or humor but he hadn’t really given her enough credit for either intelligence or desperation. She apparently could indeed take care of herself.

At last she sighed. “Very well, Mr. Ellsworth. I accept your apology. And I shall continue to consider your proposal.”

What?

“Excellent.” He beamed at her. “As I am anxious to begin work, might I ask when you might decide on that? And may I persuade you to allow me to argue my case again?”

“I believe you were leaving, Mr. Ellsworth,” Harrison said firmly.

She turned her annoyed gaze on Harrison. “And what are you doing here?”

“I came … I thought …” He’d come directly from his walk with Miss Waverly because he had the most absurd desire to speak to a lovely woman who wasn’t an idiot. And because being with Miss Waverly made him appreciate Julia and want to be in her company. None of which he could bring himself to say. “I came to make a new offer for the memoirs.”

“Then give me the envelope and be on your way.”

Harrison shook his head. “I don’t have an envelope.”

She raised a brow. “I thought these things always came in envelopes.”

“And I thought we could simply talk.” He cast her a firm look. “We have a great deal to talk about.”

“I would like to talk as well,” Ellsworth said. “Indeed, I agree. We have a great deal to talk about. All of us.”

Julia rubbed her forehead. “I would prefer not to talk to either of you at the moment. I need to consider what is best for my future. You—” She directed a hard look at Ellsworth. “You may leave.” Her gaze met Harrison’s. “You may follow him out and send me your new offer.”

“I’m not leaving until he does,” Ellsworth said staunchly. “The moment I step out the door, he will try to convince you to accept his offer and I will be”—he heaved a dramatic sigh—“devastated.”

“I doubt that,” Harrison said.

“These memoirs present an opportunity that will not come my way again.” His gaze met Harrison’s. “I would be a fool to allow them to slide through my fingers without using every means at my disposal to procure them.”

“Honorable means I would hope,” Harrison said.

Ellsworth’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What exactly are you implying, my lord?”

“Simply what I said.” Harrison shrugged. “I should hope those means do not include actions that are less than honorable.”
Blackmail. Seduction
.

Julia sucked in a hard breath. “Are you starting that again?”

“Starting what?” Ellsworth’s confused glance slid between the two of them.

“Well, I was right, wasn’t I?” he snapped. “Given what I walked in on.”

“I was perfectly capable of handling the situation by myself.”

“Yes, I could see that.” Sarcasm rang in Harrison’s voice.

“I kicked him, didn’t I?” Her voice rose.

“And it still hurts,” Ellsworth added.

Lord, she was annoying. His voice matched hers. “If I hadn’t come in when I did—”

“I would have been perfectly fine!” She huffed. “I suppose now you’re going to tell me what a man like him might do in a library in the middle of the afternoon.”

“I see no need to tell you as you were well on your way to finding out!”

Ellsworth cleared his throat. “I say—”

They ignored him.

She stepped toward him, anger again flaring in her eyes. “And then you might want to show me exactly what he might do in a library in the middle of the day just as you showed me what he might do on a darkened terrace!”

“I might!” He moved closer. “As I don’t think you have any real understanding of what a man like him is capable of!”

“You do realize I am still here.” Indignation sounded in Ellsworth’s voice.

“If nothing else, I daresay a man like him would not scamper off to hide like a frightened rabbit!”

“I might,” Ellsworth murmured.

“I did not run off to hide like a frightened rabbit!”

“Oh? And how would you describe it?” Challenge rang in her voice.

“I came to my senses!”

“My, that is flattering!”

“I didn’t mean …” He tried and failed to get his own anger under control. “And I … I sent flowers!”

“Roses make me sneeze!”

“I didn’t know that! And I sent a note of apology, didn’t I?”

“I would scarcely call that an apology. Brief, terse, and with no true regret!”

“Because I don’t re—”

“What on earth is going on in here?” Veronica stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. “Not only could I hear you in the hall but you could probably be heard three blocks away. Now, what is going on?”

Julia drew a deep breath. “Nothing at all.”

Harrison shook his head. “Not a thing.”

“Lady Smithson, what a delightful surprise.” Ellsworth stepped forward, a broad smile on his face. He reached his hand out to take hers but she cast him a look that said he would be risking his life were he to do so. He pulled his hand back as if singed.

Julia heaved a long-suffering sigh. “And why are you here? And is Portia right on your heels? Perhaps the entire Literary Society as well?”

“Don’t be such a goose,” Veronica said dismissively. “You forgot your book at the tearoom and I thought I would bring it to you, as your house was on my way.” She handed her a book.

“This is not on your way and I didn’t have a book.” Julia’s brow furrowed.

“Oh.” Veronica raised a shoulder in an offhand shrug. “Then now you do.” She studied the two men but inclined her head toward Julia. “Do you want to tell me what is going on here or will you leave it entirely to my imagination?”

“It scarcely matters. Mr. Ellsworth and Lord Mount-dale were just leaving.” Julia moved to the door. “And I have a matter to attend to.”

“The matter in the parlor?” Veronica asked.

Julia stared at her friend then nodded.

Veronica cast her a smug look. “I have taken—” She smiled brightly. “Yes, indeed you do and I shall help.” She opened the door, ushered a protesting Julia into the hall and joined her, closing the door behind her.

Harrison turned to Ellsworth. “What are you doing here?”

“That does seem to be the question of the day,” Ellsworth said coolly. “The same as you, I imagine. I am still interested in the memoirs as well as their owner.”

Harrison ignored the last of the author’s statement. For now. “In spite of what I paid you, you no longer have the money for the memoirs.”

“True enough, after I pay my debts, that is.” He shrugged. “But surely you know how these things work, my lord. The credit of a famous author is nearly as great as that of a titled gentleman. I will have no problem acquiring the sum I promised Lady Winterset for the memoirs.”

“But that was my idea.” Harrison stared in disbelief.

“And an excellent idea it was too.” He chuckled. “I am most grateful. It will be my most successful work yet.”

“If you manage to get the memoirs,” Harrison said slowly.

“I have no doubt of that.” Confidence curved the author’s lips. “I fully intend to acquire Lady Middlebury’s book.” He paused. “And her great-granddaughter in the process.”

“Oh?” Harrison raised a brow. “From what I witnessed, she did not willingly fall into your arms.”

“Not yet perhaps, but she will.” He grinned. “I have yet to meet a woman who can resist me for long.”

Harrison forced himself to remain calm. He should have thrashed Ellsworth when he had the chance. Still, there was no reason why he could not do so now. “Lady Winterset is an unusual woman. You may have met your match in her.”

“Perhaps.” Ellsworth studied him thoughtfully. “Would you care to wager on it?”

“I don’t need to wager on it, Ellsworth.”

“I know you want the book, my lord. It’s obvious to me that’s not all you want.”

Harrison clenched his jaw. “Lady Winterset is my friend.”

“Yes.” Ellsworth chuckled. “That’s what I thought.” He crossed his arms over his chest and propped his hip on the desk. “Let me tell you something about your friend, my lord.”

“I can’t imagine that I am interested in anything you may have to say.”

“No, you probably can’t yet I am certain you will find it extremely interesting nonetheless. I have known a great many women. You would be surprised what an aphrodisiac fame is.” He smirked. “I know I was.”

Harrison narrowed his eyes.

“One gets to a point where one starts to recognize different types of women. Indeed, they fall into easily recognized categories.”

“You’re wrong, Ellsworth, I’m not interested.”

“Come now, every man is interested in this. I daresay, I shall base a book on it one day. Let’s see. Where to start?” He thought for a moment. “Do you recall Miss Nelson, from Lady Smithson’s dinner?”

Harrison nodded, intrigued in spite of himself.

“One would place her in the category of kindred spirits, at least so perceived on her part. Miss Nelson has literary aspirations. She would fall into my bed without hesitation in the belief that we are linked by something far more romantic than mere desires of the flesh. That we are indeed kindred spirits, soul mates, another great literary couple in the manner of the Brownings.”

He would never admit it aloud but he agreed with the author’s assessment of Veronica’s cousin.

“Then there is Lady Redwell, another of Lady Winter-set’s”—he cleared his throat—“friends. She is obviously impressed by fame. Given her flirtatious manner, one can imagine she would be easily seduced by the allure of celebrity. But I am experienced enough to recognize a core of restraint within her that precludes an easy seduction. When that restraint breaks …” He chuckled. “I should like to be the man who causes that dam to burst.”

Harrison scoffed and shook his head. “You are reprehensible.”

“I have been called worse.” He shrugged. “As for Lady Smithson, in spite of her considerable charm and wit, she is far too intelligent to be taken in by any man. Mores the pity.”

“Watch yourself, Ellsworth, she is my late brother’s widow.” Warning sounded in his voice. “I consider her my sister.”

“My condolences.” Ellsworth cast him a sympathetic smile. “As for Lady Winterset—”

Harrison gritted his teeth. “Tread carefully.”

“Lady Winterset is perhaps as intelligent as Lady Smithson although I don’t think she completely trusts that intelligence. She has been taken care of, you see, proper marriage and all that. I think she is still realizing she can indeed take care of herself although I’m not sure she wants to.” He shook his head. “There is a look in her eye that is most compelling. I suspect she continues to learn all sorts of things about herself especially how very much like her great-grandmother she really is.”

“I wouldn’t wager on that either, Ellsworth.” It was not too late to thrash him.

“Oh, but I am, my lord,” he said coolly. “I am wagering a great deal. My future success in fact. The only thing that would increase the success of the collaboration I propose or rather, you proposed—”

Harrison narrowed his eyes.

“—would be to have Lady Winterset on my arm.” He chuckled. “The public would fall all over themselves to buy the book of the true adventures of Lady Middlebury by John Eddington Ellsworth, current lover of her descendant, the lovely Lady Winterset. Scandal, my lord”—he met Harrison’s gaze directly—“sells books.”

At his side, Harrison’s hands clenched into fists. “I will not allow you to use—”

The door snapped open and Julia stepped into the room, Veronica right behind her.

“My apologies, Lord Mountdale, Mr. Ellsworth, but I have other matters to attend to far more pressing than whatever it is we have been engaged in here so I shall bid you both good day.” Julia cast them an overly pleasant smile, turned, and took her leave.

“And I have matters of my own to attend to,” Ellsworth said, turning toward Veronica. “Lady Smithson.” His smug gaze met Harrison’s. “My lord. Good day to you both.” He nodded and left.

“You can unclench your fists now,” Veronica said mildly.

“My fists are not …” Harrison blew a long breath and relaxed his hands. “That man is a scoundrel.”

“Of course he is. But he is as well a famous author.” Veronica shrugged. “His literary reputation goes hand in hand with his amorous exploits to create the public role he wears so well. His less-than-sterling qualities are overlooked, given his talent with words.”

“Not by me.”

“Obviously.” She studied him thoughtfully. “Might I ask what you are doing here?”

“I came to present Julia with a new offer.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. He did have an improved offer to make.

“I see. And I thought you might have come to improve on your apology.”

“It crossed my mind,” he said with a casual shrug.

“From what I heard, it’s not the kiss itself that warrants an apology.”

“Apparently not.”

“But your behavior afterward.”

“I realize that,” he snapped. Still, what was he to say? That he’d been so stunned by his own lack of control that he could do nothing save scamper away like a frightened rabbit? That he’d been so overwhelmed by the desire that gripped him when his lips met hers that he was thoroughly confused and could scarcely form a coherent word? Oh yes, that all sounded grand. Coupled with his less-than-adequate written apology, she had every right to be angry with him, although he would dispute the frightened rabbit analogy. “I just don’t know what to do now.”