A Lady In Need of an Heir by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical
Published: 2018-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

‘This one,’ Gaby announced, turning a slow circle in the little drawing room of the house halfway up Half Moon Street.

‘Are you sure?’ Gray queried. ‘The property in Charles Street has been redecorated more recently and the St James’s Place one is larger and we still haven’t seen the one near Grosvenor Square.’

‘This is close to Green Park. The street is quiet and the house has a good feel to it. There is a pleasant sitting room and bedchamber for Jane and one for me, and the dining room and this drawing room are quite adequate for any entertaining I might do. The domestic quarters are good, too, which will help in attracting suitable staff.’

‘If you are sure? The rent, I have to admit, is reasonable and Hotchkiss says the landlord will be flexible about how long you take it for. Property is in demand in the area and he will have no trouble reletting it if you decide to leave at short notice. I’ll send him a note now.’ He took a notebook from his pocket, scribbled a few lines and folded it. ‘Are you ready to look at the apartments?’

‘Yes.’ This was what she had been dreading, she thought as she followed him out to where his groom waited with the phaeton. Gray obviously thought that taking an apartment would be a discreet way of conducting an affaire and he was right. Only she now had to tell him that she did not want one. Or, rather, that she did, but her conscience would not allow it. He might very well ask why her inconvenient conscience had not informed her of this at the first kiss, by the second caress. A very fair question, she supposed.

The groom took the note, handed the reins over to Gray and walked briskly off down the street. He had even thought of that, she thought gloomily, finding that she did not have the courage to tell him while he was concentrating on the traffic.

They went through Berkeley Square, crossed Bond Street and drew up outside a house in a quiet backstreet. ‘Veil,’ Gray murmured before he gestured to a crossing sweeper, handed him sixpence to hold the horses and promised him the same when they came out.

The lad grinned, bit the coin, pocketed it and went to stand at the horses’ heads, holding the reins firmly. ‘Dun this afore, guv’nor, they’ll be all right wiv me. Prime pair of prads.’

Gaby allowed herself to be helped down and followed Gray up to the front door. The landlady had obviously been expecting them, a key was handed over and the woman retreated back into her downstairs front parlour without any attempt to look at Gaby, for which she was truly grateful.

They climbed one flight of stairs in silence, then Gray unlocked the right-hand door on the landing and held it for her to walk through to a sitting room with a view of the street. ‘Gray—’

‘Not bad,’ he said after a swift

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