A Scandalous Request by Micki Miller

Author:Micki Miller [Miller, Micki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, regency
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“How could you, Ashton?” Rose all but shouted after storming into the breakfast room.

She stood across the table where Ashton and Lewis sat in the early morning light, both attired in varying shades of plum with dark neckcloths and crisp, white shirts. A sling supported Lewis’s arm. His color was good and his nearly empty plate attested the return of his appetite.

Rose noticed, and was thankful for, these things only at the very furthest edge of her turbulent emotions. The vibrancy of her wrath diminished everything outside the awareness of what her husband had done.

“Tell me,” Rose raged on. “Did the two of you make a bet on the day and time I would lose my virginity?”

Ashton set his fork down beside his half-eaten meal and stood. When Lewis scooted his chair back to do the same, Ashton placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him in his seat. Her husband then returned his attention to her. He had the gall to look not the least bit sorry. His lack of contrition only made Rose angrier.

“First of all,” Ashton said. “No, Lewis and I did not make any bets in regards to your relationship with Burke. You should know we’d never do anything so vulgar. Second, I spoke with Burke because I could not allow you to live your life a virtual spinster. Third—”

Rose’s hand slapped over her heart. “My life. It’s my life, Ashton, for me to decide. We had a bargain. You had no right!”

Lewis folded his hands and lowered them to his lap. “Rose, dear, Ashton only made the request to Lord Darington out of concern for your happiness. His intentions were all for the good, I assure you.”

“How can you defend this, Lewis? I am utterly humiliated!”

“Rose,” said Ashton. “You’re viewing this from a skewed perspective. Besides, it’s all irrelevant anyway. The fact of the matter is, Lord Darington—”

“Irrelevant?” Rose said, too angry to listen to his excuses. Nothing he said would justify what they’d done to her. She paced the length of the table in short, crisp steps. “Tell me, Ashton. Am I truly so hideous you must beg for lovers as a vagrant begs for alms?”

“Now Rose, that’s not at all the way of things. Do not even think it. I apologize from my depths if my efforts caused you distress. My intentions were only to see to your happiness.”

Stefon strode into the fray before Ashton could say anything more. The normally unruffled servant had a vexed appearance about him, forehead wrinkled, jaw stiff. He stopped just inside the doorway and addressed Ashton.

“Lord Darington is in the front parlor,” Stefon said. He shot a brief but sharp glance toward Rose. “He’s come to see her ladyship.”

“Good,” Rose said with a curt nod. She spun toward the door. “I can settle things with all you arrogant, high-handed men in one morning.”

Rose marched into the parlor, and wilted a tad when she faced Burke. Well, maybe a bit more than a tad.

He swung around as soon as her footsteps sounded on the parquet floor.

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