September Awakening (The Silver Foxes of Westminster Book 4) by Merry Farmer

Author:Merry Farmer [Farmer, Merry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Shayles was a trial. He was a conniving, evil-hearted man who spent the rest of the day drinking Armand’s finest spirits and making veiled threats and ribald jokes. But it was Miller whose neck Armand wanted to wring. Not only had the man blurted out his plans to take up the position in India to Lavinia before Armand had a chance to discuss it with her himself, the bastard watched Lavinia all through the afternoon and during supper as though he were a hawk sighting prey.

“You should relocate to London once your husband sails away for the Indian sub-continent, Lady Helm,” he said with a drunken slur as Les and Carl served pudding at the end of supper. “That way you’d be closer to friends who could protect you.” His words would have seemed kind if he hadn’t delivered them with a lascivious grin while staring at Lavinia’s breasts.

“Leave my wife out of whatever political games you’re playing,” Armand growled, regretting that the table was so blasted long and Lavinia was all the way at the other end. He wanted her by his side at all times so that he could shield her.

“Politics?” Miller jerked straight, swaying as he turned toward Armand. “Can’t stand the stuff. Women, on the other hand.” He laughed until he was cut short by a hiccup. “You should know all about women, Pearson, what with your women’s medicine.” He laughed harder, ending with a burp.

Armand scowled at him, well aware of how many doctors considered the new field of gynecology to be fluff medicine, unimportant, and slightly inappropriate. Which was the entire reason he’d been able to pursue it after being forced to give up what society thought of as serious medicine. “Women’s health is as important as men’s,” he said, meeting Lavinia’s eyes across the table. “Just as their rights are as important as ours.”

It was as if someone had struck a match and lit a lamp. That was what his friends were fighting so hard for in Parliament. Women had every bit as much of a right to self-determination as they had to adequate healthcare in a way that focused on their unique physiology. And he was in a position to advance both notions.

But his moment of inspiration was dampened by the despondent droop of Lavinia’s shoulders as she picked at her food yards away from him, at the other end of the table. She only barely met his eyes, and then only nodded out of courtesy. Armand wasn’t sure she was listening to the conversation at all. Her lack of attention was an utter distraction to him, but it had a surprisingly positive effect.

When Shayles realized neither Armand nor Lavinia were paying attention to his pokes and prods, he grew silent and ultimately retired to bed early. The footman had to drag Miller out of his chair and practically carry him up to bed. And Gatwick wandered off to ask Bondar about Broadclyft Hall’s artwork. That left Armand to escort Lavinia up to bed in relative silence.

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