Silk and Scandal by Cassandra Dean

Author:Cassandra Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: lawyer, lady, sweet romance, victorian era, parliament, barrister, scandalous, tease, victorian romance, captivate
Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Chapter Three

Foot tapping a nervous rhythm, Nicola waited for Thomas to return. The walls of his office seemed closer than they had before, the room stacked with paper and law books and a million other things that seemed to push in upon her.

Swallowing, she clasped her hands tighter. It wouldn’t be so bad if she’d arrived and Thomas had been sat behind his desk, a frown of concentration changing to a smile as he noticed her presence. Then, she could have enacted her plan and it would already be done, instead of twisting her stomach to knots as she waited.

She looked down at her hands. This was folly. This was the worst idea she’d ever had, above the abortive engagements, above any other course that had set her to scandal. This plan could fail, so very badly, but she saw no other course of action.

Though she’d not anticipated him being elsewhere. Arriving home from the gathering the night before—after Thomas had kissed her—she’d devised a stratagem where she would come to his office today, she would tease him and kiss him, and she would act as if he were already hers. Bluster and bravado had gotten her this far in the world; surely it would work one more time. However, upon her arrival, Thomas’s law clerk had informed her—rather haughtily in her opinion—that Mr. Cartwright was in court at the Old Bailey and not expected for another hour.

And there were still another twenty-three minutes to wait.

Oh, but this waiting was driving her mad! Staring down at her clasped hands, she forced her foot still. She couldn’t doubt herself. If he did not love her now, she would make him do so. She loved him too much for there to be any other outcome. Another hour. That was all she would wait, and if Thomas had not yet arrived, she would try again tomorrow.

The door opened.

Her heart leaped to her throat. Drawing a breath that shook, she straightened her back and pasted on a bright smile. So armored, she stood and turned to greet him.

Still garbed in his wig and robes, Thomas strode through the doorway. Lines of tiredness drew his features, his arms weighed down with papers and books. Upon spying her, his brow creased further.

Ignoring the twinge of hurt at his response to her presence, she brightened her smile. “Thomas, it’s wonderful you’re here! I’m so glad I didn’t leave.” Jumping to her feet, she rushed to him. “Here, let me take some of those papers.”

Sidestepping her, he avoided her attempt to help. “There is no need, Lady Nicola.”

“Don’t be silly.” Wrestling some of the stack from him, she smiled at him and tried to ignore how the twinge grew stronger when he did not smile in return. Instead, he ventured to his desk, dumped his share of paper and books, and, removing his wig, collapsed into his chair.

Placing her stack on her side of the desk, Nicola considered him. The lines scored deep into his forehead didn’t lessen, even when he rubbed and rubbed at his temples.

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