The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel and the Persuasive Love of a Libertine by Jane Lark

Author:Jane Lark
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: erotica, historical, victoria, boxset
Publisher: Jane Lark

Part Five

He had not lied to Emily; he had not been bored in her father’s factory, he had been fascinated. The looms had moved at such a pace as the men and women had worked, casting the shuttles between the maze of threads, back and forth, creating intricate patterns.

But now his reward for spending three hours in a hot, noisy, and dusty factory with her father was highly anticipated, although with some concern.

He had possibly been too hasty last evening, in being so forward as to kiss her. She might turn him away today. But despite her anger, he knew women well enough to be certain she had enjoyed their kiss.

When he arrived at the Smithfield’s, though, things became shambolic. Emily was awaiting him in the hall, in a bonnet and shawl, but there was also a maid there, in a bonnet and shawl. The hand he’d played today had been trumped by an ace.

Damn it.

The curricle he’d hired, unlike those his friends owned, had a seat which faced backwards behind the driver’s seat, and so he was also without the excuse that he could not fit a maid on the carriage. He therefore spent an hour of his afternoon driving along country lanes beside Emily speaking of the most general things through gritted teeth, because sitting directly behind them was her maid.

They spoke of George, and how fast Drew’s and Mary’s son was growing, and how clever he seemed, which was as personal as they became. The rest of the conversation covered the factory, the weather, and the crops in the fields they passed, as Harry asked what was what, because he had never been a country boy.

So when they returned to her parents he was not one tiny step forward in his campaign to win her, and frustration burned in his blood. He would not take her out in a curricle again.

“Do you wish to join us for dinner this evening, Mr Webster, rather than eat alone in the inn?” her mother offered.

“Yes, that is very kind of you, Mrs Smithfield.” Yes, and he would damn well walk outside in the garden with Emily. He would have been better off doing that this afternoon than taking her driving.

When he returned to the inn, he asked for paper, ink, and a quill, and promptly scribbled a letter and sent it to Drew, which was largely full of complaints, followed by a request for advice. He walked down and posted it and ordered a carriage to take him out to Seend before dressing for dinner.

He had made his mind up to stay.

He also told the inn’s clerk that.

When the clerk had asked how long for? Harry answered, “Indefinitely.”

For as long as it took to win Emily, he supposed, and he had a feeling that might be a while, and he hoped that the inn did not call him on their credit arrangement prior to then. He always preferred the term credit over debt, but there was always a point when one became the other.

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