A Pregnant Courtesan for the Rake by Diane Gaston

Author:Diane Gaston [Gaston, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-11-05T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The next day turned cold and rainy and Oliver could think of no reason to go out, not even to Vitium et Virtus, which would be closed this night. He holed himself in the small room that was his library and opened the book he’d borrowed from Hookham’s.

It was hard reading, but intriguing. Oliver had never paid much attention to things like the value of land and how much workers should be compensated. It stimulated his thinking. It also expanded his thinking beyond the offerings of Vitium et Virtus, to ideas about producing food and manufacturing essential items, of paying wages based on the value of the tasks performed, and a concept of minimum wage that provided workers enough for food, clothing and shelter.

Perhaps there was more to life than a scandalous gentlemen’s club.

His butler came to the door. ‘Sir, do you recall the gentleman you asked me to take heed of?’

Bowles? It would be like Bowles to make more trouble.

Irwin went on. ‘The gentleman who might ask for Mrs Lockhart?’

Not Bowles. Lord Dorman.

‘Is he here asking for her?’

‘That he is,’ Irwin said. ‘What do you wish me to do?’

Irwin would probably throw the man out if Oliver wanted him to.

‘I’ll see him,’ he said instead. ‘Did you put him in the drawing room?’

‘That I did, sir. He was complaining all the way.’

Oliver closed his book. ‘Tell him I’ll be down directly.’ He rose from his chair and entered the drawing room a minute behind Irwin.

Dorman swung around to him. ‘I asked to see my daughter, not you.’

Oliver raised his brows. ‘Now she is your daughter? I thought she was dead to you.’

Dorman huffed. ‘You know my meaning.’

‘Why call here to see her?’ Oliver asked.

Dorman gave him a smug look. ‘I asked around. I know she lives here.’ He sneered. ‘With you.’

There was no use in denying it. ‘What is this business you have with Mrs Lockhart?’ Oliver asked.

‘Why should I tell you?’

Oliver came close to him. ‘Because I will not have you distressing her. You have done damage enough.’

‘What concern is it of yours?’ Dorman persisted.

‘She is my employee and my friend,’ Oliver said. ‘Both mean I care that she is not distressed.’

‘Humph!’ Dorman’s expression was of disdain. ‘My daughter Agnes tells me she’s more than that.’

‘Ah.’

Cecilia’s sister informed her father about the meeting at the circulating library. And, of course, his wife now knew he had destroyed Cecilia’s letters.

‘Perhaps you can tell me what you wish to say to Mrs Lockhart. I will pass on the message...’ Oliver paused. ‘Unless it is hurtful.’

‘She is never to contact any member of this family again!’ Dorman cried. ‘Tell her that. Or show me where the chit is hiding and I will tell her.’

‘I doubt she finds it necessary to hide from you.’ In fact, Oliver had no more right to keep her from seeing her father than her father had to order her presence.

It should be up to Cecilia to decide.

‘If you care to have a seat, I will ask if she wishes to see you.

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