Sir Ashley's Mettlesome Match by Mary Nichols

Author:Mary Nichols
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Mrs Arabella Thornley had a small house in the Hay-market, where Ash had installed her six months before. Because of his wealth and consequence, she had an exaggerated notion of her own importance and liked to queen it over others of her ilk who inhabited neighbouring properties. She had furnished it extravagantly, but he did not mind that; he had never been other than generous to his light o’ loves. She had a maid and a housekeeper and the use of a phaeton whenever she wanted to go out. And for that she was expected to keep herself exclusively for him. That in no way gave her rights over what he did or how often he visited. Besides his work for the Piccadilly Gentlemen, he had a busy social life and had to maintain his character as a rake or everyone would be wondering what had happened to reform him, but he had always been faithful to his current mistress while she lasted.

Arabella knew all this; he had made no secret of it when he first met her and she had laughingly agreed, telling him they should both consider themselves free as air. But she had changed, become possessive and jealous and constantly hinted that he ought to make an honest woman of her. Until Jonathan saw fit to warn him, he had had no idea she had been telling everyone he intended to do just that. He had to put a stop to it. He went up the steps of Bella’s house and let himself in.

Arabella was lying languidly on a sofa, dressed in a diaphanous undress robe which left little to the imagination. She was not alone. Ash paused in the doorway of the salon, considering whether to turn round and go out again without speaking, but decided not to. He bowed to her and then to the young exquisite who was sitting on a stool at her feet, feeding her sweetmeats. It stiffened his resolve to end his affair with her.

‘Ash!’ She almost choked on the sticky sweet as she scrambled into a sitting position. ‘I did not expect you.’

‘That much I can tell, my dear,’ he said. ‘Pray, do present me to your friend.’

‘Antony Kirbey. Sir Ashley Saunders,’ she said, waving a plump arm at each of them.

‘How do ’ee do?’ Kirbey said, rising from the stool to bow.

‘I do very well,’ Ash said. ‘And shall do a great deal better for your absence.’

‘Just leaving, sir, just leaving.’ He grabbed his hat and cane from a chair and scuttled away.

Ash watched him go and then turned back to Arabella, who was looking mulish. ‘Do not be angry with me, sweetheart,’ she said. ‘I was bored, you have been gone so long and he was so persistent.’

‘I have been gone a week, no more. If you cannot stand a week’s separation, then there is no sense in pursuing our arrangement. You knew the conditions…’

‘I am sorry. It won’t happen again.’ She stood up and attempted to wind her arms about his neck.

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