Chapter Ten
Later that evening
An hour before he was due at the bookshop, Cornelius made certain he dressed carefully, for he wished to impress Penny beyond the skills of his carnal prowess.
By the time his cravat was finally to his valet’s liking, and he’d scooped up a pair of kid gloves from his bureau, a knock sounded on the door to his dressing room.
After thanking his valet, he opened the door. “I’m on my way out, Carver. Please have my carriage brought around.”
“I will, of course, Major, but there is a Lady Bolton waiting in the downstair parlor for you. She says she won’t go away until she has the chance to speak with you.”
Well, fuck.
He never thought to see the woman again, after he told her that he’d tired of her services.
She’d barely been his last mistress for more than a month.
Thank goodness he’d not started the process of renting her a townhouse, and he was even more thankful he’d not given her expensive gifts. “Are you certain?”
The butler, a distinguished man in his late fifties, nodded. “Quite.”
“Damn.” Cornelius rubbed a hand along the side of his face. He couldn’t ignore her as she would continue to call. “I might as well beard the dragon.” It was the farthest thing he wished to do, but there was nothing for it.
“Very good, Major. Shall I order tea?”
He snorted. “God, no. Let’s not give her any excuse to linger, shall we?”
The butler nodded, but didn’t comment.
With a huff of annoyance, Cornelius followed a few minutes later.
He strode into the parlor, which was at the rear of the home.
This was a huge inconvenience, and he wasn’t best pleased to need to confront the woman.
As soon as his gaze fell on the woman—a lady only by marriage and an unhappy one at that—his chest tightened. Not in anticipation, but in annoyance.
“What are you doing here? I was quite adamant we were through when I broke off our relationship two weeks ago.”
Lady Bolton frowned. The anemic winter sunlight coming in from the one window glimmered off her pale-blonde hair. “I wasn’t done, though.”
“You have a husband. Why not use your wiles on him? Try to seduce him?” As he spoke, he crossed his arms at his chest and frowned.
Though her form was quite lush and her lips full, he found those charms no longer tempted him, for her eyes were the wrong color and there were no caramel highlights in the blonde tresses.
I much prefer Penny’s looks, for they aren’t contrived or overblown.
“I don’t like him nearly as much as I do you, and his body isn’t as delicious either.” She drifted closer to him with that certain look in her eyes that spelled trouble for him.
“Ha.” His chuckle held no mirth. “That is not how such things work.”
Of course the woman pouted. “Don’t be like that, Major.
” Lady Bolton sidled over to him and laid a palm on his chest. Ordinarily, he would have had an immediate reaction to her touch, but oddly, there was none of that now.
“I’m sorry you were cross with me before.
I will do better at keeping you happy.” There was a decided purr in her voice.
His frown deepened. “You should find happiness in yourself. You should also be content in that companionship, instead of what I do for you or what I can give you.”
Would he ever be needed, wanted, for the flawed man that he was? Would Penny want him after she found out why he was haunted?
Lady Bolton shook her head. “I want you back. Life is so dull without you in it to provide spice and excitement.”
A huff escaped him. “I’m not available.”
Shock lined her face. “You replaced me already?”
Heat crept up the back of his neck. “Not in the ways you think.” Did he consider Penny his new mistress? Of course not. That wouldn’t be respectful, but there was something between them he wished to explore, and now that they’d shared intercourse, he might need to think of her as his lover.
At least until he’d gotten his fill of her. Right? He couldn’t answer that from his conscience. There was something more to her; she had substance about her that many other women would never have. And that intrigued him.
“Why are you so cruel, Cornelius?” Lady Bolton pouted. “Let me show you what I can still do for you.” She nipped his chin while sliding a hand down his body to rub over his length.
Ordinarily, he would have already been erect and ready, but she wasn’t who he wanted in his bed any longer.
That thought was shocking enough, but when he thought of her touch or her kisses, the realization that he only wanted that attention from Penny left him almost breathless.
As quickly as he could, Cornelius removed the lady from his person.
“I meant what I said, Cynthia. We are finished.”
“You don’t mean that. Don’t you remember how good we were together?”
He briefly pointed his gaze to the ceiling before focusing on her again. “You’re fooling yourself. Find a new protector.” Not that he’d been hers for long. “Work things out with your husband.”
She didn’t take rejection well. “You think I’m not good enough for you.” When he remained silent, anger snapped in her eyes. “You’re chasing someone else, a younger, prettier version of me, a true lady, perhaps.”
“That is not your concern.” The conversation was over, and he wanted her evicted from his home.
A sound of annoyance left her throat. “You are not that wonderful of a prize yourself, Major. What will your new ladybird do when you try to kill her in her sleep for no other reason than you woke up disoriented beside her, and still thinking you’re in the war?
” The glare she rested on him could have singed lesser men.
“One of these days, you’ll go through with it, and then there will be trouble. ”
He refused to let her see how those words affected him, for they played directly into his insecurities and worries. “I’m well aware of my failings.” And he’d rather take his own life over harming one hair on Penny’s head.
“Well, when you’re done trying to lift your position and remember who you truly are, I’ll take you back. I’m not a social climber like you apparently are.” Then she flounced from the room, a personification of wounded pride.
And she was a liar. She wanted nothing else but to climb through society in any way she could. What she’d wanted with him, a mere major, he had no idea. But that wasn’t who he was. He didn’t give two braces for society; he only wanted to spend time with Penny.
Did that mean he was on his way down the slippery slope to love?
Perish the thought…
*
Before he finally had his driver pull up in front of the bookshop, he’d had a few errands and meetings to take. Now, as the darkness of evening crept upon them, he closed the door to the carriage then he moved forward to address his driver.
“I intend to walk home once I’m through here. There is a chance I’ll have other business in Mayfair afterward.” That was, if he were fortunate and Penny wished to indulge in scandal. If she didn’t, then he’d need that walk to drive away lingering desire.
“Have a lovely evening, Major.” The driver touched the brim of his hat before guiding the horses down the street.
As soon as he pushed open the door to the bookshop, the tin bell tinkled, and anticipation swirled through his being, for he couldn’t wait to see Penny again.
“Welcome, Major!” the owner, Mr. Chandler, called out with a bright grin. “You must enjoy what we have to offer here since you’re back for a third time.”
That was an understatement, but it had nothing to do with the books within.
“Good evening, Mr. Chandler. I’ve come to browse, but I’ll try to be quick.” Trying not to be obvious as he glanced around the shop, he kept his disappointment to himself when he didn’t immediately spy Penny.
“Good enough. We will close in a few moments, Major. Was there something wrong with the book you bought earlier?” He eyed the few parcels Cornelius brought in with him, but he didn’t comment upon it. Thank goodness.
“Uh, no. It was perfectly fine, of course, but I thought I might like the volume of poetry Lady Weymouth recommended yesterday.” He cleared his throat. “Is she around? I’d like to tell her goodnight.”
The older man nodded. “She is upstairs with my wife helping her to dress. We have dinner with friends tonight, you see, and my wife has never employed a maid.”
“Ah.”
Mr. Chandler frowned. “Might I ask you a serious question, Major?”
“Of course.”
“Do you hope to court my shop assistant?”
The directness of the inquiry took him by surprise. “I… I’m not certain.” Is that where he wished to head? Did he want an expanded relationship with Penny over and above the carnal?
“Yet, unless I miss my guess, you’ve brought her a few gifts.” The other man flicked his gaze to the parcels Cornelius still held.
“Yes, well…” Heat sneaked through his person.
“She is my best friend’s sister. Haven’t seen her for a bit while I was in India with the military, and I’d acquired a few bits and bobs for her during that time.
” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth, either.
Some of the items had come from India, but others he’d purchased for her today at the shops.
“I see.” The older man looked him over as if he were assessing whether or not Cornelius was good enough for her.
He suddenly hoped he found favor with this man.
“In lieu of her father, I’ll tell you this.
Don’t trifle with her affections or think to hurt her.
Penny is a lovely woman who didn’t deserve the marriage she was handed.
In fact, she needs someone to see her for who she is, not something to have or possess. ”
Sage words, of course. Cornelius nodded. “I quite agree with you, and you have my promise I won’t hurt her. She is far too precious to be taken advantage of, or neglected a second time.”
They stared at each other for long moments before Mr. Chandler nodded.