Chapter Ten #3
“I suppose I might, if I gave it much thought, but I think senses can dull in a person if they stay stationary. I’m sure it’s not considered a very attractive quality in a lady, but I do enjoy a voyage.”
“I don’t think there’s a single characteristic of yours that isn’t attractive, Miss Atherton.”
“A charming man, isn’t he, Mr. Milton?” Lady Belle interrupted suddenly, causing everyone in the carriage to face her. She lifted her chin once she had everyone’s attention. “My, you remind me of my Georgie.”
That caught the man’s attention. Mr. Liddell perked up.
“When you say, Georgie, you don’t mean his royal majesty?”
“I do, indeed,” she said, turning on her own flattery. “In fact, I remember this one evening, many years ago, where Georgie…”
Lady Belle went into a long story for the rest of the ride about an evening where she and the former monarch stole a pair of horses from a diplomat’s house while they were touring the Continent.
Lady Belle spoke of the former king as if he were simply a man and Mr. Liddell ate it up.
Truly, Jane could learn a thing or two from Lady Belle.
The way she commanded everyone’s attention through her storytelling was remarkable.
Jane hadn’t even realized they had arrived at the theater when the carriage suddenly came to a stop.
“Oh, but then, that’s a story for another day,” Lady Belle concluded.
“You are a fascinating woman, Lady Belle,” Mr. Liddell said as he exited the vehicle. He helped her climb down. “I should very much like to learn more about your time with his majesty.”
“I’m sure you would,” she said haughtily, causing Mr. Liddell to laugh as he helped Jane exit the carriage.
“I hope Lady Belle didn’t scandalize you,” Mr. Liddell said to Jane as they made their way through the crush of the front doors. “Can you imagine? The former king stealing horses? It almost sounds treasonous to admit such a thing.”
“I imagine Lady Belle and His Majesty got into all sorts of trouble when he was alive,” Jane said as she leaned toward the gentleman as an usher came up to remove her long, heavy cloak.
Mr. Liddell’s eyes swept down the front of Jane’s dress, lingering at her chest for a moment before his mouth curled in a somewhat unsavory way. But she ignored the small voice in the back of her mind that suddenly told her to cover up in front of this man. He bent down to speak into her ear.
“Would that we might get into a spot of mischief ourselves,” he said lowly before standing back up.
The sudden, instinctual need to put some distance between herself and Mr. Liddell crashed over Jane as he turned away from her to speak with Mr. McKinnon. She couldn’t explain it, but she felt exposed beneath his gaze, and she did not relish the feeling.
But she had barely been out of Mr. Liddell’s presence for half a moment before the hot breath of her employer touched the back of her neck, causing her to shiver.
“What are you doing?” he whispered behind her ear.
Jane had to steel herself and swallow before she answered him.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You’re behaving differently around Liddell. Why?”
She turned and tried to take a step back. The entrance to the theater was too crowded, however, so she didn’t have much room to distance herself from him, but then perhaps being tightly packed together was really to their advantage.
She looked up into his warm, dark eyes.
“I’m trying to help.”
“Help how?”
She let out a humorous breath.
“By being nice to him. Isn’t that why we’re at the theater? To entertain him and flatter him so that he might support your reform bill?”
“I appreciate the effort, Miss Atherton, but really, there’s no need to flirt with the man.”
That hurt. She hadn’t meant to be so obvious so that he would call her out like this, but then, who did he think he was talking to her like that? Jane’s pride was stung, but she didn’t show it. Instead, she turned, only to fall into Mr. Liddell’s back.
“Oh! My ankle,” she said loudly, causing a number of people to turn in her direction. Including Mr. Liddell.
“Miss Atherton, are you hurt?” he asked.
“Oh, no, I don’t think, oh!” she cried as she tried to put weight on her foot. “I don’t know what happened. I must have rolled it somehow.”
“Let’s get you out of this crowd,” Mr. Liddell said, as he tried to put his arm on her back. “Excuse us.”
“I’ll see to Miss Atherton,” Samuel said instantly, his body coming between Jane’s and Mr. Liddell’s.
Fool, Jane thought. What was he trying to do?
“Er, that’s quite all right, Mr. Milton. I’m sure Mr. Liddell—”
But with a quick look between Samuel and Belle, the old woman snaked her arm into Mr. Liddell’s elbow.
“Mr. Liddell, did I ever tell you the story about my escape from Kensington Palace?”
That distracted him.
“I beg your pardon. You said you escaped the palace?”
“I did indeed. Although, I’m a bit parched. Perhaps you could escort me to the refreshments window, and I’ll tell you all about it. Hm?”
He gave Jane a passing glance.
“Are you sure you’re not in need of my assistance, Miss Atherton?”
“She’s quite certain,” Samuel said before Jane could answer, as he escorted her away from the crush to a small enclave off to the edge of the room.
Once away from the crowd, and certainly out of earshot of Mr. Liddell, Jane spoke.
“What are you doing?” she hissed at him as he bent to his knees.
“I’m checking on your ankle,” he said as he attempted to grab the hem of her skirt.
“Stop that at once. You know very well that I, oh,” Jane’s eyes instantly closed at the feel of his large, warm hand encircling her perfectly healthy ankle. Her breathing became stilted and she had to force herself to open her eyes.
Samuel was staring at her intently. There was a heat in his gaze that caused her to have gooseflesh, and she forgot exactly what she wanted to say.
“I… You shouldn’t do that,” she breathed softly.
“But you said it was hurt.”
She gave him a knowing look.
“You know very well it wasn’t.”
He glanced up at her as his fingers gently roamed over her foot and Jane began to struggle. She couldn’t quite remember how to breathe beneath his touch. She had to close her eyes to focus.
“I only know what I’m told, Miss Atherton.” His words were warm and deep. “I do not waste my time with knowing glances, secret winks, and hidden agendas. Now tell me plainly, what were you thinking telling Mr. Liddell your ankle was injured?”
“I hardly said it was injured, only that I twisted it,” she argued, trying to ignore the way he rolled his knuckles into the base of her foot. His hands were large and alarmingly strong. “A-and I’m only doing what I’ve been instructed to do.”
“By whom?”
Jane opened her eyes to find his handsome face closer now than it was before. She swallowed.
“Your mother.”
His hands stopped moving.
“My mother told you to fake an injury?”
“No, of course not. That was my stupid idea,” she said without bravado.
“But your mother did tell me that it was in Milton Enterprises’ best interest if I be attentive to Mr. Liddell.
And, as we have similar backgrounds and upbringings, I thought to play to the gentleman in him.
Peers adore being heroes, particularly when there’s no real danger.
Helping a lady plays on their better nature, and it always makes them feel proud. ”
Samuel’s eyes squinted.
“You’re manipulating him.”
She pulled her foot from his hands and bent forward to try and find her shoe.
“I’m doing what I was hired to do.”
“And what’s that?” he asked, moving back slightly to avoid her, though not fast enough.
Jane’s cheek briefly brushed against the edge of his face and both of them froze instantaneously.
Samuel inhaled sharply next to her ear as the pounding of Jane’s heart began to sound there as well.
Neither moved, and for several seconds it seemed the only thing Jane could focus on was the spot where their faces had touched.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly pulled back to find Samuel staring at her.
After a moment, she slipped her foot inside her shoe and stood. He followed.
“I’m doing what your mother asks of me.” Jane had to speak slowly to keep her voice low and even. “As her secretary, it is my job to appease her.”
“Not at the cost of your self-worth.”
“If you have an issue with my work performance, may I direct you to Mrs. Milton? I’m sure she’d be very happy to tell you to stay out of my way.”
He scoffed, but he spoke so softly that Jane could barely comprehend the reprimanding of his words.
“You do not command any part of this enterprise, Miss Atherton. Do not forget it.”
She lifted her chin, prepared to bluff.
“Very well. Then if you won’t allow me to do my job, perhaps I should just leave.”
“No,” he said instantly, his hand going to her forearm to still her.
Jane stopped moving immediately as she ignored the thumping of her heart. He didn’t want her to leave and yet he couldn’t stand to watch her work.
He dropped his hold on her instantly, seeming perturbed that he had even touched her to begin with.
“Your contract is for a year. I won’t let you break it.” She considered it and then gave him a single nod. “But I won’t let you throw yourself at Mr. Liddell for the company’s benefit.”
Her eyes snapped to his.
“I did not throw myself at him.”
“Whether you did or not, as your employer, I forbid you from doing so anymore.”
Furious, Jane lifted her foot and let her heel connect with Samuel’s toes, then she left the enclave in a huff. She blessedly spotted the rest of their group who were only several yards away.
What an infuriating man. What made him think that he could order her about?
Surely this wasn’t how employers treated their employees.
Why, it was a wonder anyone would suffer the indignity of it all to begin with.
And why was he so morally superior to everyone else?
Did he not want to build his precious hospital? Wasn’t all of this for his dream?
By the time the lamps were dimming, she found her seat in one of the private boxes, between Mr. Liddell and Lady Belle.
But for the entire evening, she could barely focus on the Swedish singer.
As it was, the entire interaction with Samuel had soured her mood and for the rest of the night, she longed to be back home, in her bed and away from it all.