Part 5 (2/2)
”Are you suggesting that I leave?”
”I am insisting that you leave. If you stay the night, we won't get a bit of rest. A woman my age needs her beauty sleep.”
”Don't flatter me, and don't fish for compliments. You're holding up very well.”
”I've gained more than a stone. Perhaps even two.”
”I hadn't noticed,” Edward lied. That explained the subtle difference-Caroline was softer, although her tongue was sharp as ever. He believed the extra weight suited her, made her slightly more mortal. She had lived like a G.o.ddess on a pedestal in his mind for too long.
”I need to get up. Please release me.”
”In a moment.” Edward s.h.i.+fted to retrieve Caroline's dress. ”Well, I'll be d.a.m.ned. It's-it's engineered to come apart like that. You didn't tear it at all.”
”Clever, isn't it? And most effective.”
Edward laughed and set Caroline next to him on the sofa. ”My G.o.d, you're a witch. If you were a man, I bet you could have exiled Napoleon to Elba far sooner.”
”Poor man. I hear his treatment at St. Helena is a scandal.” Caroline took the garment from him and fastened it so she could go upstairs without undue curiosity. He supposed he'd better hike up his breeches as well-his long shanks made him a figure of fun.
”One reaps what one sows,” Edward said. He couldn't squeeze out much sympathy for the man who'd upended the world for all of his adult life. ”I shall see you tomorrow evening. For dinner, if I remember correctly.”
Caroline frowned. ”Yes. You know you're a bit of a tyrant. What if your dates don't suit mine?”
”One must eat, Caro, even a skinny fellow like me, and so must you. I shan't take up too much of your time.”
”Promises, promises,” Caroline muttered. She whirled away in a scarlet flash, leaving him to see himself out.
Tomorrow night, he'd get her upstairs, or enjoy trying. Whistling most unlike a Christie, he b.u.t.toned up his trousers and walked into the balmy London evening.
Chapter 7.
There was nothing she liked so much as matchmaking, but Lady Laura lived alone, doomed to press her lightly-freckled nose against the gla.s.s and watch the world in love without her.
-Lady Laura's Lesson.
The occasion called for diamonds, not as celebration but distraction. Caroline had only her engagement and wedding rings, and a simple spray of smallish stones set into a pin that had belonged to Edward's mother. The major Christie jewels were locked up as they should be, waiting for the boys to marry and Allie to grow up. Caroline set the pin aside as not battle-worthy and picked up the topaz drop. Since her bronzy gown was cut conveniently low, it would do. She'd just need to be careful not to entice Garrett too thoroughly. He was getting more dogged by the day for her to break her vow of celibacy. Little did he know she had done so already with her husband.
She would ask Garrett's opinion on the divorce, and show him the annoying communication from Sir William Maclean. Will had always been worse than Edward when it came to propriety. The barrister had been opposed to Edward's second marriage, and made no bones about it. Caroline hoped if he ever married, justice would finally be served. His wife could bring him before Cupid's court without mercy. Rob him of all his dry legal language until he blithered like a bedlamite. Imprison him in a cage of l.u.s.t so he knew for once what it felt like. Caroline would love to sit on the sidelines and watch the great Maclean unmanned.
Lizzie knocked quietly at the bedroom door. ”Mr. Marburn is downstairs, Lady Christie. Shall I show him up?”
Caroline and Garrett often used her upstairs sitting room to discuss business, but she wanted the formality of the downstairs drawing room today. Then she remembered last night and its extreme informality and felt the heat on her cheeks. Soon there would be no room in her house that would be safe from Edward's aura.
She couldn't very well meet with Garrett in the kitchen, so she might as well stay put. ”Yes, Lizzie, please. And bring up the lunch tray in half an hour or so-with whiskey for Mr. Marburn.”
Lizzie bobbed and did as she was bid. Caroline tucked herself in a corner of her plum sofa and fanned some papers to cool herself off. Her notebooks were stacked neatly on the table, not that Garrett would give her credit for order. He was likely to be very irritated with her indeed.
He strode into the room, looking every inch the gentleman. His light brown hair was perfectly arranged, the cut of his clothes exquisite. Evidently he felt she looked her best, too. Placing a hand over his heart, he grinned. ”Caroline the Divine. How I've missed you.”
She had planned to wait for the topaz or the whiskey to take effect, but decided to get it over with. ”I hope I stay in your good graces, Garrett. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you.”
Garrett lifted a groomed eyebrow. ”Should I sit or stand ready to flee?”
She patted the sofa. A mistake. He sat too close and she felt it was not only the topaz which absorbed his attention. ”I've had a bit of a setback with The Harlot's Husband. I don't believe it will be quite ready to publish on the usual schedule.”
Garrett waved a careless hand. ”Let your public wait then. A delay will only serve to make them more eager. Are we talking days or weeks?”
”You-you're not upset?”
”Caroline, darling, the only thing that would upset me would be if you told me you'd found your conscience and refused to write what we both know to be utter drivel.”
Caroline gave him a little shove, not half so hard as she wanted. ”It is not drivel! I'll have you know I work very hard a.s.suring the quality of my stories!”
”Yes, yes,” he said dismissively. ”Art and all that. It's s.e.x your public wants, and secrets. Let's not put pearls on the pig.”
Caroline was vexed and sat up straight. While she knew she was not writing the great English novel, Garrett's words stung. He reminded her quite forcibly of Edward at the moment.
She poked a finger into his chest, which was still too near. ”You try churning out a novel a month!”
He inched backward a fraction. ”Caroline, you aren't trying to increase your advance, are you? Not that you're not worth every penny. But summer's upon us. The ton are leaving the city for their boring country estates and sales always drop. You have that husband of yours to support you. Hit the dullard up for extra cash if you're short.”
”Oh!” Caroline stamped her foot, managing to clip the tip of Garrett's boot. ”Sorry. No, I'm not short of money. What I am short of is time. Something”-someone-”has come up.”
”Caroline, I'm a businessman first. I'm not making a fuss that you're failing your contractual obligation to me. Finish the d.a.m.n book whenever. But I'll not give you another penny unless you stop playing games with me and finally let me into your bed.”
”Oh!” Her foot came down harder. Garrett just laughed.
”Why are you paying any attention to me at this late date? You know I just like to tease you. A man like me can hope.” He cupped her chin.
Caroline blinked, but not soon enough. A tear splashed on her powdered cheek.
”Something's riled you, and it's not me.”
”Yes. No. Oh, Garrett.” She swallowed, feeling very like one of her stupid heroines. ”Edward is divorcing me.”
Garrett's steady brown eyes met hers. ”Good.”
”Is it? I'll still have this house, and I suppose he'll settle some money on me, but-but-” She looked down at the diamonds twinkling on her finger. She would keep wearing them, even after.
”Good Christ. You still love him.” He stood up, angry. ”I've never understood why a warm-blooded woman like you fell for such a dry stick. By G.o.d, he even looks like a stick, like some sort of mutant tree.”
”You're just jealous because he's taller than you. Edward is a very attractive man.”
Garrett shot her an incredulous look. ”Don't expect me to notice. I'm not Andrew Rossiter.”
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