Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  “You still will. It’s not going to close down.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Barrington shook his head as he placed the glass in front of Gabriel. “His son is thinking of selling the place. Whoever gets that building can do whatever they want with it. I doubt it’ll be the same, even if they keep it as a gambling hall.”

  Norman Montgomery was thinking of selling? Gabriel hadn’t expected that. Norman loved his father and he would do whatever was asked of him, even if he wasn’t as focused on business as Thomas had been. Gabriel knew Norman would prefer to do other things.

  While Thomas was a businessman, Norman was the artist. He spent time in their holiday home in Great Yarmouth, either writing or painting. Thomas had lamented that his son didn’t have the passion or drive to follow in his footsteps, but he was proud of Norman for his own passion. It wasn’t often that someone could follow what they desired.

  What they desired…

  An idea began to form in Gabriel’s head. His father had always complained that Gabriel had no passion for anything except gambling and women. That he wouldn’t amount to anything even if he had the title. Gabriel wanted to change Derek Tattershall’s opinion on that. But he had no idea how until just now.

  And it could just work. He had always wanted to be in charge of something, but had never been given the chance. Maybe now would be the chance.

  Gabriel smiled as he picked up his beer. Once he was done here, he was going to pay Norman Montgomery a visit. They had a few things to discuss.

  #

  “Cassie?”

  Cassandra looked up. A tall, attractive woman of middle age was sitting across the table from her, watching her curiously. Cassandra shook herself, remembering that she was meant to be eating her meal. She cut into the chicken.

  “Aunt Alice?”

  “Are you all right? You were staring off into the distance.”

  “I’m fine. Just…” Cassandra tried to find the right words, but couldn’t. “Just a little distracted, that’s all.”

  “Is it about Mr. Montgomery’s passing?” Alice Seton asked, shrugging when Cassandra frowned. “Mrs. Wheeler told me when I was speaking to her just now. The poor thing is in tears over it.”

  No surprise there. Mrs. Wheeler would be in tears over anyone dying. She had the kindest heart Cassandra had ever come across. She had been the one Cassandra had stayed close by after losing her brother when she was five. Little Emil had died of pneumonia when he was only two, and her parents had been so caught up in their grief that they had forgotten about Cassandra. Mrs. Wheeler hadn’t, and she had wrapped Cassandra up in a hug with the affection she needed at the time.

  Cassandra had never held it against her parents for forgetting her then. They made up for it when they realised what was happening. But losing a little child was hard for anyone, especially the parents of said child. Cassandra didn’t know if she would react any differently

  “Cassie?”

  “I’m still here.” Cassandra munched on her food before she spoke. “Thomas Montgomery was a kind man. A little rough around the edges and he drove Father mad with how successful he was which took some of our business, but he was kind. Everyone loved him.”

  “Even me,” Alice smiled sadly. “He was a delight to be around. He could make anyone laugh.”

  “That was his talent.” Cassie cut up one of her potatoes. “I’ve always marvelled at how he and Father managed to remain friends as well as business rivals. But it seemed to work for them.”

  “Certainly.” Alice paused. “But that’s not all that’s troubling you. I can tell.”

  Her aunt knew her so well. Cassandra saw Alice as a confidant, and she was glad that Alice was around. Alice had married young - younger than Cassandra was now - but her husband had been abusive and left her terrified throughout her two years of marriage. Then he’d died in a carriage accident with his lover, leaving Alice with nothing. His family wanted nothing to do with her, so Alice had gone to live with her parents.

  Cassandra was still a baby, barely walking, and she could remember her aunt curled up sobbing in the library on many occasions due to her husband’s treatment of her, him and his family. She had moved to live with Ernest and Cassandra when Cassandra was sixteen, offering to be Cassandra’s chaperone. She claimed she had nothing to do and wanted something to make her feel worthwhile. Cassandra had immediately agreed to it. That had been seven years ago, and neither woman regretted it. They were always there for each other, Alice being the voice of reason for Cassandra.

  And she needed that voice of reason now.

  Cassandra chewed on her potatoes, swallowing before she answered.

  “Father wants me to marry.”

  “I see.” Alice didn’t look shocked. It had been a frequent conversation over the years. She lowered her knife and fork. “You know it’s been on his mind for some time. He won’t force you on it, but it’s there.”

  “But why force me at all? He knows my opinion on the matter.” Cassandra shook her head. “It’s not going to happen. Father needs me. I’m not going to desert him when he needs me the most.”

  “Hmm.” Alice tilted her head to one side and regarded her. “Who are you trying to convince, Cassie? Me, your father? Or yourself?”

  Cassandra glared at her.

  “I thought you were supposed to be on my side, Aunt Alice.”

  “I am, but I also have a practical look on things.”

  “So do I.”

  “Not quite.” Alice reached for her glass of water and took a sip. “You do need a husband. What if something happens to your father and you haven’t got married? Do you know what will happen to you after that?”

  “I’ll be sole owner of Seton Hall and I’ll make sure it stays as it is, and make it even more, as per Father’s wishes.”

  Cassandra was surprised when she saw Alice shaking her head.

  “No, you won’t. You’ll be passed onto the nearest male relative for him to take care of you. You’ll be put on an allowance, if you’re lucky, and treated like an unwanted piece of furniture. I was lucky that Ernest was willing to look after me after our parents died. But your Uncle Albert certainly won’t be as kind.”

  Cassandra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She would be passed from pillar to post with her male relatives? How could her father do that to her? He had promised that she would never be put in that position. Both of them, Alice as well, knew that big brother Albert Seton would make sure that everything came to him. He couldn’t stand that his younger brother was better at business than he was. All of his attempts at building up a business had failed and he was close to bankruptcy. Ernest couldn’t possibly be thinking of making him the new owner, could he?

  He had to have gone mad.

  “But...Father’s left Seton Hall to me in his will!” Cassandra cried. “He told me so!”

  “And you think that’s going to be upheld? Even if it’s in the will, you will be forced out.” Alice sounded bitter as she spoke. “A woman, no matter how much she’s liked, can’t own a business. And Uncle Albert, especially, will make sure he has a hand in the gambling hall, whether it’s wanted or not.”

  Cassandra growled. She hated her uncle. He and his sons were slimy people; a sordid group that made her skin crawl. After the problems they had had in the past, they couldn’t possibly think they could get their hands on Ernest’s pride and joy.

  “I won’t let him.”

  Alice shook her head and sipped her water again.

  “You may not have a choice. I know, it’s not fair,” she went on as Cassandra protested, “that if a man puts his mind to things, he can achieve great things, but with women we’re lucky if we get listened to at all if we’re not someone of meaning. You’re going to have to fight this every step of the way.”

  Cassandra felt cold. And she had lost her appetite. She pushed her plate away.

  “Sometimes I wish I was born a man,” she grumbled. “Things would be so much easier for me.”<
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  “I know, darling. But we have to go with the hand we were dealt with in life. It’s all we can do.”

  “And even if we have a good hand, the surrounding situation makes it difficult to play properly,” Cassandra pointed out.

  Alice nodded.

  “Your mother said exactly the same thing years ago when we were young. But she overcame it.”

  “What did she do?”

  Alice smiled.

  “She married the man she loved and wanted. She refused to go with the man her parents had chosen for her, wanting only Ernest. Her parents disowned her, but Amelia didn’t care. She got who she wanted.”

  Cassandra had to smile at that. That sounded just like Amelia Seton. She had a very strong mind. Her parents had apparently been in despair. Cassandra had met her maternal grandparents once when she was eight, and that brief encounter had been enough for Cassandra to understand why Amelia had fought back so much. They were not desirable to be around at all.

  “You’re just like her, Cassie,” Alice went on, “and don’t forget that part of you. If you want to fight this, you fight. Your father wouldn’t want anything less.”

  “That he wouldn’t.” Cassandra reached over and took her aunt’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here, Aunt Alice.”

  “So am I, dear.” The older woman squeezed her fingers. “So am I.”

  Chapter 3

  Gabriel’s ride into town was fine with staying for a little longer as he had a few errands to run, but he did warn Gabriel that they couldn’t stay for too long otherwise he was going to get into trouble with his father. Gabriel promised that they wouldn’t take long. This wouldn’t be taking too much out of their day.

  Then he made his way into Thomas Montgomery’s gambling hall. The familiar smell of smoke and snuff filled his nostrils as Gabriel stepped foot inside for the first time in months. Even now, it still made Gabriel’s stomach turn. He wasn’t one for snuff-taking and he didn’t like smoking, so that was a smell he happily enjoyed being away from. Then he saw the various tables full, with people playing cards or dice with piles of money beside them. It was loud and boisterous, the atmosphere tense.

  Gabriel felt the familiar stirrings in his belly as he watched. This was the thrill he had looked for all his life until a few years back. It was what stirred his blood and kept him going. But that wasn’t to be anymore, not unless he wanted to live penniless for a man of his station. Allen certainly wouldn’t appreciate working for free when his wages had already been cut down due to Gabriel’s allowance. If he wanted to pay Allen his former wage, Gabriel was going to need to get to work.

  This wasn’t work, as such. But it would be as good as. Gabriel would make sure of it.

  It didn’t take much to get an audience with Norman Montgomery. The son had arrived in Ipswich only three hours ago after being told about his father’s sudden death. He had literally walked in moments before Gabriel came through the front door.

  Gabriel felt a little bad asking Norman for anything and offering his proposition at this time, but he wanted to get it in there before anyone else gave a more tempting offer. Gabriel didn’t have much to barter with, but he was going to give it a damn good try.

  Norman was in his father’s office, standing at the window staring into the street. Seeing the tall, burly man in that room gave Gabriel pause. He often forgot how physically alike Norman and his father had been. Both of them were well over six feet tall with broad shoulders, square, rugged faces and built like they had been lifting tree trunks all their lives.

  The only difference was that Thomas’ hair had gone a silver colour and his frame had thinned out a little in the last six months. Norman’s hair was still dark, thick, and full on his head. And right now it was standing up on end as if he had been running his fingers through it.

  The younger Montgomery man turned as Gabriel closed the door behind him. He looked like he had been crying with his red eyes and pale face. Norman cleared his throat and reached for his handkerchief on the study desk.

  “Tattershall.”

  “Montgomery.”

  Norman chuckled as he wiped at his eyes, shoving the handkerchief into his pocket.

  “I think we know each other well enough to be informal, don’t you think?”

  “All right.” Gabriel approached the other man and held out a hand. “Norman.”

  “Gabriel.”

  Norman’s grip was strong as they shook hands. They were of the same age, and yet it seemed like Norman had aged ten years. Gabriel felt a pang of sympathy for the man. For all the bickering father and son had done, they did love each other. It had only been them since Norman’s mother passed over twenty years ago. No other family, just them. Gabriel didn’t know how he would manage if it was just him in his family.

  But aren’t you alone already? Disowned is the same thing. You have no family.

  “You have my deepest condolences on your father’s passing.” Gabriel said solemnly. He meant it. “He was a good man. Everyone’s going to miss him.”

  “I’m not sure about everyone, but thank you,” Norman swallowed, gesturing for Gabriel to follow him across to two low-slung chairs by the fire, which was burning brightly. Norman eased himself into one of the chairs. “I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know when exactly. Father’s health hasn’t been great since that influenza epidemic.”

  “I think quite a few of us suffered with that,” Gabriel agreed. He settled into the chair, almost falling into it. It was very low. “I know Mother’s breathing hasn’t fully recovered after it, and my chest still hurts after I got it.”

  “Mine does as well. I know we’re much younger than Father, but it affected everyone badly.” Norman rubbed his chest with a grimace. “I kept telling Father that he needed to slow down, but he...well, he’s a stubborn bastard.”

  Gabriel chuckled.

  “I know that much. He was always so kind to me.”

  “Only because you spent all your money here.”

  “Even after I stopped coming here,” Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck. “He would come by once a week ever since I was kicked out of the family and shoved into a pokey little cottage. We would play cards - no money involved - have dinner and just talk. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have his support.”

  That much was honest enough. Gabriel had thought he would sink back into gambling what little he had and becoming a pauper. But with the support of his brother, albeit silently, his valet and Thomas Montgomery himself, Gabriel found himself getting over his addiction. It didn’t make him feel good knowing that he had to be disowned from his family to know that he had an addiction.

  Then why are you feeding it now?

  I’m not feeding it. I’m doing the next best thing.

  “I did wonder where he went those times. Father always used to discuss his patrons and how he would look out for them. I told him he was mad but I’m glad he’s been a good influence on people.” Norman’s eyes narrowed, “But you didn’t just come here to offer your condolences, did you? You’re up to something.”

  “Why would I be up to something?”

  “Gabriel, I don’t know you as well as my father did, but I know you enough to realise when you’re up to something.” Norman sat forward, elbows on his knees. “What do you want?”

  Gabriel had thought to tiptoe into it but he wasn’t good at making small talk. His father had compared him to a bull, simply ploughing into it all and likely to upset someone. He jumped in.