Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  “I heard that you were thinking of selling this place. I want to buy it from you.”

  Norman blinked. Then he scowled, his hands clenched into fists as he growled.

  “How did you know what I was thinking on doing?”

  “Barrington the publican landlord told me about it.”

  “I see.” Norman was looking less genial now. In fact, he looked positively murderous. “I mentioned it to Father a short while ago, while he was still alive. He said I could do what I wanted with the place as long as it maintained its primary purpose. I wasn’t expecting anyone to know about that.”

  “You know what people are like. Things go around very quickly.”

  “I’ve noticed,” Norman bared his teeth. “You’re not very good at timing, are you? Couldn’t you have just waited a little before approaching me about this?”

  Gabriel gulped. But he hid his discomfort and shrugged.

  “You know what I’m like. I’m not good at waiting.”

  “I do know that much,” Norman snapped. He lunged to his feet, pacing away from Gabriel and kicked at the desk, making it scrap across the floor. “I want to be able to mourn my father, not discuss selling his business. For God’s sake, Gabriel, he’s not even managed to go cold yet!”

  Gabriel winced. Maybe he should come back at another time. But his stubborn side pushed forward.

  “I understand that, Norman, but I know how much you want to move on and do your own thing. Wouldn’t it be better to get the selling sorted and then it’s dealt with?”

  “Even then, where would you get the money from? You’re not exactly swimming in it.”

  “I’ve thought of that.” Gabriel sat forward. “I’d give you a price for buying this place, and then I would pay you for it over the next few years until it’s all paid off.”

  “Right,” Norman said slowly. “You pay me out of the profits until you pay me what you promised. So, essentially, I get nothing.”

  “You’ll get something, just not immediately.” Gabriel knew how it sounded, but he went on. “I want this place.”

  “Why?”

  Norman was watching him with narrowed eyes. Gabriel thought about lying, but thought better of it. Norman was a shrewd man. He was a lot brighter than people gave him credit for. Gabriel looked at his hands, unable to look Norman in the eye.

  “I’ve got nothing now. I messed up my life, and I need to find purpose. Father used to say I could run a business with my eyes closed, and so that’s what I’m going to do to get myself on even ground.”

  “Preferably without your eyes closed.”

  “I can get to that later.” Gabriel looked up, finding Norman still scrutinising him. “I’ll draw up everything for you and then you can keep me to that contract.”

  “And how do I know you’re not going to run away from it? Then I’ll be left with no business and no money.”

  Gabriel didn’t blink. He was accused of many things, but running away was not one of them.

  “I don’t run. If you’ve noticed, I could have done that six months ago after what happened. But I’m still here.”

  “Because you’re stubborn,” Norman snorted. “And a few other names I won’t care to mention.”

  “They can’t be as bad as the ones Father has called me since he caught me.”

  “I’m still surprised you got caught at all.”

  Gabriel shrugged. He didn’t want to remember that day.

  “Got careless. That’s not going to happen again.”

  Norman didn’t say anything for a moment, and Gabriel had to resist the urge to squirm under the sharp gaze. Norman had that ability to make anyone uncomfortable. He was an amicable man until you pushed him too much, and then he would change. Gabriel had seen it before, and it had made him glad he hadn’t been on the receiving end of it.

  Now he was, and he didn’t like it one bit. But he wasn’t going to back down.

  Finally, Norman blinked and looked away, running his hands through his hair with a heavy sigh.

  “Well, even if you were able to make it happen, you’re going to have to work hard to get to the price I’ve got for you. Which won’t be easy when you have to contend with Seton Hall across town.”

  “Seton Hall, run by Ernest Seton?”

  Gabriel knew about Seton Hall. He hadn’t frequented the place as Thomas’ business was closer to his side of town, but he had heard a lot of things about Seton Hall. Ernest Seton was an easygoing businessman who had managed to turn around the gambling hall he had acquired over a decade ago, building it up into something that anyone would be proud of. Thomas had complained about Seton on numerous occasions, but it was with a lot of affection. Thomas didn’t have the heart to hate anyone, and he even admired and respected Seton.

  It was the only other gambling hall in Ipswich - the only other one that was legal, that is - so competition was high.

  “That’s them.” Norman rubbed the back of his neck. “They’re immensely popular right now, and Father’s already lost a few regulars to that place. Seton has an ace up his sleeve that he brought out at the right moment. And it’s made him a lot more successful than he has been in the past.”

  Gabriel was curious. If this was genuine competition, he was going to need to know everything about his rivals. Anything to get ahead.

  “What does he have as an ace?”

  Norman sighed.

  “Cassandra, his daughter.”

  #

  Cassandra didn’t feel hungry after Alice’s revelation, but she managed to eat what she could. She didn’t want to upset Mrs. Wheeler more, not when she was already upset. Then Cassandra changed into a gown appropriate for the evening, put her cloak on and went out with her aunt to Seton Hall. They were right on the outskirts of Ipswich, just less than a ten-minute walk from the pride and joy of their family. It was normally well-lit and busy even in the middle of the night, but Cassandra always carried a knife in her pocket. She wasn’t about to be left unprepared if they were accosted.

  After a long holiday in Norfolk, Cassandra knew she should just rest up. It was a long time on a stagecoach, even with regular breaks. But she wanted to go along to Seton Hall and make sure everything was all right. Especially after the news that seemed to have shaken everyone; her father more than most.

  Cassandra didn’t like being used as a pawn, and her father knew this. He had told her that she would inherit. How could she inherit as per his wishes and take charge? That couldn’t be allowed. Alice was right; women were lucky if they got anything at all from men. They were the property of men, fathers, husbands, male relatives. No matter if she had a lot more freedom with her father - that would change should anything happen to Ernest. It would all be taken away from her.

  Maybe that was why Ernest was urging her more to look for a prospective husband. It wasn’t that Cassandra hadn’t tried, but no man lived up to her expectations. She was the first to admit that her standards were high. She would have to be emotionally attracted to them as well as physically to want to marry them, but that hadn’t happened. Her past suitors were annoyed at this, but it wasn’t exactly something she could help. She had things she wanted in life, and she was going to move on if they weren’t there.

  Cassandra had a feeling that Ernest was going to make her break her high standards to get someone before anything happened to him. She wasn’t sure she was prepared to do that.

  It didn’t take long to get to Seton Hall. Both Cassandra and Alice were regular walkers, and they were healthy enough. A walk that lasted only ten minutes barely left them out of breath. The doorman greeted them with his usual smile and took their cloaks and bonnets.

  “Evening, Miss Cassie. Did you and Miss Alice enjoy your holiday?”

  “Evening, Williams. We certainly did.” Cassie brushed down her dress and looked around. She could hear the loud babble of voices from the main hall. “I take it things are busy tonight?”

  “Very busy. We’ve got a good crowd in here tonight.” Williams g
lanced towards a door just off the lobby. “Are you looking for Mr. Seton?”

  “He’s in his office, is he?”

  “He is. Just remember to knock,” Williams winced. “He practically snarled at Harris when he went in earlier without knocking.”

  Now that was odd. Ernest was normally kind and friendly to all of his employees. Snapping at his staff was unusual. Alice gave Williams a gentle smile.

  “He’s having a hard time right now, Jack. I’m sure he’ll calm down soon.”

  “I hope so, Miss Alice. But it’s best to be prepared if he’s going to shout at you.”

  Cassandra was about to say something, but then she realised that Williams was focusing on Alice. The two of them were talking, their eyes only on each other. Cassandra bit back a smile. It was no secret that Williams was in love with Alice, and her aunt clearly exhibited a mutual affection for him yet neither of them would pursue it.

  Alice said she wouldn’t be able to marry Williams due to their social stations, but Cassandra wondered if it was due to Alice’s age. She was a good ten years older than Williams, which would have been very much frowned upon. But from the way the handsome doorman treated her, he didn’t seem to mind that she was an older widow.

  When it came to love, social status didn’t matter. Cassandra had learned that over the years. Certainly from her parents.

  Leaving them to it, Cassandra headed through the door and up the stairs. It was to the private rooms above the actual gambling hall, where Ernest’s study and several private rooms were housed. There was no worry about being unchaperoned up here, not when so close to her father’s study. Those who knew Ernest Seton knew better than to try anything with his daughter.

  Ernest’s study was the first on the left. Cassandra knocked, wincing when she heard her father bark from inside.

  “Yes?”

  Cassandra opened the door and went in. Ernest was pacing around the room, his hair standing on end. Papers were scattered across his desk and onto the floor, a very odd thing to see when he was normally so tidy.

  “Father?”

  Ernest spun around. He blinked when he saw her.

  “Cassie. What are you doing here? I thought you would be at home.”

  “I wanted to come and see how things were,” Cassandra crossed the room towards him. “Make sure you were all right.”

  “I’ll live.” Ernest looked behind her. “Isn’t Alice with you? She’s supposed to be with you at all times.”

  “She’s with me. I left her downstairs talking to Williams.”

  “The doorman?” Ernest’s eyes narrowed. “She seems to be doing a lot of talking with that man.”

  “Well, there’s no harm in it,” Cassandra found herself giggling. “Actually, I think you might be hearing wedding bells with those two if Williams persists. I’m sure he’ll wear down Alice’s protests that she’s too old.”

  “That’s because she is too old. She’s just turned fifty. She shouldn’t be thinking about marriage.”

  “Father!” Cassandra swatted his arm. “Since when has age stopped anybody? Williams doesn’t seem to care, and Alice won’t when she realises that there’s a man who can love her for her. You’re not going to object to your sister finally finding happiness after that disaster thirty years ago? I mean, it means you won’t have to support her anymore if Williams does marry her.”

  Ernest started to protest. Then he groaned and shook his head.

  “You’re sly, do you know that?”

  “I wouldn’t call what I just said sly, it’s practical. But if it was, I learned it from you.”

  Ernest grunted. He moved away and leaned against his desk with his arms folded.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if you engineered the situation between them.”

  “Now why would I do that?”

  “Because you’re an old romantic at heart.” Ernest shook his head. “It’s a shame you don’t focus that romance on yourself.”

  Cassandra sighed. She hadn’t come here to talk about her love life, or the lack of it. And just because Thomas Montgomery had sadly passed didn’t mean her father got an invitation to discuss it.

  “Father, we’ve been over this before.”

  “Have we?”

  “And I’ll tell you what I told you when you first bought it up. I’m not going to marry because everyone is saying it’s the right thing to do. My focus, my life, is with this business,” she gestured at their surroundings. “It’s been in our family for years, and I intend to keep it that way.”

  “I do have male relatives who can look after you.”

  Cassandra barked out a laugh, which made Ernest jump.

  “You know they’re not going to look after me. They see me as a hindrance. And the relatives you do have treat you like you’re swimming in gold coins. They’re disrespectful all over and they won’t be as kind with this place. You know I’ll look after Seton Hall. I’ll build it up bigger and better.”

  Ernest stared at her. Then he sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.

  “You’re young, Cassie. You shouldn’t be focused on me. You should be living your own life with your own family.”

  “You are my family, Father.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I’m not going to be around forever. Just…” Ernest winced, looking slightly uncomfortable. “It’s best if you find someone who can look after you.”

  Cassandra snorted and folded her arms. She was tempted to stomp her foot, but she wasn’t twelve years old.

  “You assume that I need someone to look after me at all. You know what I think, and this is the last time we’re going to discuss it. I don’t want to get married unless I manage to find someone I can love in here,” she pressed a hand to her heart.

  “And even then, they’re going to have to realise that Seton Hall is going to be my first priority. This place is far more important than a marriage,especially when I know I’m just going to be put in amongst the furniture and not given another thought unless they want an heir and maybe a spare.”

  Ernest flinched.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Cassie. I suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this matter.”

  “We will agree on this, though,” Cassandra lifted her chin and fixed her father with a glare. “I’m not going anywhere. You will not marry me off just because you think it’s in my best interests. And I know you won’t be able to do it. So stop with that thinking right now.”

  They stared at each other. Ernest may have discussed marriage for his daughter many times, but they both knew that Cassandra would never be forced into it. She was too strong for that, and Ernest loved his daughter too much to force her away. He wanted her to marry well, but Cassandra wanted to marry for love. That seemed hard to come by nowadays.

  Ernest was the first one to break the stare, looking at the floor with a heavy sigh.

  “Forgive me, Cassie. I...it’s just with Thomas’ death...I’m just a little…”

  “A little scared?” Cassandra softened and approached her father, taking his hands. “I know you are. That I understand. But don’t foist things on me. All right?”

  “All right.” Ernest kissed her forehead. “I love you, princess.”