Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  Gabriel had found himself growling at the sight. And then he caught himself. What was he doing? He wasn’t supposed to be falling under whatever spell she must’ve cast. She was supposed to fall under his spell, but from the look of it, that was going to be a tougher task than he had anticipated.

  For a moment, Gabriel thought he had got through to her. With his flirtations, women didn’t back down. That was when he knew they were ripe for the taking. With Cassandra, however, once she realised they were stepping into dangerous territory she backed off and scolded him. It was a bizarre thing to see a woman back away from his flirtations.

  Cassandra was going to be a tough nut to crack, and Gabriel didn’t think he would be able to manage without coming unglued at some point.

  “Mr. Gabriel?”

  Gabriel looked up and jumped. Allen had entered the room and was standing over him. He hadn’t even seen the man move.

  “Allen, you scared me!”

  “Forgive me, I thought you heard me,” Allen frowned. “Is there something troubling you? That’s the second brandy you’ve had since you returned and I smelled alcohol on your breath when you returned.”

  “I just had a few drinks.”

  “I see.” Allen didn’t look convinced. “You didn’t waste your money, did you?”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes.

  “If you mean, did I gamble it away, the answer is no. I just had a few drinks and I was careful with what I bought. It was for a good cause, trust me.”

  “What cause would have you drinking?” Allen demanded.

  Gabriel debated telling his valet. The man had turned into more of a friend than a servant in the last six months, and he valued the older man’s opinion. Maybe if he got Allen’s thoughts on this, he could figure out what to do next.

  “Come sit down.” He gestured at the seat across from him beside the roaring fire. “I’ve got a lot of thoughts on my mind. They’re getting...a little mixed up.”

  “I see.” Allen put his candle holder on the table, the flame still flickering, and settled down, “You want a different viewpoint on a particular problem.”

  “You could say that,” Gabriel grimaced. “It’s complicated.”

  “Try me.”

  So Gabriel did. He told Allen all about what he had found out, what he planned to do with the business and how he was going to make it a success. Gabriel could tell from the way Allen’s face screwed up at the mention of distracting Cassandra that he didn’t approve at all. Allen was very respectful towards women, and he went out of his way to treat them with good graces. Gabriel had laughed at him at the time, but now he understood why. Women didn’t deserve to be treated in such a way.

  Then why are you planning on treating Cassandra Seton like that, you fool?

  “So, let me get this straight,” Allan said slowly. “You want to take over the Montgomery gambling hall and pay the son back over several years like a loan, but to make sure you can pay him back sooner, you have to make sure you get more custom than the rival Seton, who has his daughter helping him out. Best scenario is to seduce the daughter and have her distracted enough that you can swoop in and take the rewards.”

  “Essentially.”

  But having it said out loud like that was making Gabriel feel a little silly. Was he making too much out of this? Was he trying to do too much? Gabriel wasn’t sure, but he knew he had a lot on his hands trying to seduce the beautiful woman that was Cassandra Seton.

  “You want my advice, Mr. Gabriel?”

  “I would like it.”

  Allen didn’t look happy.

  “That sounds far too complicated and rather cold.”

  Gabriel blinked.

  “Cold?”

  “Yes. You’re planning on using a woman again.”

  “I’m not using a woman.”

  Even as he said it, Gabriel felt himself wincing. He was using her emotions against her for his own benefit. He was, essentially, making her a pawn. Gabriel had vowed to himself he would not do that again.

  But this was for the greater good, wasn’t it?

  Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel any better.

  “Maybe talking to you wasn’t such a good idea,” Gabriel grumbled, rubbing at his belly. Now he was feeling uncomfortable. “In any case, she’s not going to be easy to seduce. She’s far too bright to be taken in like that.”

  “You mean your charm didn’t work on her?”

  “No.”

  Allen raised his eyebrows. Then he chuckled.

  “It isn’t amusing, Allen.”

  “I think it is. I never thought I’d live to see the day when you would say your charm and that smile of yours didn’t work on a woman. I’m sure you were even charming your nannies when you were a baby.”

  “It’s probably them that I learned how to charm people on,” Gabriel rubbed a hand over his face. “Whatever is going to happen, I won’t be at the helm of it.”

  “You mean someone else is going to have to distract Cassandra Seton.” Allen snorted. “You do realise that this all sounds ridiculous?”

  “I know. But I want this so badly, Allen.” Gabriel put his glass on the table and sat back, staring into the fire. “I want to be the boss of something and show my parents that I can do this. I need it to be successful for my own sake.”

  “And so you’re going to take your success by taking it away from another business while making a mockery out of a woman’s emotions?” Allen said dryly. “You’ve really thought it through, Mr. Gabriel.”

  Gabriel glared.

  “I asked you for a listening ear, not so you could criticise me.”

  Allen sighed and rose to his feet with a shake of his head.

  “You’re about to use a woman and play on her emotions. Just like you normally do.”

  “It’s for a good cause.”

  That sounded very hollow. Gabriel was beginning to realise how pathetic he was sounding. He had been selfish before, and had vowed not to do that again. So what was he doing now?

  You really don’t know how to think things through without being a selfish bastard, do you?

  “I have to admit,” Allen said as he picked up his candle, “that there are some days when I don’t like you very much, Mr. Gabriel. And I don’t say that often.” He turned towards the door. “I think I should retire now. It’s best that you decide this on your own without playing on someone’s emotions.”

  The door closed behind him, leaving Gabriel alone and feeling like he was the worst person in the world.

  Chapter 6

  Cassandra woke after a restless night, tossing and turning in her bed until the sun came up. She woke up cross and fed up, wishing she could spend the day sleeping. But Cassandra knew if she was left with her own thoughts, it would mean thinking about Gabriel Tattershall.

  She should not even be thinking about him. He was a rake, even if he claimed to have changed his ways. From the way he had been looking at her, clearly flirting, Cassandra highly doubted that he had changed. He was up to something, and she must be a part of whatever plan he was concocting. She would do well to stay away from him.

  But no matter how many times she told herself that it was a good idea to stop and push the man out of her mind, Cassandra found herself wondering about him again. Especially with those sexual positions. With his reputation, he would know all about positions. Her body had heated up to the point of being uncomfortable as her head was filled with thoughts of Gabriel naked in her bed, touching her all over while showing her these various positions.

  Why did she have to say that? She hadn’t thought that through at all. If it had been anyone else, they might have blushed and spluttered their way out of it. Not Gabriel. He was far too in control.

  Except for when he touched her, right when they bumped into each other. He had stared at her like she had come down from the heavens. The look of appreciation had been one that made Cassandra feel a warm shiver down her back. And she could still remember the feel of his body
against hers. Solid muscle, very hard all over.

  All over.

  Stop it!

  Cassandra washed and dressed before she ate her breakfast quickly, trying to avoid conversation with her father and her aunt. Both of them were going to notice her discomfort and question her on it. Cassandra didn’t want to answer any questions - mostly because she didn’t really know the answers herself. And she knew they would figure out from her red face what she had been thinking.

  Not the sort of conversation she wanted with her family. But there was someone she could discuss this with. The one person who would keep her secrets without any fear that they would be shared with anyone else.

  After breakfast, Cassandra headed out with her personal maid Laura. Alice said she was still feeling worn out and wanted to rest, so Cassandra brought her maid instead as a chaperone. Otherwise she would be arguing with her father all morning about going out alone. Ernest let her have a few freedoms, but going out alone was not one of them.

  And considering where she was heading to, it was for the best that she had someone with her.

  After a short carriage ride across town, Cassandra ended up at Barrington’s public house. She and Laura alighted and went inside. It wasn’t that busy considering the time of day, so Cassandra was able to find Emily easily. Her friend was behind the bar cleaning glasses. Cassandra grinned as she leaned on the counter.

  “You look like death.”

  Emily rolled her eyes.

  “I love you too, Cassie. You would look like death if you’d been up most of the night dealing with unruly men.”

  “Well, if your father will run a public house…”

  “At least we get some custom in.” Her best friend put the glass down and grinned at Cassandra. “Have you had breakfast yet? I haven’t, and I’m starving.”

  “I thought you would never ask.”

  #

  Every other morning, Cassandra would make her way across Ipswich to meet Emily and go to have breakfast at their favourite place. There was a little cafe on Crown Street that catered to people coming into town from their country homes to work or those finishing the night shift and who wanted something to eat.

  The proprietor, Mrs. Redfield, had made it hers many years ago and it was increasingly popular. She and her three daughters were marvellous cooks, and Cassandra was always excited about going to her favourite eatery every other morning.

  She was especially looking forward to this morning. She needed something to distract her. It had been difficult to sleep and if she had a full belly, maybe that would lull her into a doze when Cassandra got home. Trying to function on little sleep was not easy, and nobody would notice or mind if she went back to bed for a while later.

  Cassandra and Emily arrived at the cafe just as a table was opening up by the window. Mrs. Redfield’s daughter, Matilda, got them seated and took their usual order, heading off towards the kitchen. Cassandra took off her bonnet and placed it on the table, slipping off her gloves. At least nobody in Mrs. Redfield’s cafe minded if they didn’t wear gloves while eating.

  “Have you heard the latest about this ball at Sir Walter and Lady Kennedy’s house later this week?” she asked.

  “Unfortunately,” Emily wrinkled her nose. “Mother and Father are very excited about me going to Needham Market. I wish I wasn’t.”

  Cassandra couldn’t agree more. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with Needham Market, but there was everything wrong with Sir Walter Kennedy and his family. They were snobs, to put it plainly. They thought they were better than their simple standing and liked to look down their noses at people. Cassandra had no idea why her father even tolerated the man, but Sir Walter was a client at Seton Hall and Ernest felt that he couldn’t turn such an invitation down.

  He wouldn’t be going himself, urging his daughter to go instead. Cassandra didn’t want to go, but she didn’t want to disappoint her father. At least she had been allowed to bring someone along as a chaperone; hence why Emily was coming with her as Aunt Alice was going to be visiting her friend in Otley for the evening.

  There was no chance of going to this ball on her own.

  “I don’t think it’s a good way to spend our time,” Cassandra declared as she poured out two glasses of water. “We would do much more interesting things here.”

  “Agreed, but it’s not up to us, is it?” Emily picked up her glass and took a sip. “Our parents want us to get integrated into society as best as we can. That means getting to know people of nobility, showing our faces and finding respectable husbands. Our job is to dress up in pretty clothes and smile with no indication that we have minds of our own.”

  Cassandra laughed. Not everyone in society was bad, but she did understand. And it was well-known that women were supposed to be sweet and docile, doing whatever the males said. Cassandra didn’t believe in that. And nobody seemed to mind when she was at Seton Hall. But that seemed to be a completely different world; stepping out into the real world meant having to change how she behaved. Keeping her opinions to herself in social settings hadn’t worked well for her in the past.

  “I seem to find those who don’t want a woman to talk at all, just nod in the right place.” She shook her head, “I’ve been called a liar various times, as if I’ve lied to them about having a tongue in my head once I’m pushed into a reaction.”

  “How can you be considered a liar for not disclosing the fact that you can actually have an opinion?”

  “You know what a lot of men with titles are like, Emily. They just prefer their prospective wives to just sit there and look like they’re agreeing with everything the man is saying.”

  Emily snorted and wrinkled her nose.

  “Some men need to be more than...whatever it is they have. I know I drive my father mad with my opinions, but he puts up with me because he loves me. I’d like to think if I ever decide to get married that my husband will love me for me, and not for the facade I have to put on every time he walks in the room.”

  Cassandra couldn’t agree more. She had no desire to get married, mostly because the men she had courted seemed to think once they had been in her company more than three times they could dictate to her how she should act and what she could and couldn’t do.

  Pretty much all of them told her that she should leave the gambling hall to her father and the business to the men. Cassandra had simply told them if they didn’t like who the real Cassandra Seton was, they could leave. All of them left, and Cassandra was left angry and bitter that people loved an idea and not the real thing.

  Cassandra was not going to become an ideal wife to fit what a man wanted. If she ever did marry it would be because her future husband loved her for her and not for what he could turn her into. Ernest understood that, so when he did drop hints every so often about a marriage, Cassandra always reminded him of her decision. He respected her for the most part, but when he didn’t, Cassandra felt like screaming.

  Matilda Redfield came out shortly with their breakfast meals, which she put on their table. Then she headed off to greet two men in suits who had just walked in the door. Cassandra picked up her knife and fork and began to eat. She glanced up at Emily who was also tucking in, trying not to look unladylike as she ate.

  Should she ask about Gabriel? Emily worked in the public house, so she would know a lot of gossip. And there wasn’t really anyone else Cassandra could ask without it going around Ipswich. Emily could keep things to herself; she was loyal to her friends and knew when to keep a secret.