Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  “Are you sure, dear?”

  “As long as you keep me in sight, make the most of it.”

  “All right.” Alice still looked suspicious. “But don’t stray too far. My eyesight won’t be sharp forever.”

  Cassandra kept a bright smile on her face and nodded in acquiescence. She knew her aunt was going to be questioning her all the way back to Ipswich, especially after the sudden way Cassandra had asked her to accompany her to the Tattershall home. Cassandra didn’t know if she would be able to answer everything at this point. She wasn’t even sure she could answer her own questions.

  Percy glanced over his shoulder as he led Cassandra away from the fish pond.

  “Is there a reason you wanted your aunt to stay behind?”

  “She knows I need to speak with you. I wanted nobody to overhear this.”

  “You didn’t want her to hear what?” Percy frowned. “I’m getting concerned now, Miss Seton. What is it?”

  “I….”

  Cassandra opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She had sorted out a little speech in her head, ready to go. But now she was here with the man in question, and she was all tongue-tied. She couldn’t think of what to say anymore. So much for having rehearsed this all the way up.

  “Percy…” She tried again, but it just wasn’t happening.

  “Was there something more to that other than practicing my name?”

  Cassandra grimaced. She took Percy’s hand and led him onto the terrace. Alice could still see them from there, and even if she couldn’t, they were in the open space where anyone could see them from the house. What she had to do certainly couldn’t be done in private; Cassandra wasn’t about to give anyone the wrong idea.

  Percy was looking at her oddly. Cassandra knew she must be acting like a madwoman right now. Taking a step back from Percy, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “You’re a sweet man, Percy. A good one, too. And I’m sure you’ll make a good husband to someone. But it won’t be me.”

  “It won’t?” Percy frowned. “Are you saying to me what I think you’re saying?”

  Cassandra felt her throat tightening. She swallowed hard.

  “There...I’ve tried so much and I do like you. Really. You’re a breath of fresh air to me. But I can’t love you, and if I do marry it will be for love.” That was a lot less harsh in her head than it was out loud. “I don’t want to lead you on any further and make it worse for us. I…” She rubbed at her eyes. She felt awful now. “Forgive me, Percy, this is very difficult for me to do.”

  Percy was silent. Cassandra hated that silence. Bracing herself, she lowered her hands. Percy was regarding her with bewilderment. But he didn’t look angry, or upset. If anything, he looked...resigned.

  Resigned?

  “I must say,” Percy grunted, rubbing the back of his neck, “I can’t admit that I’m surprised about this.”

  “Can’t you?”

  “Not really.” Percy gave her a sad smile. “I do admire you, Miss Seton, and I think you’re a beautiful woman. An admirable one, as well. But there was…” Cassandra could see him searching for the right word and failing, “there wasn’t anything there that could make me feel attracted. Don’t get me wrong, I do think you’re an attractive woman, but I don’t feel any attraction, if that makes sense?” Percy winced. “God, I’m rambling again, aren’t I?”

  “You are.”

  Percy’s face went red.

  “I need to stop doing that.”

  “Oh, Percy.” Cassandra started to reach towards him, but stopped herself in time. “Don’t stop being who you are. It’s endearing. We thought we would find a mutual attraction, but we didn’t.”

  “No, we didn’t.” Percy looked a little crestfallen. “I thought it would come over time, but you’re right. Affection and friendship is one thing, but that doesn’t necessarily turn into love. It could even turn into animosity, and I value your friendship too much to do that.”

  “You see me as a friend?”

  “I do.” Percy’s cheeks reddened, “If you’ll permit it?”

  “Of course.” Now they had got past the awkward part, Cassandra felt better. Lighter. It was as if the huge weight on her shoulders had gone. At least Percy wasn’t angry or upset about breaking off their courtship. “I could never turn away from you, Percy. You’re a rare treasure.”

  “I thought that was meant to be my line.”

  Cassandra laughed.

  “I suppose. So, no hard feelings?”

  “None.” Percy leaned over and kissed her cheek. Then he drew back with a frown. “Although I have to admit that I’m a little confused. I mean, you were the one who told my brother that you were interested in getting to know me; that you found me attractive. While I accept your reasoning as to why this cannot carry on, I’m still confused as to what changed.”

  Cassandra blinked. What was he talking about?

  “What do you mean that I was interested? I thought...Gabriel told me that you were the one who was interested to get to know me.”

  “No. I didn’t even know who you are until the night we were introduced. I doubt our paths would have crossed at any point if Gabriel hadn’t mentioned you.”

  He had never heard of her? Cassandra knew she shouldn’t be offended, but she was. Gabriel had lied to her about what his brother had said. Neither of them had even known about the other, not until he got himself inserted into the situation.

  With a sinking stomach and the knot in her stomach tightening even more, Cassandra realised what had happened.

  “He played us both.”

  “He did.” Percy hurried on, “He must have had a good reason to do it, though.”

  Cassandra scowled.

  “Don’t try and justify his reasoning. He’s up to something, and it involves us. Whatever he’s up to, I don’t want to be a part of it.”

  Percy frowned.

  “What could he be up to that involved pushing us together?”

  That was the problem. Cassandra had no idea. She was still trying to get her head around the fact that Gabriel had engineered all of this. He had purposefully tried to push her and his brother together, to the point it was almost his main goal. He wanted them together for some reason, but for the life of her Cassandra was stuck.

  Whatever it was, Gabriel hadn’t changed. He wasn’t able to keep his hands to himself even with his determination to put her and his brother in the same room. Cassandra felt the heat tightening the knot in her stomach and pushed it away. Now was not the time to be thinking about how Gabriel could make her body crave more of him when she was standing in front of his brother, the man he had been trying to palm her off onto.

  “Look, why don’t you and your aunt come inside?” Percy suggested. “Mother and Father will be back soon. We can have tea and then you can head home. Unless you want to stay for a while.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Cassandra considered it. It sounded like a good offer to take right now. With everything going on, she wasn’t quite ready to go back to Ipswich just yet. Or come into contact with Gabriel.

  Because when she did, Cassandra had a lot of questions for him.

  Chapter 18

  Gabriel finished his drink and put it on the bar, swallowing back a belch.

  “Same again, Barrington.”

  But the landlord frowned at him as he took the empty glass.

  “I think I should cut you off after this one. You’re going to get drunk, and I’m sure you haven’t got the money for this.”

  Gabriel glared at him.

  “Do I look like I care?” he snapped.

  For a moment, he thought Barrington was going to snap back. Gabriel hoped so; he was spoiling for a fight. But the other man sighed and turned away.

  “This is the last one, though. No more.” He filled the glass and placed it in front of Gabriel. “You can go home after this.”

  “Spoilsport.”

  Barrin
gton shook his head and walked away. Gabriel picked up his glass and headed towards the empty table in the corner. He slumped onto the chair and scowled at the room. The place was relatively busy, being a Thursday night, with several people having a drink before going into Montgomery’s. Gabriel wouldn’t be joining them, mostly because he knew that as soon as Norman saw him looking drunk and angry, he would kick him out again.

  Maybe having one more drink and going home would be a good idea.

  But that wouldn’t stop the thoughts. His dreams. Gabriel had hardly been able to sleep because his dreams were filled with images of Cassandra. Pretty much all of them ended up with Cassandra naked, in his bed. Under him, over him, on her belly, on her back, whichever way he could think of.

  He made her cry out his name every time, leaving Gabriel waking up sweating and with an erection that would not go down. He had had to force Allen to stay out of his room while he dressed so his valet wouldn’t see the state he was in.

  Gabriel had overstepped himself. He knew that the first time he kissed Cassandra. But that second time, he shouldn’t have let his arousal take control. When Cassandra started teasing him, he should have taken a step back and kept his distance. Got out of there as soon as possible. And yet, he just couldn’t. He wanted her, naked and wrapped around him as he held her into a climax. She was certainly very hot in her responses. Gabriel liked it when a woman was vocal.

  But this wasn’t just any woman. This was Cassandra Seton. His brother’s woman. A woman who was now off-limits. Gabriel should never be left in a room alone with her. Hell, he shouldn’t even be seeking her out. But common sense disappeared whenever he thought about her.

  His control had slipped, and Gabriel knew he was gone. He wanted her badly. Even before he kissed her, he had wanted Cassandra. Now that ache was more intense, more painful. He couldn’t push it aside.

  She’s not your woman. You need to remember that.

  Easier said than done.

  “Mr. Tattershall.”

  Gabriel looked up. Emily was standing by the bed, watching him with a stony expression. She eyed the glass in his hand and arched an eyebrow.

  “I take it you decided that it was a good time to break your stance on drinking with very little money.”

  Gabriel growled.

  “I’m not getting into that with you, Miss Barrington. Have you come to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do as well? Because if you have, I’m going to say now I’m not hearing it.” He shot a glare towards the bar, “Your father’s already done that to me all evening.”

  “He is concerned. You are drinking a lot more.”

  “And that is nobody’s business but my own.”

  If Emily knew the reason he was drinking more was to try and get rid of thoughts of Cassandra - hell, if anyone knew why - Gabriel would be considered somewhat mad. Especially when it wasn’t working.

  “Father doesn’t know I’m in here.” Emily glanced towards the bar, which was hidden by a sea of people putting down their various orders, “I have a message. You have someone who wants to talk to you. In private.”

  “Who is it?”

  Emily didn’t respond. Gabriel didn’t need to guess. He sat up.

  “It’s Cassie, isn’t it?”

  Why did he have to sound so excited about that? Only a moment ago, he was telling himself to keep his distance. Now he was like a boy again. Emily leaned over and placed something on the table.

  “She has something that you need to hear.” Her voice was low but somehow loud enough for Gabriel to hear it over the noise. “Room Five in the guest house out the back is empty. It’s the furthest away from the other rooms. You’ll have some privacy for what she has to say.”

  “That sounds like a promise.”

  Emily frowned.

  “That’s not what Cassie has in mind. But it’s the only place you can talk without anyone bothering you. Go out the front and then around the side so my parents don’t get suspicious.” She paused and shot Gabriel a warning look. “And don’t you dare break her heart.”

  Then she hurried away. Gabriel stared after her, and then down at the key on the table. Cassandra wanted to meet. In private. He should have given the key back to Emily and told her that no, he couldn’t do that. If she had to meet with him, Gabriel would insist upon a chaperone. One who would make sure they didn’t do something that either of them regretted.

  But that didn’t stop the aching in his chest.

  Putting his half-empty glass aside, Gabriel rose to his feet and dropped the key in his pocket. Then he headed towards the door, waving to Barrington as he left. The landlord jerked his head in response before turning away. Probably relieved that Gabriel was leaving. While he wasn’t a rowdy drunk, Gabriel was sure he was an irritating one. Especially when everyone knew he wasn’t supposed to be drinking when he had very little to drink with.

  Cassandra just wanted to talk. He should be trying to remember that. But Gabriel could only feel his longing building as he went around the back of the public house. He itched to get his hands on her, to pull her into his arms where he wanted her. There certainly wouldn’t be a lot of talking going on if he did that.

  He needed to stop. This was more than likely Cassandra telling him that they needed to keep their distance. That she was going to make it work with Percy. That was the right thing to do, and Gabriel couldn’t fault her for that. But the thought of Cassandra getting married to his brother made Gabriel felt like he had a lead weight in his stomach. He didn’t want that to happen.

  Give it up, Gabe. You don’t have anything to offer her. Why do you think you’re any better? Hear her out and then leave. That’s all you need to do.

  Having said that, her choice of meeting place wasn’t exactly ideal. A private room in one of the guest houses behind the public house. They were a collection of small houses and each was occupied mostly by guests coming from London or on their way to London. Another way for Barrington to make his money. From what Emily said, the room they were going to use was going to be in a house where nobody would disturb them.

  Nobody would hear them.

  Stop it. Don’t think like that.

  Gabriel used the key to get into the house and closed the door behind him. There was a small living room area and a kitchen with the three bedrooms upstairs. Gabriel listened, and he could hear someone moving around upstairs. Taking a deep breath, he climbed the stairs and looked in the first bedroom. Nobody was there. He tried the second bedroom.

  Cassandra was there, pacing around beside the narrow bed. She was wringing her hands and it sounded like she was muttering to herself. Her hair was loose about her shoulders, her dark green dress looking almost black in the light from the candle by the bed. Her expression was pinched, almost as if she was trying not to cry.

  She was upset. Gabriel wanted to go to her and hold her, but he didn’t. Bracing himself, he closed the door behind him.

  Cassandra spun around, her eyes widening when she saw him. Gabriel leaned on the door. It was either that or reach for her.

  Why did she have to make him meet in this room? Downstairs would have worked. This felt far more...intimate.