Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  “He...he lied to me.” Cassandra managed to get herself to sit before she toppled over. The room was still swaying around her. “He said you were eager to make my acquaintance, that you would be a good choice for me. He tried so hard to push me in your direction. Now I know why.” She pressed a hand to her chest, wishing she could get rid of the ache. “I bet he lied as well when he said he loved me.”

  “He said that?” Percy’s head snapped up. He stared at her. “He really said that he loved you?”

  “I don’t know why you’re so shocked. He must say that to the ladies all the time.”

  But Percy was shaking his head. Now he was looking dazed.

  “No, he doesn’t. He’s known for his reputation, but Gabriel has never said those three words outside of the family, and even then it was rare. It’s like he wasn’t capable of saying them at all. That he said it to you means a lot.”

  “Does it? After what he’s done?” Cassandra blinked, feeling a tear trickle down her cheek. “I can’t believe I said it back to him. The fact he was completely wrong for me should have been enough for me to stay away. But I...I couldn’t…”

  She ducked her head, not wanting to show that she was crying. She buried her face in her hands, wishing the ground would swallow her up. There was the rustling of clothes and then Cassandra felt Percy’s hands on her shoulders, urging her to stand up. She didn’t fight him, allowing him to pull her to her feet and lean her against his chest.

  “It’s going to be all right, Cassie.” Percy wrapped his arms around her, cradling her gently as he rocked her. “Gabriel’s in trouble, and he knows it. It’ll work itself out.”

  Would it? Cassandra didn’t know if it would.

  #

  “Right.” Norman closed the accounts book and put it to one side. “That’s all the paperwork ready for you. You seemed to have a better grasp of how the accounts work better than I do, so that’s something.” He glanced up at Gabriel, “I’m sure you know the place inside-out already, but now you get to go through every room, get to know the staff and understand the running of things.”

  “I think I’ve got the general idea.” Gabriel murmured.

  This should have brought up some excitement, knowing that he was now the owner of Montgomery’s. But Gabriel couldn’t bring himself to be happy. Instead he felt...numb. His goal had been reached and now he was in charge, and his happiness was just not there. It felt like things were beginning to crumble around him.

  And crumble they would, once Percy told Cassandra what he had been up to. She would be on the warpath. Lying to her about his brother was one thing, but Gabriel had blown it taking her to bed. He should have left as soon as he realised where she was. Instead, he had given in to what he had wanted since first laying eyes on her.

  When people had said that love was not ever simple and it could be painful at times, Gabriel had scoffed. He didn’t believe that at all. Now he was beginning to understand what they meant.

  “Gabe?”

  “Hmm?” Gabriel hadn’t realised Norman had moved, coming around the desk and holding out a glass of whisky. He shook his head. “No, thanks. I don’t want any.”

  Norman arched an eyebrow. Then he shrugged and took a swig himself.

  “I’ll stay here another week to see how you’re getting on, and then I’ll head back home. I must say, I can’t wait to get back. Running this place is hard work when your head is not in it.”

  “You make it sound like you despise Ipswich.”

  “It’s not that I despise the place I was born in.” Norman leaned against the desk, “I’ve just never liked cities. Which was why I suffered so much living in London during the season as a younger man. It was...I felt like the walls were closing in, so many rules you had to follow. On the coast, things are a little more relaxed. There are far fewer people and those I interact with are not judgmental about what I do with my time. It’s so quiet and peaceful.”

  A wistful look passed over his face, and Gabriel could see that Norman was already going back to his home, where the sea view from his window was spectacular even in the middle of winter with the storms. Norman had spoken about it several times with much love for his home. Gabriel had a feeling that, given half a chance, Norman would never leave his house.

  Now his father was dead and the business wasn’t in his name anymore, Norman could.

  “I’m sure the women are more beautiful,” Gabriel said mildly.

  “Don’t know. Haven’t been outside enough to notice.”

  But even as he said that, Norman’s cheeks went red. Something told Gabriel there was another reason he wanted to get back to the coast. He was distracted from asking when he heard a familiar voice on the other side of the door and thundering footsteps. He recognised that voice. Gabriel closed his eyes.

  Here it came.

  The door burst open and Gabriel turned to see Cassandra storming across the room towards him. All the way down to town, Gabriel had been trying to think about how he was going to explain this to Cassandra, and hoping that she would listen. But he had barely opened his mouth when Cassandra slapped him. Hard enough to jerk his head. The sound reverberated around the room.

  Cassandra stepped back. She was breathing heavily, the look in his eyes saying if looks could kill, he would be dead.

  “If I had a gun, I would have shot you by now,” she snarled. “That’s what you deserve for what you tried to do to me.”

  Gabriel grimaced. His cheek stung and his ears were ringing.

  “I suppose I would deserve it.”

  “You do deserve it! Percy’s just told me everything, what you were planning to do,” Cassandra pointed at him, almost poking him in the face. “Well, let me tell you, Tattershall, I am not going anywhere. You can’t force me to be diverted elsewhere, and I’m not going to let Seton Hall suffer because your greedy heart wanted it all!”

  Gabriel knew there was a lot he could say to that, but he didn’t think it would matter anymore. Cassandra had made up her mind. He glanced at Norman, who was looking at Cassandra like he had never seen her before.

  “Norman, would you mind giving us a few minutes?”

  “Sure.” Norman headed towards the door, giving Cassandra a wide berth. “I don’t want to get slapped myself.”

  He scurried out, closing the door behind him. Gabriel turned back to Cassandra.

  “Cassie, can we just talk about this?”

  “Talk about what?” Cassandra snapped. “You tried to manipulate me, Gabriel! You manipulated your brother! You’ll be lucky if he speaks to you again after that. You lied to him.” Her voice quivered, “You lied to me. Last night...you said all the right things. You seduced me into bed. And I let you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “You were the one who provided protection.”

  “Don’t turn this back on me, Gabriel!”

  “I was trying to say that I wasn’t the one who did the seducing,” Gabriel shot back. “I’ve done a lot of that in the past, but I was telling myself that I would never do that to you. I was foolish enough to not say we needed to have this conversation in another room. You were the one who asked for a private talk in a bedroom, and your friend provided those French letters. You knew what you were doing!” He slapped his chest, “My part? I didn’t seduce you because I wanted to play you. I made love to you because I wanted to. All I could think about was having you in my arms.”

  Cassandra was still furious, her eyes blazing. But Gabriel could see the tears beginning to build. She appeared to have been crying all the way over here. He wanted to reach for her and hold her, tell her that everything was going to be all right. But he kept his hands to himself; he didn’t want to be slapped again.

  “You lied to me,” Cassandra accused. Her voice was choked.

  “What did I lie about? Wait, don’t answer that.” Gabriel held up a hand as Cassandra started to open her mouth again. “All right, yes, I lied about Percy wanting to get to know you more, and I lied about my interest in Seton
Hall. But I didn’t lie about how I felt. That I couldn’t do.”

  “And that’s supposed to make me feel better, is it?” Cassandra turned away, pressing a hand to her stomach. “I feel sick. This...this whole mess...God.”

  Gabriel felt like someone was squeezing the air out of his lungs. He leaned against the desk as his legs threatened to give way.

  “Look, Cassie, everything that happened between us, I know it shouldn’t have happened. I know you didn’t ask me there for a seduction. The fact you were prepared…” He would not think about that again. “We’re not exactly the most compatible of people…”

  “That’s it, is it?” Cassandra swung around. “I’m not good enough for you, am I?”

  Gabriel winced.

  “That came out wrong.” He took a deep breath, clutching tightly at the edge of the desk to stop himself from reaching for her. “It’s just...you’re too good for me. I don’t deserve you. I fell in love with you because I’m a fool. I couldn’t keep myself separate from it all. I went about this because I was greedy and I wanted something for myself. I wanted to feel useful in this world, wanted and respected. I lost all that when I messed up one too many times. This time, I wanted things to be different again. And I messed up,” he looked away, “because I fell in love.”

  Cassandra snorted.

  “It still doesn’t make me feel any better, Gabe. You lied to be. Betrayed me.” She approached him, stopping just out of reach. She looked stricken. “I finally gave in to what I had been feeling since we met, even though you and I spent most of our time verbally sparring. I should have let that be a reason all on its own, but I didn’t. For the first time in my life, I let myself really feel.”

  He had hurt her. Badly. Gabriel had hurt women in the past, and those times he had told them to stop and leave him alone. He hadn’t had any concerns for them at all; nothing benefited him. God, had he really been that selfish all this time?

  Yes, you were. And now you’re suffering the consequences for the first time.

  And it’s not nice at all.

  Gabriel swallowed.

  “I don’t expect you to forgive me, Cassie. Just know that it wasn’t my intention.”

  Cassandra lifted her chin and took a deep breath. Gabriel saw a tear escape, and he wanted to reach out and wipe it away. He didn’t want to see her cry.

  “Maybe not. But I don’t see how you’re going to make this better.” She sounded a lot calmer than she looked. “You destroyed my trust in you, Gabriel. You can’t get that back.”

  “Cassie…”

  Gabriel reached for her, but Cassandra stepped away. She shook her head, looking like she was going to break down if he touched her.

  “No. Don’t even try. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. Come near Seton’s, and I’ll have you thrown out. I don’t want anything to do with you. Just…”

  She broke off, and Gabriel heard a sob. God, this was not what he had wanted at all. He straightened up and started towards her, but Cassandra backed up so quickly he stopped. Her flinching away from him hurt more than he cared to admit. Then his heart sank as Cassandra turned and practically ran out of the room.

  The door slammed behind her, and Gabriel felt like some of his heart had been taken out of the room.

  Chapter 21

  “Mr. Tattershall?”

  Gabriel barely looked up as his valet stood by his chair.

  “Leave me be, Allen. I’m not in the mood for anything.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Gabriel growled. Allen had been like this for close to a week now. He kept asking if Gabriel needed anything and then making sure. Gabriel wanted to throttle the man. He just wanted to be left alone.

  Allen sighed and Gabriel heard his footsteps fade away as he left the room. He scowled out the window, hating what he was seeing. Normally, just the sight of the garden he had come to appreciate would bring him some calm; make him feel a little better. But now it just looked like a prison. He felt trapped.

  Lost. Empty.

  Who knew that a broken heart could feel like this? Gabriel certainly didn’t like it. He had scoffed at his friends who had fallen for a woman and who then went around with a miserable look on their faces when it didn’t work out or they weren’t able to express themselves in time. Gabriel thought it was a ridiculous emotion; that it got in the way of everything.

  Now he knew how they felt.

  Moping around the cottage wasn’t going to make him feel any better, but there wasn’t much else he could do. Norman had taken one look at his face when he came into the office and told Gabriel to go home and take a few days for himself. He would hand over control over everything on Monday while Gabriel got his head on straight.

  Monday was tomorrow, and Gabriel still didn’t feel like he was in a good place.

  He had thought about going to Cassandra’s many times, just to get her to hear him out. But he knew that she wouldn’t let him inside. Gabriel wouldn’t be surprised if she had told everyone to bar him from the house.

  He didn’t want to push it too much. Just a few more days, and then he would see if he could ask for her forgiveness again. If she didn’t want to see him again, Gabriel would have to take that. It was going to wrench him apart to keep his distance, but he would respect Cassandra’s wishes.

  He was beginning to wish he had never started off down this road. Now it felt like the road had been blocked, and he couldn’t go back. Gabriel was at a loss.

  The sight of his garden was getting too much for him. Putting on his walking boots and shoving his coat on, Gabriel headed out into the fields. A long walk might help. The fresh air could clear his head and he might be able to think more clearly.

  Who are you trying to convince? You’ve done that every day since she walked away from you, and it hasn’t happened yet.

  Gabriel crossed one field and reached a stone wall. If he took this shortcut, he could head into the woods and make a long, circular route back to his cottage without needing to come into sight of his former home. Goodness only knew what Percy had told their parents, but it was nothing that Gabriel didn’t deserve. He had done wrong, and he had messed around the only person who was still on his side.

  It was his fault, pure and simple. But that didn’t make Gabriel feel any better.

  There was a stile in the wall somewhere, but where was...Gabriel made his way along the wall. It had to be close by somewhere. And it was, with a huge oak tree overhanging the wall and casting shade from the blistering sun.

  Someone was already climbing the stile, and Gabriel slowed. He didn’t want to be brought into conversation with another walker; he wasn’t in the best of moods for anyone. Then he saw who was vaulting the style and he stopped in his tracks.

  “Father?”

  Derek Tattershall landed lightly on the ground and dusted off his coat. He wasn’t wearing a hat, which was unusual for him; his father liked to keep to custom attire when he was out anywhere. He gave Gabriel a half-smile and a nod.

  “Gabriel. Good timing, or I would’ve made my way to your home for nothing.”

  He had been coming to see him? Gabriel thought he must have misheard. On instinct, he took half a step back.

  “Why were you coming to see me?”