A Lady's Taste For Temptation (Historical Regency Romance)

by Emily Honeyfield

  “I do not have many talents,” Lady Emily admitted.

  “Sure you do,” Myles said. “You just taught me all about the table settings.”

  “That is not a talent,” Lady Emily said. “The truth is, I thought that I would be...able to speak more of life by the time this age came around.”

  “You were married before, is that correct?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “Who told you?”

  “George told me, actually,” he said. “The under butler? I seem to have forgotten what an under butler was.”

  “That is fair,” she said. “If I lost my memory, it’s not something that I would struggle to remember.”

  “That makes sense,” he said. “But you think I would remember my surname.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I understand.”

  “I know you do,” he said. “You seem to understand me better than anyone else has ever done so.”

  She was flattered.

  “How do you know that there was not someone else who understood you better?” she asked, and Myles smiled.

  “I don’t,” he said. “Specifically. But I think I would remember the feeling.”

  Lady Emily blushed. She had never felt this way before, and she was eager to teach him more. Each day seemed to present a new opportunity. First, there was an opportunity to teach him how to ride on horseback, when she thought that Americans must ride differently than the British. She noticed tiny little inconsistencies every time she interacted with him, but she was happy to teach him the difference between everything.

  Myles was happy to learn, despite the fact that Lord Reginald seemed to continue to insult him at every opportunity. Lady Emily was getting more and more annoyed that Lord Reginald seemed to find moments to pick on him.

  In response, instead of stooping to Lord Reginald’s level, she paid more attention to Myles. As the ball drew nearer, she knew there was one thing she hadn’t taught him that she really had to.

  “Do you remember how to dance?” she asked him one day when Hannah had mentioned that she was free for the day.

  “Dance?” Myles asked. “I think so. I mean...nothing like I have seen some of you do, but…”

  “I’ll teach you,” she said. “Hannah is available to play the piano, although she is a bit nearsighted, so it may not be perfect, and so I would like to teach you now, when there is music.”

  “What?” Hannah and Myles said at the same time.

  Lady Emily smiled. “Hannah, you will play the piano for us, won’t you?”

  “Of course I will, my lady,” she said. “But I am not skilled enough in some of the songs that will be played at the ball.”

  “It’s all right. I’m sure whatever you can play will be fine,” Lady Emily said, and reached out for his hand. Myles took it, and she felt those shocks run down her spine again. Despite the fact he had been unwell, he was still strong, and he smiled at her with the dazzling smile that made her feel on the top of the world. “Here, start this way.”

  Hannah sat down at the piano and she started to play a tune that Lady Emily knew well. She started to walk through the steps, and tried her best to show Myles where he should be. He looked very happy to be doing so, and she tried to keep things proper. But Lady Emily couldn’t deny the fact that he looked absolutely stunning when he danced, and she felt she might melt into his arms.

  “You’re very good at this,” she said, and Myles shrugged.

  “I try,” he replied. “But you’re a good teacher. Any man would be lucky to have you teach him.”

  “I’m sure that isn’t true,” Lady Emily said. “There are lots of men who would reject me teaching them.”

  “Why?” he asked, confused.

  “Men don’t like to be taught by women,” she replied.

  “Even when the lady is more knowledgeable and trying to help them?” Myles asked. “Because in America, things are different.”

  “Are they?” Lady Emily asked.

  “They are,” Myles said. “As a colony, we all had to work together. Of course, the man is in charge of the family, but from what I have heard, women work more in America than they do here.”

  “Noble women generally don’t work,” Lady Emily said. “Unless they have a charity they would like to support.”

  “Of course,” Myles said. “I have the feeling you are the type of woman who does whatever she wants.”

  Lady Emily met his eyes.

  “What gives you that idea?” she asked him softly.

  “Just an observation,” he said, and she kept his gaze.

  “Do you think that is too...forward for a woman?” she asked.

  “No,” he replied. “I enjoy people who know what they want.”

  “Well, good,” she said. She had almost forgotten that Hannah was in the room until the piano playing stopped.

  “Did you want me to play something else?” Hannah asked, and she nodded.

  “Please keep playing,” she said. “I don’t think that Myles quite understands the steps.”

  “I do not,” he confirmed. “I would be grateful for you to keep teaching me.”

  “Oh, I will keep teaching you until you feel comfortable,” she said.

  “I am not a fast learner, my lady,” he said. “So you may have to keep at it for a while.”

  “Which part confuses you?” she asked.

  “Well,” he said. “Perhaps I do not know how to move in order to make the lady feel comfortable,” he said. “Perhaps I am too aggressive.”

  “I do not think you are too aggressive,” she said. “I think you have just the right amount of strength and force.”

  “Wonderful,” he said. “Because I would not want you to feel as if I was forcing myself on you. While I dance.”

  “No,” she said. “I would let you know if I felt that was a problem.”

  They were speaking very low, but she could see Hannah turning red. She decided to focus on just dancing for a little while longer, as to not scandalize her maid.

  “I think I understand,” Myles said, after what felt like an hour of lessons. Lady Emily could see the sun setting outside, and she was certain that the bell would be rung for supper soon. Despite the fact that she was tired, she was sad that that the lesson was over.

  “Wonderful,” Lady Emily said. “So perhaps we shall test your knowledge later.”

  Myles said, “I have a tendency to forget things.”

  “That is true,” Lady Emily said. “But I will reteach you again if you do.”

  “Then perhaps I should forget right away,” he said, with a grin. He bowed to Lady Emily.

  “Well, you remember that part,” she said. “Now, at the ball, do you think you can remember to do that at the end of every dance?”

  “I think so,” he said. “Although I hope to sneak a few dances with you, just to remember.”

  “I shall save room on my dance card,” she said, and Myles smiled at her.

  As soon as he left the room to dress for supper, she turned to Hannah.

  “I knew he was a gentleman,” she said to Hannah, who stayed silent. “And when we go to the ball, everyone will be amazed by him.”

  “Yes, my lady,” Hannah said. I’m sure that he is.”

  If she meant more by that, Lady Emily paid no attention. She couldn’t wait until the ball now.

  Chapter 8

  “What do you think?” Lady Emily said, as Catherine joined her in her room on the afternoon of the ball. She had kept her new dress a secret until this moment, and when she brought it out of her closest, Catherine gasped.

  “Oh my goodness, Emmie,” she said. “It’s beautiful!”

  It was a beautiful teal colour, and Lady Emily had the seamstress come in secret in order to work on it. She had made sure that it had a full skirt, and gold thread sewn it into it. She had never had such an elegant dress, and her dresses were usually very elegant.

  “Thank you,” Lady Emily said. “Do you think it’s too much?”
r />   “No, of course not,” Catherine said. “Although you have outdone yourself. You shall be the belle of the ball.”

  “Oh no,” Lady Emily said, even though they both knew that was what she wanted. “I’m just happy to be going at all, and not alone.”

  “Well, of course you would never be going alone,” Catherine said. “You would always have an escort.”

  “But this time, I have more than just an escort,” Lady Emily said. “I have an entourage.”

  “Yes,” Catherine smiled. “Although I’m sure Lord Reginald would like to be named your official escort.”

  “I’m sure he would,” Lady Emily replied. “But he is not my official escort, and I hope I have made that clear to him.”

  “He did ask me to have a word with you,” Catherine said. “Just to ask if...perhaps you were being shy.”

  Lady Emily’s eyes nearly fell out of her head.

  “He thinks I am being shy in not having him as my official escort?” she asked. “I am most certainly not.”

  “I am aware,” Catherine said. “I just thought I would bring it up.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate you telling me. I thought I was clear with him but it appears I wasn’t.”

  “I told him it would be improper, without an engagement,” Catherine said, and Lady Emily groaned.

  “No,” she said. “No, Catherine, why would you say that?”

  Catherine looked confused

  “Why, because it is true?” she asked, and Lady Emily sighed.

  “It is,” she said. “But that will just suggest to him that he should propose to me. I am afraid that he has already asked my father.”

  “I do not think he has,” Catherine said.

  “He might,” Lady Emily said. “And then he’ll ask me, and I’ll have to say yes. Or at least, I’ll feel as if I must accept, and depending on the circumstances, it may be improper not to. What if he asks at the ball, with all of our friends watching?”

  “That would be so romantic,” Catherine said, and Lady Emily shot her a look. “But of course, I can see why it would bother you. Has your opinion of him not changed?”

  “There is nothing necessarily wrong with him,” Lady Emily replied. “He does not strike my fancy, is all.”

  “I understand,” Catherine said. “Perhaps there will be someone at the ball you will meet that your father will approve of.”

  “Perhaps,” Lady Emily said, despite the fact that she already had someone in mind. All the time she had spent with Myles in the past few days had made her wonder more about his past, and whether he would make a good husband. She couldn’t put her finger on it, just as she could not put her finger on why she was not in love with Lord Reginald, but she wanted to be with Myles all the time. Her face lit up when he walked into the room, and she thought about him every moment. She missed him when he was gone, even if it was only for an hour to stroll into town. “What is your dress like?”

  “It is gold,” Catherine said. “And nowhere near as elegant as yours.”

  “I’m sure you look lovely in it,” Lady Emily said. “We only have an hour or two, so perhaps we can get ready?”

  “Yes,” Catherine said and stood up off her bed. “I’ll see you shortly?”

  “Indeed,” she said.

  As soon as she was dressed, Lady Emily went down to the front hallway, in case Myles was there before her. She had hoped for a moment alone with him, to make sure that he was comfortable what the ball would entail. To her utter dismay, it wasn’t Myles who was there, but Lord Reginald.

  “Lady Emily,” he said, as she came down the stairs. “You look stunning, as usual.”

  “Thank you,” she said. He looked put together in his well-tailored suit, but he did not catch her fancy any more than usual. “You are ready quickly, considering I heard you downstairs not half an hour ago.”

  “There is not as much that goes into dressing when you are a man,” he replied, with a smile. “Although you ladies would be beautiful in anything you wear.”

  “Thank you,” Lady Emily replied. “I hope the others are ready soon.”

  “We are quite early,” he said. “So perhaps we could...go to the garden?”

  “Oh no,” she said. “I prefer to wait here. Catherine will be here shortly.”

  “Oh,” he said, looking thoroughly disappointed. Lady Emily was only half listening to him, and she gave one-word answers. When Myles came down, however, her entire demeanour changed.

  “Hello,” she said to Myles, and met his eyes. “You look very well put together.”

  “Why, thank you,” Myles said. “You look quite all right yourself.”

  She loved that his accent seemed to make everything seem a bit more upbeat. The way he smiled at her made her heart sing, and she barely noticed Lord Reginald beside her, until he cleared his throat.

  “Ahem,” he said. “I wonder if there is going to be a problem with the ball.”

  “What do you mean, a problem with the ball?” she asked.

  “Well,” Lord Reginald said. “It would be inappropriate so imply introduce him as Myles. You would need a surname if…”

  “Whitehall,” Myles blurted out. “I actually just remembered it on the way down the stairs.”

  “Whitehall,” Lady Emily mused. “I think it suits you quite well.”

  “I have never heard of the Whitehall family,” Lord Reginald said. “Do you happen to know where they hail from?”

  “America?” Myles asked and Lady Emily smirked. She looked to Lord Reginald, who did not look amused in any way.

  “What?” she asked. “He is right.”

  “Still, many Americans did come from England,” Lord Reginald said. “So there would be a prominent English name attached if you were a gentleman.”

  “Lord Reginald,” Lady Emily said. “Is it true that you know everyone in England?”

  “Well...no,” Lord Reginald replied.

  “If you do not know everyone in England, how can you know every family?” she asked. “Especially one who may not be from the area and may have left the country a few generations ago?”

  “Well…” Lord Reginald looked embarrassed, and Lady Emily felt satisfied by her argument.

  “You cannot,” lady Emily said. “Therefore, we must not accuse Mr. Whitehall of everything until we know more.”

  “I was not accusing him…” Lord Reginald said, and Lady Emily smiled.

  “No, of course you were not,” she said. “A gentleman would never accuse another of such a thing.”

  Lord Reginald only smiled, and then made an excuse to leave the room. Once he was gone, Lady Emily turned to Myles.