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

by Emily Honeyfield

  “Oh?” Edward asked. “Did she cut her hair?”

  “No,” Lady Emily said, and almost smiled, despite herself. “But she did decide that her fear of being a spinster overrode her fear of being an American’s wife.”

  Edward turned even paler than he was already.

  “What?” he asked.

  “She came back to my house and decided to flirt with Myles,” she said. “Blatantly. And to my horror, Myles’s flirted back. I couldn’t have that. For many reasons.”

  “I hope one of those reasons is for me,” he said. “Were you thinking of my heart when you hopefully stopped her?”

  “I was,” she said. “Rest assured, it was half my mind.”

  “Good,” he said. “And the other half was your own heart?”

  “Exactly,” she replied. “So I told her that she couldn’t marry him, because he was an American and it would be scandalous. I told her he wasn’t good enough for her, and she shouldn’t settle for less than she deserves. And somehow...somehow she managed to believe me. It broke her heart, but she believed me.”

  “Thank God,” Edward said. “But do you think...she really was in love with him?”

  “No,” Lady Emily assured him. “I think he was the first man who she thought paid attention to her, and so she decided to pay attention back. Of course, Myles was just being polite, but Catherine didn’t know that. She didn’t know the words Myles and I had exchanged either.”

  “Oh my,” he said. “So…what is the disaster? Or is that the disaster? Because I could see that being a memory, I would have nightmares about for the rest of my life.”

  “The disaster is that Myles must have been walking by when I said that,” she replied. “And he overheard. Within half an hour, he had gone to Reginald for help and then headed off to London. He got a carriage, borrowed some money, got some letters of recommendation from Reginald and was gone.”

  “The scoundrel,” Edward said. “Reginald, not Myles.”

  “Exactly,” she replied. “I did everything I could to stop him.”

  “And you’re sure it was your words?” he asked.

  “Well…” she paused. “That’s actually where I’m not quite sure. I thought it was my words, but then when I asked him, he didn’t react. It seemed he had just suddenly gone off the whole experience of staying with us.”

  “Maybe your father said something to him?” Edward suggested and Lady Emily paused. She hadn’t thought of that.

  “Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe it was that visit to Miss Kent.”

  “Who’s this now?” Edward asked.

  “Lieutenant Konrad’s widow…” she said. “For all intents and purposes, anyway. We finally found her and he gave her that letter he had been carrying around. Myles and I made plans to help her, with the various causes and organizations we were going to join...but suddenly, he was up and gone.”

  “Well, this is a problem,” Edward said and Lady Emily sighed.

  “It’s gets worse though,” she said. “Catherine and I had a falling out once she learned that Myles was gone, and she left. I thought we would make up again at some point, but I never heard from her. This morning, my father told me that she and the Yarwoods were heading to London...to chase Myles.”

  Edward didn’t say anything for a long moment. Lady Emily was afraid he might become more ill, because he leaned over slightly and swallowed hard.

  “Well, that is a disaster,” he said. “Especially if Myles is interested in her.”

  “He’s not,” she said. “And she’s not really interested in him. It’s just a...convenience, that’s all. But she won’t realize that until it’s too late. And it wasn’t Catherine who said nasty things about him. Oh Edward, this is a mess.”

  “Why don’t you go after him too?” Edward suggested and Lady Emily shook her head.

  “I can’t,” she said. Edward raised his eyebrow.

  “Why can’t you?” she said. “If Catherine can?”

  “Catherine is being escorted by the Yarwoods,” she said. “And I have no one to escort me. And before you suggest that you can, please don’t. You are clearly in no shape to go anywhere.”

  “I regret that is true,” he said. “But even if I was, you and I cannot simply take off to London without a reason.”

  “I know,” Lady Emily said. “We’d have to conduct a tangled web of lies, which I am not comfortable with. Without an escort, it is improper for me to go to London alone, and I just cannot fight my father for permission to go. I would need him to go with me.”

  “And he won’t go?” Edward asked.

  “Not if he knows that it’s for Myles,” Lady Emily said. “On the way over, I was trying to think if he possibly has business in London, but he hasn’t done that for a long time.”

  “Hmm,” Edward said. “I am trying to think if I perhaps have anything I could ask him to do for me, but there is nothing legitimate.”

  “So we are stuck,” Lady Emily said, and Edward paused.

  “Well, not necessary,” he said. “There’s always Lord Reginald.”

  Lady Emily shuddered at that.

  “He certainly won’t take me if he thinks it is to chase Myles,” she said.

  “No,” Edward said. “But he might take you to London if he thinks you are interested in the life he lives there.”

  “I have told him in no uncertain terms that I am not interested in the life he has in London,” she said.

  “Well, you could change your mind?” Edward suggested. “Couldn’t you? You could say that you are more open to at least...seeing it.”

  Lady Emily paused.

  “That’s not a bad idea, actually,” she said. “And if I suggest to him that I want to go very soon because I want to make my mind up soon…”

  “Then he will take you right away,” Edward said. “He will do anything you ask.”

  “Do you think so?” she asked, and he nodded.

  “Yes,” he replied. “Lord Reginald is completely in love with you. He will do anything and quickly, if he thinks it will make you notice him.”

  “How do you know?” she asked, confused and Edward sighed.

  “He told me,” he said. “He was asking for advice.”

  “Oh,” she didn’t realize Lord Reginald felt that way. She knew that he wanted to marry her, but half of her hoped it was a marriage of convenience rather than breaking his heart. “And what did you tell him?”

  “I told him you were difficult to please,” Edward said, leaning back. “And I don’t think I lied.”

  “Thank you ever so much,” Lady Emily replied, half sarcastically.

  “Of course,” Edward said. “Anything for my dear friend. I wish I could come to London with you right now, but I am in no shape to do so. However, if you convince Lord Reginald, which I am sure you will, I will come as soon as I can.”

  “That sounds like the best plan I’ve heard in a while,” she said. “But Edward, do not come if you are not well. You are no use to Catherine like that.”

  “I think what you are trying to say,” he said, with a smile. “Is that Catherine would not consider me if I were half dead.”

  “Probably not,” Lady Emily replied. “Although if you just let me say something to her.”

  “No,” Edward protested. “It must be natural. Now, at least let my carriage driver take you home.”

  “I suppose,” Lady Emily said, and rose. “Thank you so much, Edward.”

  “Of course,” he said. “Send me a note as soon as you have a plan.”

  “I will,” she promised, and gave him a smile before heading to the front door. She told James to get the carriage, and he confirmed with his master before ordering the carriage out.

  Lady Emily knew that their plan was a good one, but she also knew she would have to adopt the right attitude if she was going to convince Lord Reginald that this is what she truly wanted to do. It would come as a shock to him, so she would have to act as if she had just been struck by a change of heart. Lad
y Emily wasn't sure she was capable of doing so, given how much her mind was somewhere else at the moment.

  Still, when the carriage pulled up to her house, she made sure her skirts were as unwrinkled as possible and took a moment to fix her hair. She put on best smile and headed through the front door. On the way through the hall, she passed her father, who looked confused that she was there.

  “Emmie?” he asked. “I thought you were just going for a walk in the garden”

  “I didn’t say whose garden,” she said, and he looked out the door as the carriage pulled away.

  “You walked all the way to Edward’s?” he asked. “Why?”

  “Did you know he was unwell?” she asked, pretending to be in shock. “I just wanted to make sure he needed nothing.”

  “Well, that is very kind of you,” her father said

  “Have you seen Lord Reginald?” she asked, cutting Sir Preston off. He was surprised that she asked and pointed towards the back of the house.

  “I believe he is in the back library,” he said. “He seemed to be writing some letters rather intently”

  “Lovely,” she said. “Thank you, Father.”

  Lord Reginald was in the back library, as her father said he would be. Lady Emily took another moment to compose herself before entering the room.

  “Lord Reginald,” she said. “Just the person I wanted to see.”

  Lord Reginald looked confused, as she had never said that about him before. However, he was delighted that she had said it and quickly smiled.

  “Lady Emily,” he said. “It seems your day has got better.”

  “Yes, I apologize for my mood this morning,” she said. “I was just taking a walk and realized that I must come and talk to you at once.”

  “Oh?” he asked. “About what?”

  “Well, it seems that I’ve been a fool,” she said. “If Father is proposing a match between us, I do not truly what life would be like with you if we simply remain in this country house.”

  “Well, I…” Lord Reginald said, but she kept talking.

  “To truly know your life and what it would be like, I would have to go to London,” she said. “I would have to know what your life is like there; your house, the people you know. I would want to see your office, and your favourite spots in the city. Only then would I have a true understanding of what our relationship would be.”

  He looked so surprised by this that he had trouble forming words.

  “Well…” he said, at last. “I could always take you. It’s just...forgive me, my lady, but you said you would never want to do such a thing.”

  “People can change, can’t they?” she asked him, with a charming smile.

  “Yes, of course,” Lord Reginald said. “And when would you like to go?”

  “Oh, at once,” Lady Emily replied, surprising him.

  “At once?” Lord Reginald coughed. “As in...today?”

  “Yes, today would suit me just fine,” she said. “Unless you had other plans?”

  “No,” he said. “No, I have no other plans. I just...I would have to pack.”

  She knew that packing could take hours, and she didn’t want him to do so. However, at the same time, if she didn’t let him pack, then he would have to come back here. If her mission was successful, she wouldn’t want him to come back here.

  “Of course,” she said. “I assume we can stay in your house in London?”

  “Yes, there is plenty of room,” he answered. “If that suits you?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Why don’t you pack, and I will go and speak to Father? I am sure he will want to come along.”

  “Very well,” Lord Reginald looked delighted at that the turn of events. “Can I ask, Lady Emily, what made you change your mind?”

  “Oh, I was just thinking,” she said. “Have you ever had one of those moments when the path forward becomes so clear that you think you are a fool for not seeing it before?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “All the time. In fact…”

  “You really should pack,” she said. “There is no time to waste.”

  “I...I suppose not,” he said. “Should you pack as well?”

  “I will,” she said, making a mental note to find Hannah and tell her to pack for a few days. Lady Emily didn’t intend to stay in London long. Myles's home wasn’t there, and he would need a place to stay while he was finishing up the final business he had. She was certain she could get him to come back to the house.

  While Lord Reginald went to pack, she sought out her father again, who responded in surprise to what she was asking

  “London?” he asked. “Now? Emmie, this isn’t one of your…”

  “Father, I simply can’t marry Lord Reginald until I see his London life,” she said. “And Catherine rushing off to chase Myles inspired me to forge my own path into the future.”

  “But this is such a change of heart…” he said, confused.

  “I am not saying that I am going to marry Lord Reginald,” Lady Emily aid. “Nor am I saying that I have fallen madly in love with him. I am simply saying I need this opportunity to make a well-rounded decision Don’t you agree, Father? You always taught me to make well-rounded decisions”

  “Well…” Sir Preston said. “Yes...but…”

  “He has invited me to come now, but you know that it is improper for me to go without an escort,” she said. “Please, Father, will you come with us? Please? This could be my only chance at happiness.”

  Her father paused and then nodded.

  “Very well,” he said. “But only because you are my darling daughter and I care so deeply for you.”

  “Thank you!” she cried and threw her arms around him. She knew it was absurd, but she seemed to have managed to convince everyone she needed to. Hannah packed her bags for a few days, and Lord Reginald packed the many things he seemed to have accumulated during his time there. The trunks were loaded onto the waiting carriage, which had been hastily prepared for the trip, and soon they were heading down the bumpy road towards London.

  “I am so delighted that you suggested this,” Lord Reginald said. “To tell you the truth, I was starting to worry about my business in London. This is perfect timing. I can show you everything, including my offices. You will enjoy them, I am sure.”

  “Of course,” Lady Emily said, although she couldn’t give the least bit of energy towards carrying about his offices. “That would be delightful to see.”

  “I know you will love it,” he said to her. “There are several other things that I am sure you will love too.”

  Lady Emily had to smile and nod the entire time he was talking. All she could think about was Myles and whether she might see him again soon. When the carriage stopped to let them stretch their legs, Sir Preston took Lady Emily aside.

  “I want you know that I am very proud of you,” he said. “For making this decision”

  “Well, Father, I haven't made any decision yet,” she said.