Lorena turned to Genie, cutting to the point. “Your father will kill you if he gets word of this and even worse, he’d demand you never come near me again.”
“Daddy’s dying,” Genie whispered.
Lorena’s eyes widened. She was already holding Genie’s hand, and she tightened her hold while staring into Genie’s eyes. “Oh, Genie.” Her heart was racing and she began to remember her own parents’ death. The country party. Her parents had gone on a boat with other friends. The boat had tipped over. Lorena had been told that her father had died trying to save her mother. They’d left the world together.
The tears she hadn’t wanted to spill, fell. “I’m so sorry, Genie.”
Genie was crying, too. “He still has the ability to make me so angry,” she hiccupped and said. “But I love him all the more.”
Mr. Taylor called for his footman. “More wine, and don’t water theirs down.”
The footman bowed and left the room.
Genie let out a shaky sigh. “If I can never have Francis, I’d want this. Close friends I could always count on.”
Maura’s hand reached out and grabbed Genie’s other hand.
Genie smiled at her.
Lorena’s eyes moved to Sophia, who was watching them with complete intrigue, as though the prospect of women being close was new to her.
Lorena said to her, “Friends don’t publish embarrassing stories about their friends.”
Sophia's eyes turned to Lorena and the women watched one another silently.
Then Sophia smiled and said, “Done.”
Lorena let out a breath. If Sophia held true to her word, nothing that was discussed at the table would ever grace the morning trays of the ton.
“The Seductive Spinster Society,” Mr. Taylor declared just as the wine was brought out. Then he lifted his glass and said, “To the women who will change the ton.”
Lorena sipped her wine. Repeatedly. And tried to understand just what had transpired. Mr. Taylor was having a revelation but she needed him to see that she had not. She didn’t wish to fight the ton. She was not a champion of any sort. She was simply a woman in love with a man that she couldn’t spend two hours with and not inflict some sort of accident.
What an odd day.
Tomorrow, she thought, things would be ordinary tomorrow.
Then she smiled and took another sip as her head grew dizzy.
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CHAPTER TEN
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Ashwick woke to the slamming of the door and groaned as he rolled over, blinking as he came to. He was not in a bed but on a couch in one of Francis’ drawing rooms, because there was no bed. He planned on furnishing the house later that day but had thought he’d be able to sleep until later.
From the noise he heard in the foyer, that was not to be so.
“Francis!” It was Calvin and from the grumbling and murmurs, Ashwick guessed that the other Nashwood members had arrived.
He stood and made his way through the dark and out into the foyer.
Every head turned in his direction and their expressions either held shock or no expression at all.
He nodded at each in turn.
William, Hugh, Aaron, Julius, Rollo, Morris, Frank, and Calvin.
“What are you doing here?” Calvin asked.
“If you recall, my house burned to the ground a week ago.
Calvin’s hazel eyes narrowed and he whispered, “But you could have gone to anyone’s home. We all made offers. Why Francis? You know there’s no furniture here.”
Ashwick grinned at his concern. “That’s the very reason I am here. We all know how I like things. The house will be furnished so long as I am here.”
Calvin slowly grinned, finally catching on to Ashwick’s plan. Francis would not take money, so Ashwick would give him something better.
“Genius,” Morris said with a smile that touched his somewhat blue-somewhat green eyes, a trait that had been passed down to every man who had ever held the title of the Duke of Cort. His Grace said, “Francis never lets us come here and I see why.” He looked around. “I used to love coming here as a boy. Why are the windows blocked?”
“Taxes,” Ashwick answered. “I planned on taking them down today.”
“Well, now you have help,” Morris declared, already coming out of his coat. He didn’t even ask after servants. They were obviously not there, and they weren’t needed. The Nashwood men were more than agile.
The rest began to get into various stages of undress and comfortability. Then they walked back into the drawing room and starting moving boards.
The sunlight quickly bathed the room until not a shadow was in sight and everyone was momentarily spellbound by the room. Valdeston’s townhouse was simply that beautiful, even sparsely furnished.
“Not a painting in sight, and he’s still got the best bloody home I’ve ever seen,” Calvin declared.
Ashwick asked, “Why are you here?”
Calvin glanced over at him. “Have you read the gossip rags?”
“I never read the gossip rags.”
“Neither do I,” Calvin said, “But I tell my maids to alert me if certain names ever appear in them.”
Ashwick believed that to be a good idea and decided he would do the same when Calvin left the room, returned, and held the paper out for him. Ashwick glanced to the section presented to him and froze. “What the bloody hell?” He’d not gotten to the content yet, but had read the title and seen Lorena’s name flash from within the page. Lorena’s name must have been the one Calvin had an ‘alert’ on.
Ashwick moved to the couch and sat. As he read, his friends moved to the other rooms in the house. The gossip column piece, which had been written by Miss Sophia Taylor, had been titled The Sensual Spinsters’ Society. “What in hell’s name?” He read the article and felt his anger grow as he went on.
Lorena had found three other women to join her stance against marriage, and one of those ladies was the writer herself. She made Lorena sound like Joan of Arc come back to life, a leader of the people, and a woman to be reckoned with. Her undeniable beauty had also been mentioned and Ashwick had no reason to not agree with that point. Lorena was beautiful, which meant there was no way she’d remain a spinster. However, if she had followers, it could mean trouble for him.
Ashwick stood. “Francis!” he shouted. Then he changed his mind, threw down the paper, and headed to the door.
“Where are you going?” Calvin asked, coming out of the dining room. The entire house seemed to be soaking in every ray of the sun.
“Lorena’s,” Ashwick told him.
Calvin went for his jacket. “Where does she live?”
“Next door.”
Calvin’s eyes widened. “Next door?” Then he grinned. “Hell, I think I might move in as well.”
Ashwick growled. “Don’t go near her.”
Calvin only grinned and Ashwick watched as some of the others started to put on their jackets, appearing to wish to follow Ashwick. He knew some of them only saw her as a younger sister but he had no time to wait for them.
He started from the house and was at Lorena’s door in seconds.
“Bloody hell,” Calvin said behind him. “She actually does live next door.”
Mr. Sudworth opened the door cheerfully and grinned as though they were old friends. “Oh, Lord Ashwick. You’ll never believe what I had for breakfast this morning. Actually, you’ll never believe that I actually had breakfast, but I did. I can’t remember the last time I’d had such a fine meal. Well, it was fine to me, but I’m sure your lordship would have preferred something finer. I simply had toast, but there was butter to go with it. Have you ever had butter? Delicious.”
Ashwick blinked at him.
Calvin stepped up and asked Ashwick, “This is Lorena’s butler?” The disapproval was obvious. Som
ething flickered in his eyes just before they went hard. It was moments like this that Ashwick remembered that while Calvin could get along with the best of people, men knew better than to test him.
Ashwick said, “He’s harmless.” At least, he dearly hoped so. “Either way, Lorena refuses to be rid of him.”
Calvin gave Ashwick a look that said he’d see to it himself.
They both turned back to the butler.
Mr. Sudworth, who’d been listening the entire time, was still smiling. “How may I help you?”
“We need to see Lorena,” Calvin answered and made a move to enter.
Sudworth blocked the door. “Cost a shilling.”
“What?” Calvin asked in outrage.
“Shilling,” Sudworth said. “For each of you,” he added, looking over the entire group.
The look the men gave would have scared normal people and had actually been known to do so. There were few who would get in the way of the Nashwood men. Sudworth was not the usual sort, Ashwick could tell.
Calvin chuckled and reached out.
Ashwick grabbed him and pulled him back just in time to watch his fist pass right before Sudworth’s still grinning face. Everything happened in a split second, but because of the early hour, no one else had witnessed it. “Don’t hit him.”
Calvin glared at him. “Why not?”
“Lorena cares for him.”
Those words seemed to calm Calvin immensely.
“How much does she care?” Calvin asked.
“You know, Lorena,” Ashwick told him.
The last bit of Calvin’s anger died. He looked at Sudworth and said, “The moment you break your mistress’ loyalty, I’ll be here and Ashwick won’t be able to stop me then.” The threat was clear.
“I wouldn’t dream of stopping you,” Ashwick said aloud. Though if he had his way, he’d already be on the other side of the door, waking up next to her every morning.
Sudworth said, “I’ve no fear where my mistress is concerned. I shall always remain loyal to her.” Although he was still grinning, there was a depth in his eyes that Ashwick had never seen.
He let Calvin go and dropped enough shillings in his hand for every man present, hoping the man spent it on a new suit and not spirits.
Sudworth pocketed the money and opened the door. “If you would wait in the drawing room, I shall tell her maid that you’ve arrived.”
“When do the other staff members arrive?” Ashwick asked.
“They start arriving this afternoon,” Sudworth told him.
“You should get a few for Francis’ place,” Calvin said.
“Already done,” Ashwick told him and every man took a position in the drawing room while Sudworth left. No one sat.
Ashwick looked around at those present and realized except for Calvin, they were not only Francis’ closest friends, but the titled ones.
His Grace, Morris Kidd, the Duke of Cort, Lord Hugh Vance, the Marquess of Edvoy, Lord Julius Hext, the Marquess of Darvess and Lord Aaron Walsh, the Earl of Jeanshire. They were men of the most powerful homes of England, including himself.
Ashwick felt a tightening in his chest and asked, “Why are you all here?”
Calvin lifted a brow. “To offer for Lorena’s hand, of course.”
He’d said it so casually that Ashwick was stunned. Then he was furious.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
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Lorena looked at herself in the mirror one last time and decided there was simply nothing she could do about her appearance. After the other night, she’d realized her aunt was right about her clothing and she was almost looking forward to dressing in something new.
In fact, she was looking forward to everything. She’d read the morning’s gossip rag and had laughed over her breakfast of toast and tea. Sophia had made her sound like the Virgin Queen and ruler of the Tudor dynasty. Lorena didn’t enjoy having so much attention but she thought this much better than what had been printed the other night.
“They’re waiting for you?” Jane said. coming in once again. She’d helped Lorena dress, which Lorena admitted had been a very pleasant experience. Instead of the hour she spent on her buttons alone, Jane had gotten them together quite quickly, though she had encountered some trouble around Lorena’s bosom area.
And now that she had a lady’s maid, she was also in a corset, which in the end, made Lorena look quite silly. Now, her breasts would be the first part of her to enter a room and her bottom the very last. She was surprised her hips fit through entryways. When she’d said this out loud, Jane had said, “Don’t say such a thing. Your hips are lovely, miss. Your body is like all those old paintings of Greek ladies.”
Lorena had smiled and added another reason to the list of reasons she liked having a lady’s maid once more. Or perhaps she simply liked having Jane.
But at Jane’s new words, Lorena tilted her head.
“They?” Lorena asked.
“Yes,” Jane said with a frown. “A group of men are downstairs waiting for you.”
Lorena thought they might be Ashwick and the footman Aunt Tilda had hired, knowing they would be coming today. So, she rose and started out of the room.
She walked down the stairs, turned, and froze at the sight of the men Jane had been speaking of.
Filling her drawing room, and all in a standing position that made her wish she was Medusa so she could turn them all into statues and keep them just the way they were, were the royal half of the Men of Nashwood. And Calvin.
She grinned at Calvin and didn’t stop herself from rushing over to him. “Calvin!” She hadn’t seen him since her parents’ funeral.
He met her halfway and spun her. “Ren, my love!”
She laughed and held on tightly to him. She did dearly love Calvin, even if he had the tendency to act like a cad.
When he finally put her down, he stepped back, held her hands, and lifted a brow. “God, Ren,” he growled as he looked over her body. “Is that you?”
Lorena was sure she turned every shade of red and looked away.
Calvin continued, “I come in here expecting to see the little girl whose hair I used to pull for fun. Now…” His words trailed off. “Ren,” he said again with a mixture of astonishment and something else. She didn’t know what it was but it reminded her of the way Ashwick had said her name in the garden.
Her cheeks flamed again, and she looked over to see Ashwick glaring at her and Calvin. Before she could do anything about it, the other men in the room wished to have their turn with her. Lorena gave them all hugs, touched some cheeks, and laughed at every joke. Together, the men had a way of overwhelming her senses to the point that her head grew dizzy and her cheeks ached from the constant smiling.
Then she felt it.
Ashwick’s hand settled at the small of her back and she turned around in his arms.
“Ashwick,” she whispered. He was the only one she still addressed by his title because she’d only ever known him as a titled gentleman. The rest Lorena had known since their time in Eton. Though Lorena seemed to be growing close to Ashwick, she never dared call him by his given name.
“Lorena,” he said, taking no issue with calling her by her given name. He leaned forward and kissed her, not on the lips or cheek, but her throat.
Her breath caught and she placed her hand on his arms to keep upright and forbid her mind to think of what they’d done in the garden. Not in front of the other men. Ashwick hadn’t been the only man to kiss her that morning. In fact, they’d all kissed her, on the cheek and even the corner of her mouth, but none of them were more intimate than the one Ashwick gave her.
When he pulled away, their eyes met and held.
“Lorena,” Calvin called.
She moved from Ashwick’s hold and turned and looked up to give Calvin a smile. “Y
es?”
“We saw the paper,” Calvin began. “And are here to make things right.” He still smiled, but his eyes were serious.
Lorena glanced at all the beautiful men around her and asked Calvin, “What do you mean?”
Calvin took her hand and Lorena saw something in his gold eyes and she didn’t dare ask what. His thumb stroked the back of her hand and he said, “Lorena, you’re not allowed to be a spinster.”
“What?” she asked.
Allowed?
“So, therefore,” Calvin said, pulling her hand and dragging her body away from Ashwick and toward his own. When she was cradled in his strong hold, he told her, “You shall marry me.”
He told her. This was not a proposal. This was a command. A command from a group of men who were always trying to tell her what to do.
Lorena snatched her hand back. “No.”
Calvin was no longer smiling. “Then you’ll marry one of the others. I can understand if you wish a title. I know how important it is to most women.”
Lorena touched his arm and said, “It’s not important to me. You know this.”
He smiled again. “I know,” he whispered. “You’re a beautiful woman, Lorena. Inside and out. Therefore, you are the last woman in the world who shall ever hold the title of spinster.”
Lorena couldn’t help but smile at his compliment, even if he was being quite demanding, but it didn’t mean she’d marry him. “No, Calvin. I can’t marry you.”
His hold on her tightened. “Why not, Ren?”
The answer was simple.
“Do you love me, Calvin?” she asked.
“You know I do,” he told her.
She laughed and said, “I mean, truly, deeply, completely love me.”
“I could,” he said with dark eyes and a low tone. “Truly. Deeply. Completely.”
Lorena felt tingling begin to course through her and feared she was turning into a wanton.
Lady Lorena’s Spinster’s Society ( The Spinster’s Society) (A Regency Romance Book) Page 10