The Lady Tamed by Boyd, Heather (urban books to read TXT) 📗

Letterford. “We wanted to wait till after the wedding, but Letterford couldn’t hold his tongue.”

“And so he shouldn’t have.”

“Thank you, Fanny,” Letterford murmured with a small smile. “I say, would now be a good time for us to discuss that spot of business I mentioned before? It will only take a moment, I swear.”

Since Fanny had thought Letterford was going to embarrass himself and her by proposing, she was taken by surprise that he still wanted to talk to her. “Oh, yes. If you like.”

“Excuse me, my dear. I will be right back,” he promised Mrs. Abercrombie.

He took Fanny away from everyone. “Forgive my deception, but I wanted to ask a favor and I hope you won’t think I am presuming on our long acquaintance to ask, but,” he seemed to gulp, “I wonder if I might have the use of your house in Brighton? You see, Mrs. Abercrombie has never seen the sea. I’d like to take her there for our honeymoon trip for a few weeks after we marry.”

Fanny smiled warmly. “You may visit and stay as long as you like. I’ll send word to the housekeeper today to expect to hear from you soon, and when you’ll be arriving.”

“That is good of you.” He gulped. “How much might you want—”

Fanny silenced him with a wave of her hand. “My wedding gift to you both.”

“I couldn’t possibly accept.”

Letterford wasn’t a wealthy man, and a late marriage like his deserved the best start possible. “You must accept, because I will not accept a penny in payment,” she warned.

“You are far too generous. Thank you so much.” He smiled shyly. “It is my fervent hope that one day you find a gentleman who regards you as highly as you deserve, too.”

“Thank you, and the best of luck to you both.” She waved him off, back to his intended bride.

Jeremy appeared at her side, his expression thoughtful. “What did Letterford want with you?”

“Nothing I wasn’t happy to give,” she promised with a laugh and then twined her arm though Jeremy’s. She had one less man to avoid now and that made her day so much brighter. “It’s a wonderful wedding, isn’t it?”

Chapter 10

Jeremy was surprised to discover he seemed to be a tasty treat on the menu for a number of the female guests at the wedding. He hadn’t been so manhandled since he’d tried to slip in to see his first play. The women of the ton were utterly shameless in the way they winked, stared and rubbed up against him as the evening fell, along with their inhibitions. They assumed he could have no objections to their fumbling fingers and suggestive offers to meet later in some out-of-the-way spot.

But they didn’t know he wasn’t about to break out of character for anyone.

At the wedding breakfast, Jeremy had unfortunately been seated away from Fanny—too far away to even see the bridal party at the other end of the room. He missed having someone he could talk to.

“Are you all right there, Dawes?” the duke asked, suddenly appearing at his elbow with a drink in hand.

“I am, your grace,” he promised quickly

“Despite your face saying otherwise,” Stapleton murmured.

Jeremy turned to the duke and kept his voice low. “Did your daughter by chance speak with you yet?”

“Which daughter? I do have three.”

“Your eldest.”

“We said good morning and then she said go away. Apparently, my opinion wasn’t wanted earlier in the day. Ladies only,” he confided. “Why?”

“Ah,” Jeremy murmured, floundering for a moment. He guessed Fanny hadn’t told him about her bedchamber being ransacked yet. She really should have. “I’m sure she’ll find a moment to speak with you later tonight.”

The duke gave him a long considering look. “It would save time if you’d just spit it out.”

“No. She wouldn’t like that,” Jeremy decided.

The duke huffed. “Daughters. They’ll be the death of me, I swear.”

Despite the seriousness of what had occurred last night, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the duke’s long face. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. Women keep men on their toes.” The duke sighed. “Well, if you’re not going to inform on her, I’d better wait for her to come to me in her own time.”

But how long would that be? Jeremy hoped not too long. He wouldn’t be spending another night in her chambers, but at least he knew her door latch had been fixed and a secondary bolt added at his request, too.

The duke was pulled away and Jeremy was left standing alone again. Across the room, Fanny glided past on the arm of a friend of hers. She appeared to be having a marvelous time. She’d danced twice, though not with him. He probably should have asked but to be honest, his dancing skills were not quite good enough for public display.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Jeremy turned, expecting that the duke had returned to plague him.

But it was Lord Wilks’ smirking countenance in front of him instead. “She’s a lovely sight, isn’t she?”

“Who?”

“You know who. Lady Rivers is quite remarkable.”

Jeremy had taken an immediate dislike to Wilks and it wasn’t because he was three sheets to the wind already. There was just something decidedly too slick and false about his laugh to make Jeremy feel he was entirely trustworthy. “Yes, she is indeed,” Jeremy murmured.

“Tell me, do you have to follow all her orders—I’m sorry, stage directions—like a pampered pug on a leash or does she let you be a man and take charge of her on occasion?”

Jeremy stared at the fellow in shock and not a little revulsion, too. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Oh, come now. You did well to convince her to sponsor your fledgling career on the stage, but surely you could have asked for much more than a token payment of a hundred pounds. You’re pretending to be in love with her and deserve a higher compensation. She’d never have felt the pinch.” Wilks threw his arm over Jeremy’s shoulder. “I can help you squeeze more blunt out of her,