An Unladylike Offer

by Christine Merrill in stores August 1 2007

Genres:

Fiction, Romance

Themes:

historical , Regency

Book Excerpt

• send excerpt in an email
• add social bookmark

Selected Excerpt

There was a discreet cough behind him.

“Yes, Toby.”

“You have a guest, sir.  A lady.”

“A lady?”  No lady, certainly, if she was visiting at this hour.  But there was no trace of irony in the word as Toby spoke it.  “Show her up, then.  And bring that brandy after all.”

St John detected a hint of disapproval in the set of his valet’s shoulders, at the idea of bringing the female upstairs.  But whoever she was, she must know full well what she was getting into, and if Toby cared more for her reputation than she did, he could keep his tongue in his head.

The door opened shortly and Toby announced, “Miss Esme Canville.”

“Who?”  It was rude, but he couldn’t help himself.  The name did not register in any corner of his brain, and certainly didn’t match any of the discreet widows or straying wives he’d expected to darken his doorway at so late an hour. 

She stepped into the room and curtsied politely and he was on his feet, offering her a chair and trying to conceal his confusion.  It was the damned nosey chit from across the street.  Whatever would bring her here?  “I beg your pardon, Miss Canville.  But you quite have the better of me.  Toby?”  He’d hoped to keep the servant in the room, although it would hardly cover the impropriety of the situation, should the girl’s father get wind of this.  But Toby had left the brandy and retreated to the kitchen.

“No.  Please, Captain Radwell.  I would prefer that our conversation be private, if that is possible.”

Dear God, he couldn’t be alone with her.  But perhaps if she said her piece, whatever it was, he could get her back out of the house before anyone guessed her whereabouts.  “All right.  And I do admit to a certain curiosity on that count.  Just what is it that brings a gently bred female like yourself to my chambers at this late hour?  I don’t believe we have even been formally introduced.”

“No.”  She had the sense to look embarrassed.  “We have not actually met.  Although earlier today…  I couldn’t help but overhear…   And I certainly know of you, Captain Radwell.  By reputation.”

“I suppose I should assure you, at this point, that the reputation is undeserved, but alas, I cannot.  I’m sure I’ve done most of the things attributed to me over the years.  And if not?  Well, I’ve probably done worse, but not been caught.”  He almost smiled before remembering that there was no reason to brag.  “You understand, Miss Canville, that you put yourself in a very dangerous position by coming here alone?”

Her chin rose a fraction of a degree and she looked into his eyes without flinching.  “If I cared at all for my reputation, that would be the case.  But circumstances force me to take drastic action on that front, Captain Radwell.  I find myself in a difficult situation and had hoped that perhaps you might be able to help me.”

“Help you?”  He straightened.  “Why you should choose me to aid you, I have no idea.  But as an officer and,” he cleared his throat at the unfamiliar idea, “a, ah, gentleman, I will certainly do everything in my power to aid you.”

Her confidence was short lived, and he sensed that she must be near to telling him the reason for her visit.  She removed a handkerchief from her reticule and twisted it in nervous hands.  “Well, yes.  I was seeking your aid, after a fashion, but not precisely as an officer and a gentleman.  I think the term I am searching for is protection.”  Her eyes were full of hope as she looked up into his.  “If you could see fit to offer me your protection…”

At first he had the outlandish idea that she meant for him to draw sword and stand between her and a foe.  Protection?  What did she need protection from?  Certainly not her father, for he hardly looked the sort to do violence…

Protection.  An ungentlemanly offer of protection?

He sprung from his seat to put as much distance between himself and the young lady as possible.  “I say.  You can’t mean…  You don’t think that I would…”

“I couldn’t help but hear you arguing with your,” she searched for a word, “paramour earlier in the day.  It was most plain that you were casting her off.  And I assumed that that might mean that there was a position open…”

“Position?  Dear God, woman.  You are not hiring out as governess.”

“Well, I know that, of course.  I could never have a job as a governess without my father becoming aware of it.  Even securing the necessary references would be impossible.”  She explained it as though it should be the most obvious thing in the world.

“I seriously doubt that you have references for the position you’re inquiring after now.”

“Are references required?”  She looked more alarmed by that prospect than she did by the situation, which he found more than alarming enough for both of them. 

“Not references, per se.  But I would hope that you are lacking in previous experience.”  He sat down next to her, and looked gravely into her face.  “I mean, Miss Canville…”

“Please call me Esme.”

“Miss Canville,” he responded firmly.  “Do you really have any idea exactly what the duties of such a position entail?”

“Exactly?”  She blushed.  “No.  Not exactly.  Is that a problem?”

“That a young lady such as yourself does not know…  No.  Definitely not a problem.  I should be quite shocked if you did.”

She held out her hands in front of her.  “I had rather hoped that this was the sort of thing that one could learn by doing.  Is there anything about me that would lead you to suspect I wouldn’t be able to do the job, as required?”

It was as if he was looking at her for the first time.  She had a sweet face, with soft, full lips, and pale skin that hinted at roses underneath.  She’d thrown off her cloak and sat before him in a modest and rather ugly gown, but the plain fabric and high neck hid what appeared to be a fine bosom.  He imagined the full breasts, the curve of her hip, the way her legs would rap around him, and feel of her flowing blonde hair as he ran his fingers through it to pull that mouth up to his…

 He stood again and paced across the room.  “No.  No.  No, there is absolutely nothing about you that would make me think you unfit or unable.  But that is not the point.  What I think you might be capable of should be no concern of yours, for I am a rather base and untrustworthy fellow, and could eat a little lamb like you for breakfast and have no compunctions about leaving you after.”

The girl said, “But I seriously doubt that is the case.  I watched you today, as you argued with the lady in your chambers.  She did several things which might have provoked a lesser man to violence, but you were the picture of reason.  You also made it clear that you’d left her with sufficient funds to care for herself, until she could find another position.”  She smiled.  “And she was most unreasonable about the whole thing, I might add.  You need have no fear, when the time comes to cast me off, that I will throw such unladylike fits about it.”

“Cast you off?  Dear God, woman.  I have no intention of taking you on, so I need never worry about casting you off.”  He made a shooing gesture.  “Run home to your father, now, before someone realizes you are gone, and we’re both in the soup.”

She shook her head.  “That is quite impossible.  I am not going back, no matter what you might say in the matter.”

“Then I shall carry you there myself.”

She planted her hands on her hips.  “You shall not.  For if you do, I will tell my father where I have been, with the addition of certain colorful and inaccurate details, and you shall be the only one in the soup, Captain Radwell.  I doubt it would be possible for my life to be any worse than it already is, but you would run the risk of being saddled with me, and society would require a more permanent union than the one I am suggesting.”

She was right, damn her.  But the situation was even worse than she threatened.  Should word of this get out, it would not matter if he married her or not.  There would be no title in his future.  And Prinny’s displeasure would be the least of his worries.  He could well imagine the look on his brother’s face, if he tried to gain entrance to the family home with an empty purse and a broken reputation, out of favor with the Regent and two steps ahead of Esme Canville’s angry papa, but claiming that it was all a horrible mistake.  “You think, if I take you back, that I can be forced to marry you.  But if I don’t, you would permit me to do as I will with you, without the benefit of marriage?”  And for a moment he was tempted.  He shook his head.  It mattered not that her charms were considerable, they would not outweigh their cost.

“Of course, I would expect similar compensation to the woman who left your employ earlier in the day.  Not so much, perhaps, since I am inexperienced,” she reassured.

“No.”

“I do not eat much, and am not vain about clothing or jewelry.  Nor do I require much space to be happy.  I daresay I shall be much less expensive to keep than your last mistress.”

“No!”

“Then perhaps you could arrange an introduction to one of your friends?  Someone of a similar temperament, but also in need of female companionship?”

“And now you expect me to turn to pandering?  Oh, this is too rich, madam.  I know that my reputation is black, but I never had anyone suggest that I turn procurer for my friends.”

“I am so sorry,” she responded.  “I never meant to offend.”

He shook his head.  “And a virgin, no less.”  He reached for the brandy with a shaking hand and watched her eyes follow his movement.  “Would you care for a glass?”

“No, thank you.  I do not drink spirits.”

“That you are able to come up with a hair-brained notion such as this, stone cold sober astounds me.  Besides, I could never consider someone tea-total for the job you are seeking.”

She set her chin.  “Then pour me a glass, sir, for I assure you, I am serious in my request.  Although I would much prefer it to be you, since I must admit I admire you greatly, I will find another willing man if I must.”  Her voice fell to a whisper.  “Surely someone would want me.  I cannot be so bad as all that.  But whatever the outcome, I will not return home.”

send this excerpt to a friend (or yourself)