Free Quick, Amanda by Scandal

seeing rather a lot of you lately."
    "You shock me, sir. I had no idea you made it your business to pay heed to local gossip. I vow it must be
    very tiresome keeping up with it."
    Prendergast snorted and glowered intimidatingly. It was well known that when she had been alive, Mrs.
    Prendergast had been a little mouse of a creature who would never have dreamed of making such a
    snippy remark.
    "Now, see here, young lady. I am only too well aware of how a woman's head can be turned by the sort
    of romantical attention that Blade is lavishing upon you, Miss Faringdon, if you don't mind my saying so."
    "But I do, sir. Mind your saying so, that is." Emily's smile grew bright and sharp as anger began to ignite
    within her. Prendergast was well on his way to spoiling what little time she had left with Simon.
    Prendergast's heavy face congealed into a thunderous expression that Emily could see quite clearly
    without her glass.
    "I speak only out of the deepest concern for your reputation, Miss Faringdon."
    "Everyone knows my reputation is already beyond repair, sir. Pray do not concern yourself with it."
    "Now, now, you must not be so hard on yourself," Prendergast admonished. "It's true enough that there
    is a nasty bit of scandal in your past. But you were young and foolish and made a mistake. These things
    happen to young gels. I, being a man of the world and not without some experience in schooling
    high-spirited females, am prepared to overlook the Incident."
    "How very kind of you, sir."
    "Well, yes, 'tis, rather. Blade, naturally, won't be able to do so. Got his family name and title to think of,
    y'know."
    Emily's fingers clenched on the fan. "Pray, do not trouble yourself with any further advice, sir."
    Prendergast drew himself up to his full height. He loomed over Emily, his corsets groaning. "Miss
    Faringdon, you once allowed your excessive passions to run way with you and in doing so brought social
    ruin upon yourself. Surely you have not forgotten the lessons learned on that unhappy occasion?"
    "I assure you, I have forgotten nothing," Emily said through her teeth. "But you are beginning to annoy
    me, sir."
    "Miss Faringdon, you misunderstand me. My intentions are quite honorable. I only wish to assist you by
    providing you with a respectable outlet for your rather high-spirited tendencies." He caught hold of her
    hand and crushed it between his damp, beefy palms.
    "Please give me back my hand, sir." Emily tried unsuccessfully to withdraw her fingers from his sweaty
    grip.
    Prendergast ignored her efforts, his fingers tightening painfully. He leaned closer until his bad breath and
    thick perfume nearly overpowered his victim. Then he lowered his voice to confidential tones.
    "Miss Faringdon, I fully comprehend how difficult it must be for a woman of your high passions to be
    forced to be subjected to the depressing strictures of society. I feel certain that you would be far happier
    married. Within the sanctity of the marriage bed you would be able to give free rein to those impulses
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    which you are now obliged to keep under control."
    "Sir, if you do not let go of me this instant, I vow I will be forced to do something drastic."
    But Prendergast was very intent on his mission now. "You need a man who can accommodate your
    excesses of emotion, my dear. I assure you I am that man. Furthermore, I intend to call upon your father
    at the earliest opportunity to tell him of my intentions."
    "No," Emily gasped, horrified at the very thought.
    "To that end," Prendergast continued as if he had not heard the alarm in her voice, "I have written him a
    letter informing him of the danger you are presently facing and assuring him that I will look after you until
    he returns to protect you from Blade's attentions."
    "Attend to your own business, sir. I do not wish to be protected from his attentions."
    "He is merely toying with your affections, my dear. Just