Free The Seduction of Lady X by Julia London Page A

“I do not intend to marry Lady Martha, Miss Hastings. Now then, I would suggest that as we are two reasonable people, we keep our attention to the problem at hand and determine how we shall find our way.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning . . .” God in his heaven, Harrison had no idea what he meant. He no more wanted to marry this girl than she wanted him to marry her. And as she’d astutely mentioned, he had no hope that he’d find a workable solution. But Miss Hastings was so young she didn’t understand that the few choices she’d had as a female in general had been eliminated the moment she’d conceived the child she carried. “Meaning, we must plan carefully. For your sake, and for the sake of your sister. Are you quite certain that the father of your child will not stand up to his responsibility?”
    Miss Hastings’s cheeks turned crimson and she glanced down. “I shall be perfectly frank, Mr. Tolly. I do not care to speak to you of such personal matters. I should like to speak to Olivia.”
    “I am trying to help you, Miss Hastings. If you are frank and honest with me, the better we might see our way out of this quagmire.”
    Miss Hastings groaned as if he taxed her. Harrison remembered when Olivia had been as spirited. When she’d first married the marquis, she’d infused that old house with a sunny enthusiasm that only a pretty young woman might do. She’d delighted in hosting teas and picnics. As Miss Hastings paced before Harrison now, speaking very passionately about how she had no desire to marry, that she would find a way to raise the child all on her own even if that meant selling vegetables, Harrison tried to remember when exactly the sunshine had begun to fade away from the main house. It was as if the gravity of Lady Carey’s difficult marriage was pulling her down, pulling the lightness out of her.
    “I am not afraid of work, you know,” Miss Hastings said, finishing her soliloquy. “Not in the least.”
    “That is excellent news for any husband-to-be,” Harrison said. “I will not stand in your way if you feel you must sell vegetables. However, I should like to avoid it if possible, which means you must be forthcoming with me. Shall we have tea while we discuss it?”
    She sighed. The young woman knew she was defeated, and began to yank the gloves from her fingers. “Very well. But on the morrow, I shall return to Everdon Court where I belong. I won’t ask your permission, either. I intend to go of my own accord.”
    Harrison smiled as he walked to the bell pull. “Very well.”
    “I mean what I say, Mr. Tolly,” she warned him as she tossed her gloves aside and began to undo the clasp of her cloak. “You had best know now that I am quite independent. And by the bye, if we are to be forthcoming, you may call me Alexa. And what shall I call you?”
    He rather thought she might call him stark raving mad, but he said, “Harrison.”
    “All right. Harry, then,” she said as he led her out of the salon.

CHAPTER SIX

     
    E dward didn’t appear for supper that evening. Olivia didn’t know or care where he was and dined alone, then retreated to her rooms in peace. She settled in with a book Mr. Tolly had given her one afternoon when she’d discovered him reading it. When she had expressed an interest in the book, he’d insisted she have it.
    “I couldn’t possibly,” she’d said, admiring the red leather binding.
    “But you must,” he’d said with a winsome smile. “It’s just been delivered from London. I understand it to be a rather fascinating tale of a steward.” He’d smiled a little lopsidedly, as if that amused him.
    “A steward? Truthfully?”
    “Truthfully. You may not be aware that stewards are generally a rather fascinating lot,” he’d said, his eyes twinkling. “They are stuffed to their hats with secrets and intriguing tales.”
    “Really?” she’d asked laughingly. “What sort of secrets?”
    “Oh, the usual,” he’d said casually. “Gambling