Free No Place for a Lady by Jade Lee Page A

stumble. He did not. Neither did he sit, choosing instead to wait politely for Fantine to seek a chair. She did so with alacrity, settling prettily into the seat Penworthy had occupied moments before.
    Meanwhile, Penworthy settled down behind his desk. "I trust you two have introduced yourselves?"
    "Why, yes," returned Fantine pleasantly. "It seemed the most appropriate thing to do when we met upon your doorstep." Then she turned to the aged man. "Shall I order tea or would you prefer something stronger?"
    Marcus flinched at Fantine's mistake. He and Penworthy had already put aside their own drinks out of respect for the man's religious convictions. "Mr. Wilberforce does not drink, Fantine," he said smoothly. "He considers it sinful."
    He saw Fantine's eyes widen at such a fanatical view. "I do beg your pardon—"
    "Nonsense, nonsense," cut in Wilberforce. "You could not have known. Besides," he said with a wink, "you offered it so prettily I was tempted to accept."
    Any other society miss would have dimpled up at such a nicely offered compliment, and to Fantine's credit, she managed a smile, but Marcus could tell the action was at odds with her true personality. Wilberforce had already relegated her to the role of an empty-headed miss. But if the MP maintained a condescending tone, Marcus feared Fantine's reaction.
    How long could she restrain her fiery temperament? And how would Wilberforce react? Unfortunately, Fantine showed no inclination to leave, and given that she had been hired to protect Wilberforce's life, perhaps she had the right of it. So Marcus leaned against the bar, his muscles tense as he waited for whatever explosion might come.
    "Are you here for the Season then, Miss Delarive?" the MP asked. "I am positive the gentlemen will be tripping over themselves to catch a glimpse of your face."
    Fantine's smile appeared somewhat strained, and Marcus scrambled for something to say, but he never had the chance.
    "In truth, sir," she said smoothly, "I am much too old for my coming-out. I am quite content to live in London and be of service to Lord Penworthy as needed. It is perhaps an unusual life, but one I value greatly."
    Wilberforce raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Certainly, one must learn to be content with one's lot, my dear, but the Lord requires that we grasp the opportunities He presents to us. Do not be overly timid."
    Marcus nearly choked. Timid? Fantine? Penworthy, apparently, had a similar reaction as he pushed almost rudely into the conversation.
    "Fantine is the most untimid soul I know, William. She is, in fact, half of the team I have hired to keep your soul safely with us, still trapped in its mortal coil."
    Wilberforce turned his keen gaze to Penworthy and his brow furrowed in concern. "Thomas, surely that cannot be wise. She is a woman."
    "A quite competent one, I assure you." That comment came from Marcus's own mouth, and he was as startled by it as Fantine appeared to be. But once spoken, he realized the absolute truth of the statement. "You may safely entrust your life to her."
    "I trust in the Lord God."
    Marcus smiled. "Of course. Still, one must seize whatever opportunities the Lord presents," he said, echoing the older gentleman's earlier words. "No matter how strange it may appear," he added softly, his comment more for himself than anyone else as he shifted his gaze to Fantine.
    "William," cut in Penworthy, "have you had any additional thoughts on who might be threatening your life?"
    Wilberforce turned back to his friend with a stifled sound of disgust. "I have given no thought to it whatsoever. Truly, Thomas, you make too much of it. Threats to my life are commonplace."
    "Yes, but not attempts on it."
    The older man shrugged. His attention sharpened as he focused first on Penworthy and then on Marcus. He completely ignored Fantine. "What I have given a great deal of thought to is whether I can count on your support next month."
    Now it was Penworthy's turn to be impatient as he