Page 22 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘Why don’t we call for you en route?’

‘Thank you.’ He hesitated, wondering if organising two events in one conversation would look too keen, but he caught a glimpse of Miss Ashworth’s encouraging look and forced himself to speak. ‘I have been invited to Lord and Lady Parson’s dinner party tomorrow night. I wonder if you and Miss Ashworth will be in attendance?’

Lady Mountjoy looked as though it was Christmas morning and she had just received the most fabulous gift. ‘Yes, we will be. I shall have a word with Lady Parson, speak to her about the seating arrangement.’ She clapped her hands in excitement. ‘How fabulous.’

Tom gave an unconvincing smile and nodded, glad when Lady Mountjoy turned her attention away from him.

‘Now I must see what book Edward has chosen to take home with him. We have such a collection of children’s books sitting unread in the library. I said he must choose one.’

The countess glided out of the room and for a long moment both he and Miss Ashworth sat in silence.

‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered after a moment, ‘I never meant to push you. A dinner and a ball all in one week. I’m sure you have other more exciting plans.’

‘I am looking forward to it.’

Miss Ashworth scoffed. ‘Do not go too far, Mr Stewart. We all know it will be a bore, but I am grateful all the same.’

‘I will make you a promise,’ he said, leaning forward in his chair. ‘If you give me your word you will be open to enjoying yourself at the ball later this week, I promise you I will make it fun for you.’

‘At a ball? With everyone watching our every move?’

‘Do you not believe my reputation?’

She shifted in her seat, glancing at him and then quickly looking away.

‘Go on, what do people say of me?’

She shook her head.

‘I will not be offended, Miss Ashworth. I know very well people’s opinions on me.’

‘They say you are a rake. A man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure. They say you will often shun polite company in preference for less desirable companions.’

‘There must be more.’

‘I can’t repeat it.’

‘Of course you can.’

‘They say you leave a trail of broken hearts behind you...that you must hypnotise the women you conduct your affairs with because no one you are close to has a bad word to say about you, even though you are obviously a sinner.’

‘What do you think?’

She looked over at him and shifted in her seat. For a long while she was silent and he thought she might not answer at all.

‘I think so many people believe that living a life of pleasure and indulgence means you cannot be a decent person. They think only those who are outwardly pious or charitable can be good. Of course, that is not true—we’ve all heard of the charitable patron swindling the poor or the vicar dipping his fingers into the collection pot.’

Tom liked how much thought Miss Ashworth put into her answers. He never knew what she was going to say, but he knew she would never stick to the merely superficial.

‘In the same way, they think a man who has lots of affairs, lots of mistresses, a man who refuses to play by the rules of polite society, must be inherently bad in some way. They’re wrong, of course. You can make questionable choices but still be a good person.’

Raising an imaginary glass, he grinned. ‘To questionable choices.’

‘I am quite interested in seeing if you are viewed as a reformed character when you do start to socialise more.’

‘The gossips love nothing more than a story of salvation.’

‘You will be in demand, no doubt.’