Page 30 of A Wicked Business

“I know,” Belinda said with a sigh, glancing up at the stormy skies and wondering if they would manage their outing without getting caught in a downpour. “I shall have to think of a way to entice him into it. Do you think I could seduce him?” she asked Doris sceptically.

Doris gaped at her mistress.

“Well, you needn’t look so horrified. If it’s that unlikely a prospect, I shall have to shelve the whole idea,” Belinda said, stung by such a reaction.

“Oh, bless you, but you’re a goose at times, my lady. I was only shocked at you suggesting such a thing. Of course, you could seduce him. Bleedin’ hell—” Doris hesitated, noticing Belinda’s stern expression and edited her choice of words. “Gracious me, but if I looked like you, I’d have seduced a duke by now and that’s no joke.”

Despite her weariness and anxiety, Belinda laughed. “I think you could have done it too, Doris. You are far bolder than I,” she added sadly.

“What tosh,” Doris said, taking her arm and giving it a squeeze. “Look at you, running a print shop, and with a smashing success on your hands already. Miss Ludlow is beside herself, she is, and you did that. And think of all those clever set downs you give fellows who think to patronise you. You’re the bravest girl I know, and that’s the truth.”

“What should I do without you, Doris?” Belinda said, feeling her throat tighten at her maid’s fierce defence of her character.

“Probably get yourself in a deal less trouble,” Doris said. “I bet most ladies’ maids wouldn’t go along with all your naughtiness like I do.”

“No, indeed,” Belinda said, smiling at her. “You do know how grateful I am, don’t you, Doris? I… I do not think I could do any of it without you.”

“Now, now, don’t get maudlin,” Doris said sternly. “Keep your pecker up. Look, there’s Mr Kirby and see, you were right. Mr Knight is with him. Now look, if you can turn me into something ladylike enough to appeal to Mr Kirby, I reckon anything is possible. You go after that man and make him fall in love with you, or at least lustful enough to carry you off to Gretna Green!”

“Doris! Hush, they’ll hear you,” Belinda said in agitation. “And I did nothing of the sort. Mr Kirby was already smitten, and you know it. I’m only trying to make things easier for you both.”

“Well, I’ll make it easier for you now. I’m going to take Charles away and leave you to make up to your Knight in shining armour in peace. Get him to kiss you, my lamb. It’ll be easy after that,” Doris hissed, far too loudly as the men came upon them.

Belinda felt her cheeks burn and prayed Mr Knight hadn’t heard this advice but did her best to greet him calmly. It wasn’t easy. He looked splendidly handsome today, a vigorous presence that exuded masculinity. He had caught the sun during his time in the countryside and his handsome face was tanned, his green eyes an even more startling shade against the warmer tone of his skin. As usual, he was beautifully dressed, his suit tailored to perfectly enhance a figure that was strong and athletic. He moved with grace, but the electric sensation of restrained power thrummed around him. The air always felt charged in his presence, as if something dramatic or extraordinary was bound to happen, simply because he was there.

Thoughts of him had plagued Belinda since their last meeting and Doris’ insistence that he actually felt something for her had her all on edge. She wondered if she could tell if he desired her from the way he looked at her and found herself gazing at him rather too intently.

“Are you quite well, my lady?” he enquired, staring down at her in consternation. “Or is there something stuck in my teeth?”

“I beg your pardon,” she muttered, suddenly embarrassed and wishing she’d not come after all. She had forgotten how provoking he could be and how her feelings swerved from admiration to frustration in a heartbeat with his rather forthright way of speaking. Yet she knew she did the same thing to him too. Patience was required on her part. She needed time to understand this exciting, intriguing man and what drove him, but not only was patience something she found difficult to find, but time was not on her side.

“I must congratulate you, it seems,” he said, offering her his arm. “A greater success would be hard to find for your first foray into publishing.”

Belinda struggled to muster a smile, too anxious to relax and admit she was proud of the achievement. She found herself leaning heavily on his arm and had the overwhelming desire to confide in him. He was the kind of man who would never be intimidated by her, not even when she was at her worst and acting like a spoiled brat, which she knew she was more than capable of doing when the mood took her. She thought that was why she appreciated Doris so much, because she needed someone brave to remind her when she was being awful. Her father had never been around nor cared to do so, and never having had a mother, Belinda knew she lacked some of the gentler emotions and the ability to empathise those around her. Her nanny and governess had been kind, but not up to reprimanding a wilful child when they were not her kin but in her father’s pay. Felix though, he was forthright, but not unkind and she could trust in a man like that. He would not back down if she set out to provoke him. But she did not think he would bully her either and force his ideas on her. He had listened to her opinions and not belittled them as many men would have.

“My lady? Is there something amiss?”

It took her a moment to realise he was speaking to her and, to her dismay, the concern in his expression made her throat tighten and her eyes fill with tears.

“Belinda?” he said, his voice a low whisper as he paused, reaching for her hand. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Belinda shivered, astonished all over again by the sensations that raced over her skin at the mere touch of his hand. It was at once thrilling and steadying, enticing her to believe the man before her was not only the most exciting she had ever known, but one in whom she could put her trust. Hearing him speak her name so intimately made her feel suddenly as if she had known him forever, and the sensation filled her with such hope she threw caution to the wind. She knew her money was of no interest to him, for his father was one of the wealthiest men in the country, so it would matter little to him if she were disinherited. But perhaps her title could help him open doors that might take more work to get through without a well-bred wife to ease the way.

“Would… Would you like to marry me, Mr Knight?” she blurted out, before her brain could catch up with her mouth and consider what she was doing.

He dropped her hand as if she’d scalded him.

“What?” he asked, looking so appalled she knew she had made the most dreadful mistake. If she had been in any doubt, his next words clarified things. “Good God, no!”

For a moment Belinda was so shocked by his violent reaction she could only stare at him. Then her throat tightened, and she realised she would cry if she did not get away from him at once. Gathering what remained of her dignity, she put up her chin. “I beg your pardon. Please forget I said anything. Good day to you, Mr Knight.”

With that, she began walking briskly away, praying she could get out of the park without weeping and making an even bigger spectacle of herself. Lord above, what had she been thinking to just blurt out a marriage proposal like that? No wonder the poor man had looked so horrified. She hadn’t meant to say it at all, had only meant to see if he would like to kiss her, as Doris had instructed but no, her stupid mouth had overridden her brain, not for the first time, and she’d had to crash in like a bull in a china shop and smash any possibility of escaping her father’s plans to smithereens. Now he’d think her a bold chit, as if he didn’t already, and want nothing to do with her.

“Lady Belinda, wait!”

Mr Knight appeared at her elbow and took hold of her arm, slowing her hectic pace.

“I apologise, my lady, for my dreadful rudeness, but… but you took me by surprise, to say the least.”