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“Yes, Max. You told me that. Before you even undid my top button, you told me exactly why you were paying me to do what you’d never felt able to do before—sow your wild oats. I understand you.” Wearily, she ran a hand across her forehead. “I know you could never ally yourself to a woman like me because of what I am.”
“No, you’re wrong, Violet. I’d be proud to do so…if the circumstances were right. If I wasn’t going away…”
She shrugged. “Well, I daresay I couldn’t have borne being the secret part of your life and only able to enjoy you when you drew back into the shadows.”
“Lord, I’d not take a wife and a mistress, Violet. Surely you understand that about me!”
She laughed. “Oh, so you’d have to decide whether to make me wife or mistress then. I think I know your grandfather’s views on that.”
“He’ll have no say over the decisions I make for my future. No Violet, you know how I feel about you, surely you do.” He tapped his heart, his expression earnest. “I’ve never felt so strongly here about anyone.”
“But you’re going away.”
He couldn’t look at her. “You know it’s what I’ve intended since the beginning,” he said softly. “My boat sails in two days, and I will be aboard it, heading towards freedom and adventure.”
She wilted in his arms. “While I shall be Lord Bainbridge’s mistress before the week is over because he offers me the most security I could hope for—and that’s thanks to you, Max, for piquing his jealousy. So, something good has come out of all this.”
“Violet?” He clearly was disconcerted by her flippancy as she gently disengaged herself from his embrace and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
She turned, smiling. “Thank you for the most marvellous three weeks of my life, Max. You’ve given me more than I ever expected.”
Chapter 14
“My Lord, is there anything final you wish to pack in your trunk before I seal it?”
It took his valet three attempts to gain Max’s attention, and then Max could manage only a cursory shake of his head as he reclined upon the sofa doing absolutely nothing for, in truth, he could not quite whip up the enthusiasm he’d expected he’d be feeling for his impending journey. “If I think of anything during my short trip up-country, I’ll send a message.”
“You’re leaving town, my Lord? Am I to accompany you?”
It was hardly surprising Baines sounded so surprised. Max had only just hit upon the idea himself.
His studied the signet ring on his right hand. His father’s. His father had been a young blade in his time, so the rumours went. What would he be advising Max?
And would it be advice Max would consider for even a moment? The more Max heard about his reprobate father, the less he wanted to be associated with a young lord renowned for his drink and womanising.
His grandfather, by contrast, was the scrooge of the family. He certainly was not the man upon whom to model himself.
He noticed Baines was still waiting, and that he seemed rather tense. Max waved a languid hand towards the window; its curtains pulled back to reveal the gloomy day outside.
“I’ve just had news that our sailing is to be delayed by twenty-four hours. Apparently, there’s a storm nearly upon us.”
“Yet you propose to go up-country?”
Max sighed. “Either that or drive myself mad waiting here. You know very well all my energies these past three weeks have been directed towards boarding that ship.”
He sent Baines a sharp glance at his silence, then chuckled. “I admit there have been diversions.” With a sigh, he rose and walked rather aimlessly towards the rain-streaked window. “But that is in the past, and now my future beckons. My wonderful future without my grandfather or anyone else telling me how to live my life,” he added, more to himself. He wished he could feel more excited about it.
Forcing a more robust note, he added, “Without the eternal yoke of constraint, I shall throw myself into a surfeit of adventure. And Grandfather will be able to do nothing about it.”
“About what, Max?”
Surprised, and considerably disconcerted, Max turned to find Mabel in the doorway advancing towards him, a look of equal surprise upon her face. She looked a little less orderly than usual with her skirts rain-spattered, and the blooms that adorned her bonnet clinging limply to its brim.
“Why, Max; aren’t you supposed to be on your wedding tour? But of course,” she added, a look of understanding crossing her face as she glanced through the window at the grey sky. “Your sailing has been delayed. Where’s Violet?”
Max sent an anxious look in Baines’s direction and indicated with a nod that he was dismissed. He took a few steps towards the cluster of seats arranged in front of the fire and indicated for Mabel to sit.
“Not here at the moment,” he said, taking a wingback chair opposite her while his mind spun. Mabel would learn the truth one way or another, but as she was none the wiser now, the longer he could keep her in the dark the better. Mabel could be surprisingly indiscreet at times and would be seeing his aunt shortly.
