A Scandalous Arrangement by Ashe Barker Page A

expected an older man, if she was honest. She estimated that Mr. Luke could not be a day over thirty-five, and handsome as the very devil. His dark blond hair had been neatly combed, but still over-long. It gave him a rakish air, she supposed. His eyes were green, a deep, emerald hue that had glinted like ice when he became stern, but softened as she explained her story.
    His expression when she made her ill-fated attempt to assert her rights had been glacial; she’d believed she might shrink and shrivel before his eyes. But he had warmed, melted a little. He had appeared surprised by her offer, but genuinely interested even so. He made no disparaging remarks about a woman seeking to infiltrate a man’s world; instead, he’d allowed her achievements and the figures to speak for themselves. She hadn’t even shown him her accounts and samples, but he had known anyway that she was to be taken seriously.
    At least, she hoped that was the impression she’d created. It had not been easy, what with her treacherous pussy clenching beneath her skirts, and her moist underwear causing her to shift in her seat. Victoria might well have been outraged, angry on behalf of Mrs. Luke, but she was not made of stone, and far from immune. She was still suffering the effects an hour later, hence her discomfort on the hard seat.
    He would be in touch. He had said so, and she believed him. She should have pressed him to tell her exactly when she might expect to hear from him, but she had been so relieved to get as far as she did that all else went out of her head. It was most unlike her to be so airheaded especially in matters of commerce. Unprecedented, in fact. Proof positive that Adam Luke was a man to be reckoned with.
    He had been fair, more than fair in the matter of her personal funds. And polite, if she did not dwell too long on those scurrilous suggestions regarding his bed. All in all though she had to conclude Adam Luke was a dangerous man, and an even more menacing adversary.
    Surely he would see the merit in her idea. He had to. He simply must.
    She picked up her bag and made her way to her platform. She’d had quite enough of London. Now, she just wanted to be at home.
Chapter Four
     
     
    “So there you have it. I have tried to negotiate a solution for us, and I am hopeful that I may have succeeded, at least as far as the business is concerned. My plan is sound and I trust Mr. Luke will recognise it as such. He is an astute man.”
    “And a generous one. Compassionate too, by the sound of it.” Hester Wynne patted her daughter’s hand. “You did well to secure us those additional months in which to seek a new home. I will start looking for somewhere tomorrow.”
    “You do not mind? I know you love this house.” Victoria managed a tentative, hopeful smile.
    The interview had not gone as badly as she feared. In fact, it had not gone badly at all. Her mother had been shocked, dismayed even at Edward’s idiotic, destructive actions, but not a hint of blame had she attached to her daughter. Logic told Victoria that was quite correct, and to be expected. None of this debacle was of her making. Even so, she was the breadwinner in this family, she was the provider here. She felt responsible for her failure to ward off disaster.
    Yet here her mother was, offering her comfort, and sharing the burden of reorganising their lives. At once, Victoria felt like a small child again, dependent upon her mother’s love and care. And she found it here in their pretty sitting room, Hester’s domain usually but it had seemed the right place to impart news of such enormity. The older woman reached for Victoria to enfold her in her arms, and that was it.
    The dam burst.
    All the pent-up anger, strain, worry, and fear of the last couple of weeks emerged to engulf Victoria in a heaving, gulping fit of tears. She sobbed uncontrollably, for herself, for their home, for the lifestyle they had lost. She also wept for the joy of knowing that