came to a stumbling stop. An expression of open dismay showed on her face. But she quickly rallied herself and lifted her gaze to meet his. “We would need to make some… arrangement for that, wouldn’t we?”
“As far as I know, there is only one
arrangement
for that sort of thing. A myriad of creative possibilities when it comes to style and satisfaction, but just one basic arrangement.”
He was being deliberately crude, measuring her reaction.
To his considerable amazement, she met his challenge with cool aplomb. “I am familiar with the ways of intimacy between a man and a woman,” she replied succinctly, with barely a blush marring the porcelain perfection of her skin.
So she wasn’t a virgin. Very well. Neither was he. He wouldn’t hold that against her.
“May I speak plainly, Lord Barlowe?” she asked.
He arched his brows in an expression of mock astonishment. “Do you mean to say that you haven’t been?”
A small smile curved her lips, but it was clear by her distracted manner that her thoughts had taken another direction. She stood and moved away from him, fiddling for a moment with a hodgepodge of ornamental bric-a-brac that cluttered an oversize bureau.
She turned to him and said, “We are outcasts in society, you and I. I have no dowry. I am a burden to what little family I do have. My name has been permanently besmirched — as evidenced by the quality of suitors who have asked for my hand. And as for you” — she paused, looking him directly in the eye — “I remember well what happened after the fire on your property. It wasn’t long before the initial tide of sympathy turned against you, and you were vilified by all of London, condemned for awful loss of life and the callous disregard you showed in forcing your servants to live in such close confines. It was even rumored that you deserved your scars, for they mark you as the Beast you truly are.”
Morgan tensed. He had heard all the rumors, of course, but never had they been so baldly tossed in his face. “Are you always this outspoken, Miss Prentisse?”
She lifted her shoulders in an elegant shrug. “I say these things not to incite your anger — nor so that we may wallow together in self-pity — but so we may examine the facts as they exist. Perhaps things might have been different once, but now we have no choice but to accept our lot and move forward. I believe we can help each other. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”
He regarded her in cool silence. Finally he said, “Marriage to a total stranger seems a rather desperate measure, does it not?”
“I’ve given the matter considerable thought, and I fear it is my only solution,” she replied. “Living with my aunt and uncle is growing more intolerable every day. As I mentioned earlier, I have some income, but I would need to augment that sum in order to fully support myself. I had intended to search for a position as a governess, but it would take too long to secure a post. And short of taking another name, I’m afraid the scandal of my family’s past would make finding work difficult.”
Morgan contemplated that. Even if she could find a post, it would mean spending the rest of her life in dull seclusion. Furthermore, if the man was married and his wife had any sense, she would never allow a woman who looked like Julia Prentisse to live under their roof. The temptation would simply be too great.
Aloud he said only, “Very commendable. Boring work, but a respectable occupation nonetheless.”
“I also thought of opening a shop. I’ve been told I’m rather clever with lace and feathers when it comes to decorating a hat—”
“We’re full of all sorts of brash plans, aren’t we, princess?”
Anger flashed across her face. “This is difficult enough as it is. If you mean to say no, I would appreciate your doing so without demeaning me further.”
Morgan studied her a moment longer, as though she were an object he was about to
“As far as I know, there is only one
arrangement
for that sort of thing. A myriad of creative possibilities when it comes to style and satisfaction, but just one basic arrangement.”
He was being deliberately crude, measuring her reaction.
To his considerable amazement, she met his challenge with cool aplomb. “I am familiar with the ways of intimacy between a man and a woman,” she replied succinctly, with barely a blush marring the porcelain perfection of her skin.
So she wasn’t a virgin. Very well. Neither was he. He wouldn’t hold that against her.
“May I speak plainly, Lord Barlowe?” she asked.
He arched his brows in an expression of mock astonishment. “Do you mean to say that you haven’t been?”
A small smile curved her lips, but it was clear by her distracted manner that her thoughts had taken another direction. She stood and moved away from him, fiddling for a moment with a hodgepodge of ornamental bric-a-brac that cluttered an oversize bureau.
She turned to him and said, “We are outcasts in society, you and I. I have no dowry. I am a burden to what little family I do have. My name has been permanently besmirched — as evidenced by the quality of suitors who have asked for my hand. And as for you” — she paused, looking him directly in the eye — “I remember well what happened after the fire on your property. It wasn’t long before the initial tide of sympathy turned against you, and you were vilified by all of London, condemned for awful loss of life and the callous disregard you showed in forcing your servants to live in such close confines. It was even rumored that you deserved your scars, for they mark you as the Beast you truly are.”
Morgan tensed. He had heard all the rumors, of course, but never had they been so baldly tossed in his face. “Are you always this outspoken, Miss Prentisse?”
She lifted her shoulders in an elegant shrug. “I say these things not to incite your anger — nor so that we may wallow together in self-pity — but so we may examine the facts as they exist. Perhaps things might have been different once, but now we have no choice but to accept our lot and move forward. I believe we can help each other. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”
He regarded her in cool silence. Finally he said, “Marriage to a total stranger seems a rather desperate measure, does it not?”
“I’ve given the matter considerable thought, and I fear it is my only solution,” she replied. “Living with my aunt and uncle is growing more intolerable every day. As I mentioned earlier, I have some income, but I would need to augment that sum in order to fully support myself. I had intended to search for a position as a governess, but it would take too long to secure a post. And short of taking another name, I’m afraid the scandal of my family’s past would make finding work difficult.”
Morgan contemplated that. Even if she could find a post, it would mean spending the rest of her life in dull seclusion. Furthermore, if the man was married and his wife had any sense, she would never allow a woman who looked like Julia Prentisse to live under their roof. The temptation would simply be too great.
Aloud he said only, “Very commendable. Boring work, but a respectable occupation nonetheless.”
“I also thought of opening a shop. I’ve been told I’m rather clever with lace and feathers when it comes to decorating a hat—”
“We’re full of all sorts of brash plans, aren’t we, princess?”
Anger flashed across her face. “This is difficult enough as it is. If you mean to say no, I would appreciate your doing so without demeaning me further.”
Morgan studied her a moment longer, as though she were an object he was about to
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