Chapter Seventeen

H ad any other woman taunted him as Frances, Seth would have immediately lost interest, but she made him want to win her even more.

Frances had always been confident, certain of herself, even from the first moment they had met.

He chuckled, recalling their first meeting.

“You may remain if you wish, though I will put you to work.”

“Work?” he had asked.

“I should also warn you that I can be bossy, and even though you are the son of a duke and I am a mere miss, I will order you about.”

Seth had been intrigued, especially since she promised to treat him no differently than anyone else. He also needed the distraction, which Miss Hawthorn offered.

“If you are staying, come with me.”

He should have realized in that moment that Frances would determine her own path and not let anyone make decisions for her. Yes, she had suffered disappointments, such as when her uncle had promised a Season and then told her that it wouldn’t be possible. After three such years, she simply assumed that it would not occur and made peace with her place in Laswell. She had not even begrudged her sister and cousin when they were given a Season after Frances was already three and twenty because she had understood that it had not been financially possible until then.

She could have fulminated against her uncle each time he disappointed her, but Frances had explained that it served no purpose to do so as none of them had control over a situation created by his older brother.

Frances had changed little from the girl he first met and the woman he later fell in love with. She hadn’t truly needed anyone then and set out to restore a dilapidated cottage without seeking permission because she wanted and needed to. Had he not helped, Frances would have done all the work herself. Independent then and she had made it very clear yesterday that she remained so now when she would not agree to be at home to him today, not certain if she would prefer the company of a book instead of him.

Seth wanted Frances to need him. He needed her to want him, but how did he go about convincing her?

With a deep sigh, he approached her door and knocked and it was immediately opened by the butler.

“Miss Hawthorn has asked me to inform you that she has decided to be at home to you,” he announced.

Seth chuckled and for the briefest of moments almost had the butler deliver a message that Seth had decided not to call, simply to show that two could play her game. But he did not want to anger or lose her. And he needed to see her.

“Please wait here and I will tell her that you have arrived.”

This time, Seth did obey and cooled his heels in the entry and glanced at the closed doors. Beyond that was where the members of Athena’s Salon gathered for intellectual conversation and gambling. Would he ever be allowed to attend?

If Tessa insisted that he allow women into The Emerald Garter first, then it was likely he would never cross the threshold.

Seth had expected the butler to retrieve him. Instead, Frances glided down the stairs dressed in her pelisse and bonnet.

A wave of disappointment swept over him. “You are going out?” he asked. She was to be at home to him.

“We are going out,” Frances dictated.

Relief quickly replaced his disappointment. “Where are we going?”

“I would like to stroll along Bond Street.”

“Shopping?”

“Oh, I have no intention of purchasing anything.”

Seth frowned. “Then why stroll along Bond Street?”

“Because I enjoy looking.” She graced him with a smile. “I also understand if you do not wish to accompany me for I understand that most gentlemen find the very idea of shopping with a woman quite grueling.

While this was an accurate statement, Seth suspected that would not be the case with Frances, especially since she did not intend to purchase any items.

Though, he still did not understand the purpose of simply looking.

“I would be honored to accompany you.”

Seth offered his arm and escorted her outside to his low phaeton.

Frances fought the urge to smile when she saw the phaeton. He had already anticipated that if they were to travel anywhere that she would refuse to get into a closed carriage with him.

It was not only because she did not want to see her reputation damaged, but she did not trust him, or herself, to be secluded and alone.

Goodness, his kisses and caresses had flustered her as her body heated yesterday. Had Bethany not called up, who knows what more they would have done and even now, her body craved his touch and her nether region had the oddest ache. Seth frustrated her in so many ways, but mostly it was her physical state that was affected. She needed to be very careful when alone with him until the time was right.

He tooled the carriage into traffic and drove through Soho until they reached Piccadilly. He then found a place to leave his low phaeton and assisted her to the walk before he offered his arm and began their stroll past the various shops. Occasionally she would stop and gaze into the windows.

“How come you do not enter any of the establishments?” he finally asked.

“There is no purpose to as I do not intend to buy.”

This was a favorite pastime of hers. She enjoyed seeing what the latest fashions were, and the gloves, hats and parasols being offered. There were watchmakers, jewelers, and all manner of items being sold that Society coveted.

“There is nothing that you want?” he asked.

Frances laughed. “There are many things I want, Seth. However, there is nothing that I need.” Even though she could spend some of her funds, Frances would not do so on frivolity. She had only done so once and that had been on the emerald gown that she did not wear for nearly a year, and a delicate necklace with the small emerald. Even after she had made the purchase, she had been filled with guilt. Her uncle still struggled, as did her brother, to restore the estate to what it had once been and she should have assisted instead of spending money on items that she did not need. Since then, Frances had not purchased anything that was not necessary.

“Is it because you were so poor when you were younger?” he asked quietly.

“That was the original reason,” she answered. “I have also found that it is foolish to purchase items simply because they are wanted or, as many in Society, to be surrounded by useless decorations because of how a person wishes to be viewed or who they want to impress.”

“Some purchase decorations because they do not wish to sit in an empty room that contains only a settee, chairs and tables.”

“I understand,” Frances answered. “There are paintings that I appreciate very much, and vases that have been artfully crafted. These items serve a purpose because they bring joy and could improve a mood. But to have items simply to own them serves no purpose. At least to me,” she answered. “One day, if I have my own home, I will likely purchase such items—the ones that make me happy to look upon—but never anything that others believe are necessary when they serve no purpose.”

Seth stopped in front of a stationer’s shop.

“Is there something you need?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered then held the door so that they could enter. He then took his time inspecting not only the paper options but also the ink before he chose what he wished to purchase and then asked that it be delivered to The Emerald Garter.

“I had forgotten that I was low on ink.” He chuckled.

“What of writing implements?” she asked. “How else will you transfer the ink to the paper?”

“I have quills aplenty,” he answered. “When I was younger, I often lost quills and would purchase new, then find the old, and thus the pattern continued until I was packing up all my belongings to move to London and discovered missing quills everywhere and gathered them in a box, where most of them still remain. The box sits on a shelf in my office and I have not had to purchase a new quill since I opened The Emerald Garter.”

“You will likely find nearly a dozen on your desk at your home, if you ever decide to review the documents stacked upon it.” She still could not believe the disarray, especially the unopened missives. How could he not want to know what they contained?

“If you would like, I invite you to organize my desk.”

Frances pulled back in surprise. “That is far too personal an endeavor for me. I am certain there are documents that you would like to remain private.”

Seth stopped and turned to face her. “I keep no secrets from you, Franny, and will happily tell you anything that you wish to know.”

Goodness, she had not expected such a declaration or such intensity in his blue eyes.

“I also hope that one day, there are no secrets between us.” He reached forward and clasped her hand. “I want to know everything that I missed in the five years we were apart.”

Her heart pounded against her sternum and Frances swallowed past the lump in her throat. She wanted to tell him everything, just as they had shared everything that happened while they were apart when they still visited in the cottage. But that was before he rejected her love and friendship.

Seth did not deserve her secrets, but she longed to tell him everything and unburden her concerns, just as she had once done, and return to the happiest she had ever been.

“I…um…” What did she say?

“Lord Seth Claxton and Miss Hawthorn, I am so happy that I have encountered you.”

As if broken from a spell, Frances blinked and turned to find Lady Perrington bearing down on them.

“I do hope that you will both attend,” she gushed.

Frances shifted her eyes to Seth, not certain to what Lady Perrington referred. She barely knew the woman. In fact, Frances had not spoken to her since she had first come to London and before she was relegated to her place among the wallflowers.

“Attend what?” Seth asked.

“My ball, of course. To be held on Tuesday.”

“I do not recall receiving such an invitation,” Seth answered.

It was likely in one of the stacks on his desk, but Frances held her tongue. Besides being a hostess of many entertainments, Lady Perrington was a gossip and Frances didn’t want the woman to know that she was familiar with Seth’s desk, located in his home.

“I did not receive one either,” Frances offered.

Lady Perrington frowned. “I was assured they were delivered to your homes.”

If it had been to her Mayfair home, then it was likely sitting on a tray near the entry, where the small staff would have set it. Perhaps she should visit her former home to make certain there was no other correspondence waiting for her there, though they knew where to send any missives received.

“It does not matter,” Lady Perrington dismissed with a wave of her hand. “I am hosting a ball on Tuesday and expect both of you to be in attendance.”

“I will see if I can arrange my schedule,” Seth offered.

Did he not want to attend?

Of course, he likely did not. He rarely went into Society.

“As will I,” Frances also answered, not certain if she wanted to attend a ball. Other than the masquerade she had attended, Frances rarely enjoyed herself, unless there was a card room. If so, then she would give it consideration and maybe gain more clientele for Athena’s Salon.

“I insist that you both be present, and together,” the woman said. “I will see you then.”

“Ah, now I understand,” Seth said as Lady Perrington departed.

“What do you understand?” Frances asked.

“She loves to gossip and be the first to know anything. You have been seen in my presence and I have recently returned to Society. She wants to be the first to have us as guests, together.”

Frances nearly groaned. “I do not wish to be put on display by meddling matrons.”

Seth chuckled and offered his arm. “Instead, consider it an opportunity for us to share another waltz.”