Adoration

The more Morgan studied each guest the more he realised that he truly didn’t give a damn if he never set eyes on any of them again. They had once been considered people he would have been happy to share a drink with if they happened to be at White’s at the same time, even though they weren’t acquaintances he would actively go and find if he got bored. As a result, he never really spoke to them outside of the social functions they frequented together.

‘There is no reason why I should allow their opinions to sway my decisions,’ Morgan growled.

‘Morgan?’

Morgan jerked because he hadn’t even realised that Felicity was standing beside him. When he saw the hope still lingering in his eyes, he made sure that his scowl deepened.

‘Arthur is an oaf,’ she announced with a rather calculating smile.

‘He is indeed,’ Morgan replied without bothering to return her smile. ‘I hope you enjoyed your time here. Have a safe journey home.’

Felicity blinked at the rather abrupt dismissal and stared after him in dismay as he stalked into the house without a backward look.

‘Are you not going to see our guests off?’ Mariette asked as he swept past her and marched into the entrance hall.

‘No. That’s your job. They are your guests, Mariette. Once they have gone, I want this house returned to how you found it and then I want to be left in peace. If you want to hold any social functions from now on you and mother must use the Dowager House.’

‘My dear, what is wrong?’ his mother cried before he could disappear into his study with Ralph right behind him.

Morgan would have answered his mother quite calmly had Arthur not chosen that moment to saunter arrogantly through the open front door and look around the entrance hall as if to see if it met his exacting standards. Morgan threw the man a dark glare and rounded on his mother. ‘I shall tell you what is wrong, shall I? Your guests for want of a better word are arrogant, ignorant, and rude. Their behaviour is shameful. Do you know what has just happened?’ Morgan told them. ‘Without a care in the world that oaf just doused Sissy from head to toe with a muddy puddle. Do you know something? If she ends up ill it is because of Arthur. He didn’t even deign to get down from his carriage to apologise for what he had done to her. I am not going to accommodate such uncouth behaviour under my roof again.’ Morgan planted himself firmly in Arthur’s path when he tried to edge closer to the study. ‘Move any further and I will throw you out on your ear.’

‘Morgan,’ Mariette protested.

Morgan rounded on her. ‘I don’t care whom you choose to spend time with Mariette, but don’t you dare bring such disrespectful creatures into my home again, do you hear me? Keep that, and his friends away from here.’

‘But they are your friends, Morgan,’ Mariette wailed. ‘I only invited them because they are your acquaintances.’

‘Well in that you are wrong. Just because they are of a similar age to me does not mean that I wish to spend any time with them. We are worlds apart and after what I have seen this morning, I can only be glad of it.’ Morgan then rounded on his mother. ‘And you, mother. Might I ask why you have taken it upon yourself to announce to the matchmaking mother

s you invited into my house that I am looking for a wife? It is strange, is it not, that I cannot ever remember mentioning such a thing to you? Further, I have never handed over authority to you to make such announcements or decisions on my behalf. Moreover, I have never introduced you to the woman I love. I have never made any declaration of intent toward anybody of our mutual acquaintance that I have any wish to present the woman I love to any social gathering just yet. When I do, believe me that it shall be my decision and mine only. I do not need your involvement, approval, or permission to do so. Now, you have all entertained yourselves. The party is over. Go home. Arthur, get out of this house and don’t come back.’

Morgan slammed into this study and headed straight over to the brandy decanter. While he poured himself a drink, Morgan didn’t drink it. He stared broodingly at it. His thoughts remained locked on Sissy. The urge to call upon her to see for himself if she was alright was strong but he doubted she would let him in.

She must hate me right now.

Not that he could blame her.

When he heard the door open, Morgan didn’t bother to look at who it was. He suspected it was Ralph. It came as a surprise to find that it was his mother instead.

‘My dear, what’s wrong?’

Morgan told her. ‘It is a bloody abysmal way for someone to treat her.’ He glared at his mother, daring her to dismiss it.

Alicia stared at him and carefully positioned herself on the edge of the chair closest to the door. She rarely saw Morgan this angry. ‘How is she?’

‘Besides soaked to the skin, you mean?’ Morgan drawled.

‘Other than that.’

‘Angry. As you would be if it happened to you,’ Morgan retorted.

‘You have always had a soft spot for her,’ Alicia murmured into the silence. ‘Don’t deny it.’

‘I don’t intend to.’

‘She is quite content looking after her aunt,’ Alicia added.

Morgan whirled on her. ‘Oh, don’t you dare have the poor grace to sit there and try to lecture me on people knowing their places. She is not responsible for what happened to her. She lost the roof over her head and the life she was born into because of draconian rules about inheritance that are far beyond her control. The same could have happened to you had father not already built the Dowager’s house for his mother, so don’t you dare sneer down at her because you have been more fortunate.’