Adoration

‘I have no idea what you mean. I just came to tea with my aunt,’ Sissy replied but then clamped her mouth closed because she could see no reason why she should explain herself to him. There was absolutely nothing wrong with visiting Morgan’s house to take tea. If there had been Alicia would not have invited her.

‘If that is the story you want to stick to,’ Charlton replied with an off-hand shrug.

‘There is no story,’ Sissy insisted with a frown.

‘Oh, don’t go getting your feathers ruffled, I am only teasing. Morgan is old enough and this is his house. He doesn’t have to apologise for introducing us to his doxy, although it might have been wiser if you had stayed up in the bed chamber until we had all left. No wonder he doesn’t want Mariette entertaining here,’ Charlton drawled.

‘I just changed my dress,’ Sissy whispered.

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Deep in the back of her mind a warning voice was screeching at her to keep quiet and not say anything that his man might be able to misconstrue, but the words came tumbling out because a sense of fairness compelled her to say them. She hated being judged and found wanting. She knew she wasn’t enough for Morgan but didn’t need this man to rub salt into her already painful wounds.

Charlton sighed heavily when he realised that Sissy wasn’t going to join him. Slowly ambling over to the doorway, he turned to run a finger over the books. Bit by bit, step by small step, he edged around the room touching various ornaments here and there, perusing the books on the shelves like she had. When he edged closer to her, Sissy took a wary step back.

‘You don’t have to look so scared,’ he teased. ‘I don’t bite.’

Sissy remained quiet.

Charlton shook his head. ‘It took me a moment to realise why he didn’t introduce you to everyone else. I do have to ask why he felt the need to tell everybody that you are to be his wife, though. He can hardly expect us to accept that you might be anything more than his mistress.’

‘Why not?’ Sissy tipped her chin up defiantly and glared at the man with all the arrogant scorn she could muster.

‘You, my dear, are quite clearly not what you appear to be. Mariette has made it clear that you had caught Morgan’s eye but that you are unconnected, and without any kind of wealth whatsoever. I mean, I can understand why he would take it in mind to move you in, however tempora

rily, but you must understand how men like Morgan work. When he has tired of you he will move on. Men like him marry women like Doralee, Mariette’s friend. They are connected, well-bred, titled, and often bring more to a marriage than a poor relation.’

Sissy felt tears hovering on her lashes but there was nothing she could do about them. ‘I am not his play-thing,’ she whispered.

‘Really?’ Charlton smiled snidely. Again, he raked her with a knowing look. ‘Then why would he suddenly invite you to dine, and then take tea? Why would he show interest in you out in public? Why did he not protect your reputation by being more discrete about what you were doing?’

Sissy couldn’t think of anything to say because she knew he was right. Morgan hadn’t tried to hide his attraction to her.

‘You really didn’t think he would be interested in you, do you?’ Charlton laughed cynically. ‘My God, you did. You really thought that Morgan would offer for the likes of you. You really thought that you would be more than his plaything.’ Shaking his head, Charlton tutted at her. ‘You are a doxy. He is what? One and thirty and yet unwed. Now, why is that? Might it be that he has no need to marry when he has women like you ready to fall into his bed whenever he bats his eyes at you? Might it be that Mariette’s determination to marry him off might have given him a reason to avoid the ballrooms for a while. With nobody else nearby to entertain him, he had to turn to you, someone his family once knew. Someone he feels duty bound to keep in contact with out of deference to his father’s memory.’

Sissy stared at him. His face blurred through her tears. So much so she didn’t at first realise when he moved closer until she blinked and could see the irises in his eyes. Leaning away from him she watched his lip curl.

‘Get away from me,’ she hissed.

‘Oh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t touch you. Not until Morgan has cast you aside anyway. He will, you know. Like yesterday’s dirty dish water. When he has ruined you, of course. You, silly fool that you are, will let him, won’t you? With stars in your eyes and hope in your heart for something you know you couldn’t possibly attain in any ordinary circumstance, you will allow him to take what he wants. We all know that.’

‘How awful,’ Sissy whispered. ‘How awful for you that you are such a vile man.’

‘You shouldn’t expect to be treated any other way. You don’t belong here. This house belongs to a Lord. You are a mere trifle, a nobody, remember that, my dear.’ Charlton reached out and flicked at one of Sissy’s ringlets. ‘When he has done with you, I might give you a try.’

Sissy reached out to try to smack him only for him to grab her wrist with cruel fingers. She cried out when pain lanced up her arm. The tears she had worked so hard to withhold suddenly began to trickle steadily down her cheeks, but Sissy didn’t notice.

‘Let go of me,’ she cried, doing her best to wrench her arm out of his grasp.

Charlton refused to release her. Instead, he yanked her forward, his lascivious gaze locked on her parted lips.

‘Get off me!’ Sissy cried, louder this time. She wriggled and twisted her arm, desperate to break free. ‘I said, get off me!’

‘Come here. You wanted someone who is rich and titled. You can’t be just Morgan’s dalliance. You know you want me,’ Charlton growled, trying to slide his arms around her.

‘Get off me!’ This time, when Charlton didn’t release her, Sissy screamed.

She slapped at his hands and pushed against him as hard as she could, but Charlton had already wound his arms around her waist and was pressed against her back. Even standing behind her he tried to tear at the top of her dress.

Sissy was crying out, trying to get him to release her when the door burst open, and a wide-eyed Morgan surged into the room promptly followed by a dishevelled Boris. Morgan had already been on his way back to the room when he had heard her screams. Behind him he could hear Mariette and the other guests fall silent for a moment before they all raced after him. Morgan arrived in the room at the same time as Alicia and Norma. Together, they all stared at the sight of Sissy, terrified and crying, struggling to break free from Charlton who was desperately trying to kiss her still because he wasn’t aware that they were no longer alone.