A Foolish Flirtation (Reversal of Fortune #1)

by Alice Coldbreath

“Oh, undoubtedly. Look at those turquoise tights. Only a Vance would think that appropriate tree-lounging wear.”

They ate their first dinner in the new setup that evening and did not even bother changing for dinner as it was “only family.” It proved a novel experience, sitting cross-legged while eating a five-course meal, and they were a merry party throughout.

His expression seemed to show he understood at least some measure of her feeling, for he dragged her hand until it rested over his heart. “I don’t have a rosewood box, Emmeline, but I kept you here always.” His words were low and urgent.

The whole time, Jeremy Vance held her tightly to him. How odd, she thought, being comforted by the person who had reopened her wounds. Wounds he had inflicted in the first place.

Worst of all, he knew he had treated her just as poorly. His reckless, indulgent conduct had broken her heart, as well as his own. He had always known he was unworthy of that starry gaze she used to bestow on him. He’d been so greedy for it though.

He’d always fooled himself that, once out of her sight, the scales would fall from Emmeline’s eyes and she would realize what a tawdry, worthless piece of shit he really was. The most he had ever hoped for was that on a cold night, she might secretly compare her dull, worthy husband’s kisses to his, and he might not come off the worst for it.

“Who hasn’t he wronged in the past?” Nye asked dryly. “That just makes her one of the family as far as I’m concerned. What did you do? Ruin her?” Mina gasped.

Nye regarded Jeremy steadily for a moment. “You are worth knowing as it happens,” he said abruptly. Jeremy was surprised. “What makes you say that?” “The boy.” Nye paused. “Your boy. The way you are with him. If I ever compared our lives in the past, I soon realized I got the better bargain. You’re ten times the father to your son than the old lord was to you.” Jeremy swallowed. “Thanks,” he said hoarsely. “But I’m a much better husband,” Nye said cheerfully.

Jeremy nodded, but he had already been kind to Hannah Pinson, hadn’t he? A little voice whispered in his ear that all he had really done was try to isolate Emmeline from her one true friend. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Jeremy dropped down beside her, briefly touching her ankle by way of greeting. He was too scared she might flinch if he tried to kiss to her cheek.

He relaxed visibly. “You would like that?” he asked, looking hopeful. “Yes, of course.” “Then”—he paused—“will you wait for me to…to put on your face cream and brush your hair?” He spoke the words lightly but the way he avoided her eyes and colored faintly clued her in to the fact he was earnest in his request.

“All the more reason for us to choose a book before she departs, so she can take a copy with her. Did I tell you I bought them in sets of three?” Emmie’s eyes widened. “You bought three copies of every book?” “Certainly, I did. I told you, did I not, that I wanted to start our own book club just for the three

“I do not think such a method would work in this instance. The first Lady Faris was a very unique woman of taste—” Mr. Penrose began in a patronizing tone. “Well, she said you were a colossal bore who likely wore a corset,” Teddy interrupted him in his high, clear voice. “She said you creak whenever you sit down.”

“It already looks like it belongs in here to me,” Teddy observed with a shrug. “It is black and gold and painted with flowers.” Emmie was struck by the truth of his observation. “It does, doesn’t it?” she marveled, gazing around the room. “Do you know, I think with a few adjustments, this room could be made very comfortable. Do you not agree, Pinky?”

Mr. Penrose made a spluttering sound, but it was clear he was defeated by this point. He inclined his head and scribbled some notes in his book. “A statue. Antiquity. Two male infants. Two snakes.” “And they must look as though they are all getting along famously,” she stressed. “The babies and the snakes must be on the very best of terms.”

If his suggestion was something dreadful, Emmie wondered if she dared suggest a rose garden as theme. Was Mr. Penrose sufficiently crushed to accept such a suggestion now?

He wanted simultaneously to worship her, to share his life with her, and, ultimately, to lay his head in her lap and ask her to please love him. It hurt to know they might never be on such terms.

Giving his head a quick shake, he returned to the plight of the tenants of Jennings Hall and suppressed his less noble thoughts. What was it his sister had urged him to employ? Patience and tact. Something along those lines anyway. Surely to God, he could maintain this equilibrium until Emmeline could learn to trust him a little.

In truth, he was torn. Part of him was content to sit here and watch his wife wield a drying cloth about her person. If he was lucky she might even reveal some kind of lotion. She had to have some trick for keeping it so perfectly supple and dewy. On the other hand, he was almost trembling with the need to touch her.

“We will have to be careful. The velvet will be quite ruined if we spill lotion on it.” Emmie sounded nervous. “It is I who has to be careful,” he corrected her, “lest I incur your divine wrath.” “Oh yes, of course,” she agreed, “that’s what I meant.”

“Won’t you put one arm behind your head?” he suggested respectfully. “You might be more comfortable that way.” “Is it that way in the painting?” she asked. “Do you know, at this precise moment, I can’t even bring the painting to mind,” he admitted. “It pales in comparison to the reality.”

“If you hadn’t attended to me so assiduously with—” She broke off in horror. She had almost said your tongue! Instead, she gasped, “With, er, lotion, I would not have been so comfortable and overslept. And now Lottie will wonder why I took a bath at such an odd hour!”

“I’m friendly with Squire Pebmarsh,” he emphasized. “That’s a different thing. Being on friendly terms is easy, being a true friend is not. I know how to be charming,” he said slowly, “but I can never be bothered to maintain the façade. It takes too much work.”

He sat up and gestured between his legs. “Right here,” he said, as if it was the most reasonable request in the world. “I don’t believe I’m really built for lap-sitting,” she said awkwardly. “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

Emmie held her breath, and not just because it was her stomach he was idly caressing. “I can’t tell which is softer,” he mused. “Your skin or the silk of your robe.”

“I could tell from the look on his face.” She sent a fleeting look at Emmie. “Men have looked at me with that expression all my life,” she said, startling her considerably. “Your father, Mr. Stockton, all of them. I knew Colfax was going to do what he thought was right, and devil take my opinion on the matter.”

Emmie regarded him, aghast. His hulking presence looked nothing like a footman.

Emmie, who had been taking a cautious sip of brandy, lowered her glass. “And I will have charges brought for attempted marriage fraud and breach of contract!” she added with spirit.

They took a hurried leave of Nye, who, to Jeremy’s evident surprise, rounded the bar to shake his hand and clap him on the back. “Not bad, Faris,” he said, looking him up and down. “Not bad at all. I have hopes of you yet. I’m glad to see you put an end to all that mannerly bollocks. Truth is, Mina steered you astray a bit there.” He winced. “It’s true we take walks on the beach and plan our future together and such, but before we got to that point, we had to have it out. Truth be told, I didn’t take my blinkers off before she gave me the shock of my life and screamed in my face that she hated my guts.”

He turned about to face her. “I love you, Emmeline. You loved me too, once. I know you did. If you could only find it in your heart to forgive me, then you might be able to feel something for me again. Won’t you at least try?” This last was an appeal that cut right to the heart of her. She stared at him bereft of speech.

His chest heaved. “I’m tired of trying to be the perfect, considerate husband to you, Emmeline, so you’re just going to get the one you’ve got. Faulty, far from perfect, and frequently wrong.”

“If you think I am going to respectfully retire from the field, you are quite mistaken in my character. I’m going to build that bloody conservatory and that ridiculous amphitheater and whatever the hell else takes my fancy in my stupid, hopeless quest to try and win your heart. “I don’t care what it takes, but it might be kind of you to give me some pointers somewhere along the way, as I clearly am not hitting the right targets. Fair warning, though, I mean to go all out now, so you’d better prepare yourself for an onslaught.”

“Always?” he whispered with such a hopeful look dawning in his eyes that it somehow made her heart ache a little. “Always,” she responded warmly. “Even when I thought you were quite undeserving of the honor.”

Emmie had a suspicion she was grasping him too tightly but every time she tried to ease up her hold of him, he made his dissatisfaction plain. In the end, she simply gave in to her promptings and squeezed the life out of him. It seemed he could not get enough of her in any case.

“You tried to show me your rosewood box,” she said softly, resting her chin on his chest, “and I told you lock it back up and throw away the key. Forgive me, my love. I clung to past resentment and did not think I had it in me to absolve you.”

“It’s nice when you’re worshipful,” she said, coloring hotly, “but it’s also nice sometimes when you are not.”

love the detail—” Her words died on her lips. “But this…this is…” “Your fan,” he said simply. “The one you broke that night.” “At the Hawfords’ ball,” she whispered. “Yes, I had it mended.” When she could not speak, he started, almost awkwardly, “I hope you don’t mind—” She hugged him fiercely and after a moment, Jeremy’s arms encircled her back. “You mended everything!” she sobbed.

He smiled. “I thought I should leave it at least six months before I turned up here at Vance. That way I could skip those insufferable stages while you two were tying yourselves up in knots and suffering needless agonies on the altar of love. There is nothing quite so tedious as a pair of frustrated lovers.”

“Yes, I have heard all about it. Jeremy has laid bare both his soul and his jaded past to me.” “Ugh,” said Atherton. “You have my profound sympathies.”

“He purchased his first in Italy, on his honeymoon. The one in your drawing room, where she emerges from the sea to wring out her wet hair.” Emmie was speechless. After a moment she rallied. “They do not look so very much like me, you know.” “My dear Lady Faris, I have two eyes in my head,” he countered.

“Ballentine?” “Yes?” “Shall I give you a little something else to remember me by?” he asked quite casually. “Yes, please.”