Read Online A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Erin Knightley
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forward. Jane held her breath. Judging by the smug expression narrowing the woman’s eyes, she was about to use her trump card. “Then why, I wonder, was a strange man seen leaving your rooms past dark last night? Was that ‘but a small misunderstanding’ as well?”
If she threw the woman out on her well-padded bum, Jane had no doubt Mr. Byrd would take issue. Still, it was dangerously tempting. She paused, reining in her temper. She had to remember her mother’s advice. Breathing deeply, she mentally recited the words her mother had written in one of her final letters. Biting one’s tongue is a vastly underrated skill. A seemingly simple feat, yet few ever master it. Learn it, practice it, and benefit from it. One moment of caution could save years of regret.
There, that was better. At the very least she could speak without saying something she would regret. “Yes, my dear cousin, Mr. Webb, has only just returned from his years at sea in service to His Majesty’s Navy. Isn’t that wonderful? Do be sure to pop by when next you spy him so that I may introduce the two of you.”
Jane’s smile was really just a grinding of her teeth as she willed her neighbor to take her leave. Lack of proper rest was robbing her of the last of her patience.
A bit of the pleasure leaked from Mrs. Brown’s expression, and she backed up a step and brushed at her skirts. “Yes, well, see to it that no more bedraggled, wild-haired ruffians are seen leaving your shop.”
“If I see Lord Raleigh again, madam, I shall be sure to pass along your sentiments.”
She shouldn’t have said it. Honestly, though, she couldn’t bring herself to regret the glib statement. Jane watched with satisfaction as Mrs. Brown sputtered in shock, her eyes bulging in disbelief. Served her right for barging in, pointing her finger in Jane’s face and throwing around accusations.
“Lord Raleigh? The Lord Raleigh?” One would think Jane had said flying wildebeest , for all of her neighbor’s incredulity. “Gracious, child, what was a man of his ilk doing in a shop like this?”
A shop like this. Really, Jane had endured just about enough of Mrs. Brown’s insults. She had too much on her plate as it was, worrying about getting the blasted cabinet repaired—especially after the loss of profits yesterday. And she certainly had no desire to hash the whole incident out once more. It was over, and she hoped never to think on it again.
Jane looked pointedly at the clock on the wall. “Oh, my goodness, I really must return to my baking. I left my poor brother in charge of it, and the batch will be a loss if I don’t get back to it soon.”
She came out from around the counter, herding Mrs. Brown toward the door. “Thank you for your concern, madam. I shall make every effort to run my business above reproach, as I have always strived to do.”
Drawing herself up as if she were a queen, her neighbor paused at the door and leveled her dark eyes at Jane. “One month, Miss Bunting. If things are not repaired by then, you won’t have to worry about losing a batch ever again, since you’ll no longer have a kitchen to bake in.”
It was the strongest pronouncement her neighbor had ever made. As much as Jane’s insides were quivering with anger, she bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and nodded once. If she opened her mouth, there was no way she could keep herself from telling the woman exactly where she could go. She may despise the woman, but Jane had no choice but to try to appease her.
Finally, Mrs. Brown turned on her heel and strode from the shop, her nose leading the way. Jane wilted, her breath leaving her in one great whoosh. She hadn’t a clue how she would follow through with her promise, but at least she was free of that awful woman for the time being.
Before heading back to the kitchen to rescue Weston from the whisking, Jane returned to the counter to rearrange the pastries from a customer’s point of view. She needed a moment to
If she threw the woman out on her well-padded bum, Jane had no doubt Mr. Byrd would take issue. Still, it was dangerously tempting. She paused, reining in her temper. She had to remember her mother’s advice. Breathing deeply, she mentally recited the words her mother had written in one of her final letters. Biting one’s tongue is a vastly underrated skill. A seemingly simple feat, yet few ever master it. Learn it, practice it, and benefit from it. One moment of caution could save years of regret.
There, that was better. At the very least she could speak without saying something she would regret. “Yes, my dear cousin, Mr. Webb, has only just returned from his years at sea in service to His Majesty’s Navy. Isn’t that wonderful? Do be sure to pop by when next you spy him so that I may introduce the two of you.”
Jane’s smile was really just a grinding of her teeth as she willed her neighbor to take her leave. Lack of proper rest was robbing her of the last of her patience.
A bit of the pleasure leaked from Mrs. Brown’s expression, and she backed up a step and brushed at her skirts. “Yes, well, see to it that no more bedraggled, wild-haired ruffians are seen leaving your shop.”
“If I see Lord Raleigh again, madam, I shall be sure to pass along your sentiments.”
She shouldn’t have said it. Honestly, though, she couldn’t bring herself to regret the glib statement. Jane watched with satisfaction as Mrs. Brown sputtered in shock, her eyes bulging in disbelief. Served her right for barging in, pointing her finger in Jane’s face and throwing around accusations.
“Lord Raleigh? The Lord Raleigh?” One would think Jane had said flying wildebeest , for all of her neighbor’s incredulity. “Gracious, child, what was a man of his ilk doing in a shop like this?”
A shop like this. Really, Jane had endured just about enough of Mrs. Brown’s insults. She had too much on her plate as it was, worrying about getting the blasted cabinet repaired—especially after the loss of profits yesterday. And she certainly had no desire to hash the whole incident out once more. It was over, and she hoped never to think on it again.
Jane looked pointedly at the clock on the wall. “Oh, my goodness, I really must return to my baking. I left my poor brother in charge of it, and the batch will be a loss if I don’t get back to it soon.”
She came out from around the counter, herding Mrs. Brown toward the door. “Thank you for your concern, madam. I shall make every effort to run my business above reproach, as I have always strived to do.”
Drawing herself up as if she were a queen, her neighbor paused at the door and leveled her dark eyes at Jane. “One month, Miss Bunting. If things are not repaired by then, you won’t have to worry about losing a batch ever again, since you’ll no longer have a kitchen to bake in.”
It was the strongest pronouncement her neighbor had ever made. As much as Jane’s insides were quivering with anger, she bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and nodded once. If she opened her mouth, there was no way she could keep herself from telling the woman exactly where she could go. She may despise the woman, but Jane had no choice but to try to appease her.
Finally, Mrs. Brown turned on her heel and strode from the shop, her nose leading the way. Jane wilted, her breath leaving her in one great whoosh. She hadn’t a clue how she would follow through with her promise, but at least she was free of that awful woman for the time being.
Before heading back to the kitchen to rescue Weston from the whisking, Jane returned to the counter to rearrange the pastries from a customer’s point of view. She needed a moment to
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