who got me out of debtor’s prison. I owe her a great deal.”
“Debtor’s prison?” Lynette echoed. She knew there was a message there for her, but for the life of her she could not understand it. “Where is she now?”
His smile was lightning quick and full of pride. “As I said, Jenny was smart. In many ways she and I grew up together. She met my friends and did rightby them as well. Now she’s a rich woman, a well-paid mistress who costs too much for me. She even owns a bawdy house, runs it in her spare time. Every once in a while I see her and we speak. We laugh.” He glanced down at her. “Perhaps you will meet her some day. She could teach you a great deal.”
Lynette swallowed, not sure she could imagine what wholesome things she could learn from a whore turned mistress. “I think one instructor is all I can manage for now.”
Marlock released a low chuckle. “In that, little Lynette, you are correct.” And suddenly his face closed, and his laugh was strangled, as if it had never been. Without another word, he sat down at his desk and went back to work.
Lynette watched him a moment, not daring to speak, not knowing what to say. And so, after a time, she returned to her own task.
It was difficult, for she was constantly aware of him: the movement of his pen across the page, the shift of his body in his chair, even of the ebb and flow of his breath, though she swore she could not actually hear it. It was as if he were a lodestone, and she lead.
She heard him stand, crossing to the bookcase with quick strides before depositing a small and worn book before her. She looked up at him but could read nothing in his expression. In the end, she was forced to examine the book itself.
The title was a single word: Investments.
“It gives a review of the banking system and provides general guides as to what would be a sound investment or a foolish one.”
She nodded, carefully picking up the small tome and riffling its pages. “I am to read it?”
“That is up to you.”
“But I need not.”
He shrugged, already returning to his chair. “It is not necessary to the getting of a husband. Indeed, I advise you to keep anything you learn from such a book a secret until after you are wed. The men who will offer for you will not be interested in your knowledge of England’s monetary system.”
She nodded, too aware of what her father would say. And yet the prospect intrigued her. “But you give it to me now. Because, when I am a wealthy widow, I shall need to manage my money?”
He looked at her, his eyes dark and intense. “Not necessarily. There will be many men all too eager to assist you.”
“Even take the task completely out of my hands, I shouldn’t wonder.”
He nodded, the truth obvious.
She looked again at the book, her reason coming to the fore. She needed to understand money. She did not want to abruptly discover herself penniless. Not again.
Without another word, Lynette slipped the book into her pocket. She would read it. She would read every word.
Adrian watched Lynette leave his library, and he breathed a sigh of relief so profound he felt it all the way to his toes. Now that she was gone, perhaps he could concentrate on his work.
But even though his little bird of a charge had disappeared, thoughts of her remained. She was undoubtedly the easiest student he had ever had, and yet he had the distinct feeling she would also be his most challenging.
Imagine, her demanding to know about Jenny! Good Lord, even Audra, bold as she was, had not so much poise. What would she be like when her tutelage began in earnest?
It was too early to start, he knew. She had not the clothing nor the manners for the campaign. But she was ready. In fact, Lynette the woman was more than ready. All he needed to do was control the direction of her thoughts, turn her mind step by step to her sensuous nature, and the men would flock to her in droves. What red-blooded man—rich or poor—could resist a woman
“Debtor’s prison?” Lynette echoed. She knew there was a message there for her, but for the life of her she could not understand it. “Where is she now?”
His smile was lightning quick and full of pride. “As I said, Jenny was smart. In many ways she and I grew up together. She met my friends and did rightby them as well. Now she’s a rich woman, a well-paid mistress who costs too much for me. She even owns a bawdy house, runs it in her spare time. Every once in a while I see her and we speak. We laugh.” He glanced down at her. “Perhaps you will meet her some day. She could teach you a great deal.”
Lynette swallowed, not sure she could imagine what wholesome things she could learn from a whore turned mistress. “I think one instructor is all I can manage for now.”
Marlock released a low chuckle. “In that, little Lynette, you are correct.” And suddenly his face closed, and his laugh was strangled, as if it had never been. Without another word, he sat down at his desk and went back to work.
Lynette watched him a moment, not daring to speak, not knowing what to say. And so, after a time, she returned to her own task.
It was difficult, for she was constantly aware of him: the movement of his pen across the page, the shift of his body in his chair, even of the ebb and flow of his breath, though she swore she could not actually hear it. It was as if he were a lodestone, and she lead.
She heard him stand, crossing to the bookcase with quick strides before depositing a small and worn book before her. She looked up at him but could read nothing in his expression. In the end, she was forced to examine the book itself.
The title was a single word: Investments.
“It gives a review of the banking system and provides general guides as to what would be a sound investment or a foolish one.”
She nodded, carefully picking up the small tome and riffling its pages. “I am to read it?”
“That is up to you.”
“But I need not.”
He shrugged, already returning to his chair. “It is not necessary to the getting of a husband. Indeed, I advise you to keep anything you learn from such a book a secret until after you are wed. The men who will offer for you will not be interested in your knowledge of England’s monetary system.”
She nodded, too aware of what her father would say. And yet the prospect intrigued her. “But you give it to me now. Because, when I am a wealthy widow, I shall need to manage my money?”
He looked at her, his eyes dark and intense. “Not necessarily. There will be many men all too eager to assist you.”
“Even take the task completely out of my hands, I shouldn’t wonder.”
He nodded, the truth obvious.
She looked again at the book, her reason coming to the fore. She needed to understand money. She did not want to abruptly discover herself penniless. Not again.
Without another word, Lynette slipped the book into her pocket. She would read it. She would read every word.
Adrian watched Lynette leave his library, and he breathed a sigh of relief so profound he felt it all the way to his toes. Now that she was gone, perhaps he could concentrate on his work.
But even though his little bird of a charge had disappeared, thoughts of her remained. She was undoubtedly the easiest student he had ever had, and yet he had the distinct feeling she would also be his most challenging.
Imagine, her demanding to know about Jenny! Good Lord, even Audra, bold as she was, had not so much poise. What would she be like when her tutelage began in earnest?
It was too early to start, he knew. She had not the clothing nor the manners for the campaign. But she was ready. In fact, Lynette the woman was more than ready. All he needed to do was control the direction of her thoughts, turn her mind step by step to her sensuous nature, and the men would flock to her in droves. What red-blooded man—rich or poor—could resist a woman
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