It’s not the sort of thing a gentleman would do.”
“Not to a lady, of course . But she’s a half-Irish artist with a notorious family background. And she’s shown, rather publicly, she wasn’t up to being a Lowell wife. She’s fortunate I would have her under any conditions whatsoever.”
Phillip stood and turned away from Ethan and stalked toward the deck rail . “Simply because you can get away with something doesn’t make it right. Yes, she embarrassed you, but you’re ruining her forever. Don’t go pretending an act of utter selfishness makes you anybody’s patron saint, not around me anyway.”
Ethan laughed . “Oh, come now, Phillip. Admit it. You thought that saucy little Shae Rowan would make a fine addition to the elegant icicle you’re engaged to. You’re just angry that I acted on the impulse you resisted.”
“You should be glad I resist impulses.” Phillip’s voice dropped to a growl . “Because if I didn’t, I’d have pitched you off that deck chair straight into the bay for that remark. You’re drunk, Ethan. What’s more, you’re a disgrace. If you have one trace of civility left in you, you’ll leave that girl alone.”
With that, Phillip stormed off the yacht toward the end of the pier, where Cure was tethered . As he nudged the gelding to a brisk trot, Phillip swore out loud. Had Ethan’s whole engagement been no more than a lark? How could his friend have ever cared for Shae, if he would so badly use her now?
Sensing home and the promise of his dinner, the horse picked up his pace . Astride the animal, Phillip thought again of Rachel. If he somehow learned he couldn’t have her as his wife, would he be content to take her as a mistress?
The impossibility of the idea assailed him . He flushed to think of his fiancée in such terms. Rachel Tisdale was a sensible woman from a respectable family. She would gird herself with etiquette and damn him straight to Hell if he ever made such a suggestion. If Shae Rowan had any morals, she’d tell Ethan the same thing. If, on the other hand, she would accept Ethan’s offer, she was her mother’s daughter after all, and she deserved her fate.
Despite his judgment, he couldn’t help remembering her, the way she’d knelt down on her front walk beside the ruined cage . He thought of her green eyes, bereft of hope, of will.
No, not of will . In that last moment, she’d inexplicably reached out to entrust him with her injured bird. He’d taken the small creature into his home to tend its wounds.
And afterwards, he’d turned his back completely on the woman who had offered him her trust.
*
Despite the flurry of enthusiasm that surrounded Shae’s new project, she still managed to worry . What was Lucius thinking since she’d helped him lose his job? Was he relieved to be free of King’s bullying, to drift into retirement, or perhaps to some other position? Or did he mean to win his place back, as he had several times before during his rocky relationship with Father?
She worried too, about the man she’d met last night . What on earth had possessed her to give a strange r a man she’d hated on first meetin g her last, living bird? It had been an impulse, undeniable at the time, unexplainable at present. Was she, like King, losing herself in this maelstrom she’d stirred up?
Once more, she thought about the stranger . Phillip Payton, he had called himself. She felt, more than remembered, the way his hands had touched hers, the way he’d gentled her hurt finch. Strong hands. She wondered how they’d feel if they held her.
With a tired sigh, she shivered, despite the stuffiness of the workshop . She might as well go home, if she couldn’t keep her mind off Phillip Payton’s hands.
She frowned and checked the clock . It wasn’t even four, but she needed to leave. She thought about Delilah, dozing patiently outside the shop’s back door. Her left foot twitched in anticipation of the pressure of the stirrup. Father
“Not to a lady, of course . But she’s a half-Irish artist with a notorious family background. And she’s shown, rather publicly, she wasn’t up to being a Lowell wife. She’s fortunate I would have her under any conditions whatsoever.”
Phillip stood and turned away from Ethan and stalked toward the deck rail . “Simply because you can get away with something doesn’t make it right. Yes, she embarrassed you, but you’re ruining her forever. Don’t go pretending an act of utter selfishness makes you anybody’s patron saint, not around me anyway.”
Ethan laughed . “Oh, come now, Phillip. Admit it. You thought that saucy little Shae Rowan would make a fine addition to the elegant icicle you’re engaged to. You’re just angry that I acted on the impulse you resisted.”
“You should be glad I resist impulses.” Phillip’s voice dropped to a growl . “Because if I didn’t, I’d have pitched you off that deck chair straight into the bay for that remark. You’re drunk, Ethan. What’s more, you’re a disgrace. If you have one trace of civility left in you, you’ll leave that girl alone.”
With that, Phillip stormed off the yacht toward the end of the pier, where Cure was tethered . As he nudged the gelding to a brisk trot, Phillip swore out loud. Had Ethan’s whole engagement been no more than a lark? How could his friend have ever cared for Shae, if he would so badly use her now?
Sensing home and the promise of his dinner, the horse picked up his pace . Astride the animal, Phillip thought again of Rachel. If he somehow learned he couldn’t have her as his wife, would he be content to take her as a mistress?
The impossibility of the idea assailed him . He flushed to think of his fiancée in such terms. Rachel Tisdale was a sensible woman from a respectable family. She would gird herself with etiquette and damn him straight to Hell if he ever made such a suggestion. If Shae Rowan had any morals, she’d tell Ethan the same thing. If, on the other hand, she would accept Ethan’s offer, she was her mother’s daughter after all, and she deserved her fate.
Despite his judgment, he couldn’t help remembering her, the way she’d knelt down on her front walk beside the ruined cage . He thought of her green eyes, bereft of hope, of will.
No, not of will . In that last moment, she’d inexplicably reached out to entrust him with her injured bird. He’d taken the small creature into his home to tend its wounds.
And afterwards, he’d turned his back completely on the woman who had offered him her trust.
*
Despite the flurry of enthusiasm that surrounded Shae’s new project, she still managed to worry . What was Lucius thinking since she’d helped him lose his job? Was he relieved to be free of King’s bullying, to drift into retirement, or perhaps to some other position? Or did he mean to win his place back, as he had several times before during his rocky relationship with Father?
She worried too, about the man she’d met last night . What on earth had possessed her to give a strange r a man she’d hated on first meetin g her last, living bird? It had been an impulse, undeniable at the time, unexplainable at present. Was she, like King, losing herself in this maelstrom she’d stirred up?
Once more, she thought about the stranger . Phillip Payton, he had called himself. She felt, more than remembered, the way his hands had touched hers, the way he’d gentled her hurt finch. Strong hands. She wondered how they’d feel if they held her.
With a tired sigh, she shivered, despite the stuffiness of the workshop . She might as well go home, if she couldn’t keep her mind off Phillip Payton’s hands.
She frowned and checked the clock . It wasn’t even four, but she needed to leave. She thought about Delilah, dozing patiently outside the shop’s back door. Her left foot twitched in anticipation of the pressure of the stirrup. Father
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