Read Online The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne by Madeline Hunter - Free Book Online
Authors: Madeline Hunter
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again. “There was no flirting. Everyone except you comprehended that the situation was other than…well,
that
.”
“The hell they did. And if not
that
, what
is
the situation? This
special
and
pleasurable
employment requires an interesting list of qualifications.”
Another brief pause. She gathered herself into a pillar of hauteur. “I was helping Obediah hire a new exhibition hall manager. Mr. Nightingale has left, and Fairbourne’s needs a presentable man to greet patrons and such. That is why Obediah was here today too.” She gestured to the newspaper. “You will see that it perfectly describes the sort of person Obediah needs.”
His annoyance abruptly shifted to this new information. It angered him even more, but at least did not leave him feeling like a complete ass. “There is no need for a new manager, and you know it, Miss Fairbourne.”
She sat down and looked at him boldly. “I know nothing of the kind, Lord Southwaite.”
“Mr. Nightingale left because he surmised the business must close. Without your father, it has no future, thus no need for Nightingale to be replaced.”
“You may have invested, but you clearly remained ignorant of how Fairbourne’s was managed. Obediah dealt with the finances and the catalogue. He is also duly licensed. As long as he remains, Fairbourne’s can flourish. In fact, he is already well along preparing the next sale.”
How like her to decide to have this conversation now, when he wanted very much to take his leave. “Your father never spoke of Riggles having such authority.”
“It was not in his interest to reveal his reliance on others, least of all to you. Why, Obediah has an expertise to challenge Papa’s, and superb eyes for attributions. I daresay that if he had possessed any fortune, Papa would have sold half the business to
him
, not you.”
“Only he did sell it to me, and I gave no permission for another auction. Quite the opposite.”
“Your permission was not required because it is more the second half of the last auction than a completely new one. Obediah decided to hold back the better works for another day.”
Her fast retreat into self-possession aggravated his temper, just as it had the day of the auction. He saw himself during that last exchange, pacing back and forth in the storage room, barely able to move because of the paintings and table of silver.
She had so provoked him with her manner that he had not even wondered why such things would be in storage at an auction house that had just held its last sale. Now their presence there loomed large in his memory.
Those were the items held back from that auction, of course. She had spent the last week deliberately disobeying him, and continuing to plot a course that she knew he would not approve.
He had come here today to tell her that the auction house would be sold. It still needed saying. Unfortunately, the ridiculous misunderstanding with the advertisement meanthe would be fighting a rear-guard action in the battle that would inevitably ensue.
While he composed a parting remark that would salvage something of his dignity, his gaze was distracted by the light coming from the west window and how it showed a variety of tones in the brown curls on her crown. Some streaks of hair appeared almost golden. That led him to observe how the light flattered her lovely complexion in a most becoming way too.
From this position he could also see the pale skin extending down prettily to the neckline of the simple black dress that covered breasts of admirable size. The high waist of her dress, and his current perspective, suggested that she would appear quite lovely if those breasts were visible. They would be very pale and perfect like the skin he could see, and firm and round, with pink—
It was definitely past time to leave.
“It has been an afternoon for misunderstandings, Miss Fairbourne. I think it best if I return another day to discuss our business, lest there be more of them. I
that
.”
“The hell they did. And if not
that
, what
is
the situation? This
special
and
pleasurable
employment requires an interesting list of qualifications.”
Another brief pause. She gathered herself into a pillar of hauteur. “I was helping Obediah hire a new exhibition hall manager. Mr. Nightingale has left, and Fairbourne’s needs a presentable man to greet patrons and such. That is why Obediah was here today too.” She gestured to the newspaper. “You will see that it perfectly describes the sort of person Obediah needs.”
His annoyance abruptly shifted to this new information. It angered him even more, but at least did not leave him feeling like a complete ass. “There is no need for a new manager, and you know it, Miss Fairbourne.”
She sat down and looked at him boldly. “I know nothing of the kind, Lord Southwaite.”
“Mr. Nightingale left because he surmised the business must close. Without your father, it has no future, thus no need for Nightingale to be replaced.”
“You may have invested, but you clearly remained ignorant of how Fairbourne’s was managed. Obediah dealt with the finances and the catalogue. He is also duly licensed. As long as he remains, Fairbourne’s can flourish. In fact, he is already well along preparing the next sale.”
How like her to decide to have this conversation now, when he wanted very much to take his leave. “Your father never spoke of Riggles having such authority.”
“It was not in his interest to reveal his reliance on others, least of all to you. Why, Obediah has an expertise to challenge Papa’s, and superb eyes for attributions. I daresay that if he had possessed any fortune, Papa would have sold half the business to
him
, not you.”
“Only he did sell it to me, and I gave no permission for another auction. Quite the opposite.”
“Your permission was not required because it is more the second half of the last auction than a completely new one. Obediah decided to hold back the better works for another day.”
Her fast retreat into self-possession aggravated his temper, just as it had the day of the auction. He saw himself during that last exchange, pacing back and forth in the storage room, barely able to move because of the paintings and table of silver.
She had so provoked him with her manner that he had not even wondered why such things would be in storage at an auction house that had just held its last sale. Now their presence there loomed large in his memory.
Those were the items held back from that auction, of course. She had spent the last week deliberately disobeying him, and continuing to plot a course that she knew he would not approve.
He had come here today to tell her that the auction house would be sold. It still needed saying. Unfortunately, the ridiculous misunderstanding with the advertisement meanthe would be fighting a rear-guard action in the battle that would inevitably ensue.
While he composed a parting remark that would salvage something of his dignity, his gaze was distracted by the light coming from the west window and how it showed a variety of tones in the brown curls on her crown. Some streaks of hair appeared almost golden. That led him to observe how the light flattered her lovely complexion in a most becoming way too.
From this position he could also see the pale skin extending down prettily to the neckline of the simple black dress that covered breasts of admirable size. The high waist of her dress, and his current perspective, suggested that she would appear quite lovely if those breasts were visible. They would be very pale and perfect like the skin he could see, and firm and round, with pink—
It was definitely past time to leave.
“It has been an afternoon for misunderstandings, Miss Fairbourne. I think it best if I return another day to discuss our business, lest there be more of them. I
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