Lady Scandal Read Free Page B

for what he could get
from
her.
    “Madam.” He proffered a perfunctory bow. “Z. J. Tanner, at your service. I believe we have much to discuss, you and I.”
    She smiled at him, a true welcome meant to put him at ease, and another brilliant beam of sunshine graced the tired room.
    Unexpectedly, his heart went out to her, this brave woman willing to sacrifice all to rebuild her surroundings, and if no other part of his anatomy made its empathy or potential excitement known, well…Zeus determinedly stamped down any discontent.
Brains over ballocks
, he mentally prompted, repeating the refrain that’d become his constant companion and bedfellow of late.
    After making his introduction, he allowed his gaze to journey once more around the spacious room. Behind the daffodil—the future Mrs. Tanner?—an intricately embroidered screen occupied the corner. The magnum opus looked woefully out of place, more suited to a museum than this mausoleum.
    An unlit, crumbling fireplace commanded the opposite wall. A simple settee, low table before it, laden with two of the fragrant bouquets, and a couple of rigid-looking, worn parlor chairs filled the rug where he’d halted.
    She gestured toward the ugly chairs. “Please sit, Mr. Tanner. I’ll endeavor to make this as painless as possible.”
    “I’d prefer to stand, if that’s agreeable.”
    “By all means.” She smiled again, the cheerful expression lessening the sense of doom he’d refused to acknowledge since seeing a number of other like-minded dolts summoned and summarily discarded before him, until it was down to him and one other. Though the remaining man, a former seafaring one, appeared a good sort, Zeus was determined to win the lady—and her accompanying bounty.
    When she cordially explained, “I am Olivia Hales, my lady’s companion. She has entrusted me with the task of ascertaining your responses to several questions,” Zeus’ fading apprehension roared back to the surface, intensified beyond measure.
    How many more mountains must he climb before meeting “my lady”?
    First obtaining the plethora of character references then enduring the punctilious Hastings, who insisted on reading them all save the one from his former mistress—thank God for small favors—and now this…vetted by a servant. Ah, well. If it meant gaining Amherst, he could withstand anything, Zeus told himself, blowing out his frustration on a hearty sigh.
    At the sound of his impatience, the daffodil raised one eyebrow.
    “I’d initially taken you for her ladyship,” Zeus confessed, widening his stance since it appeared he’d be here awhile. He locked his hands behind him, determined not to display any further unease.
    “You did?” If possible, that brightened her smile. “My lady regrets she was called away. She’ll join us as soon as she’s able.”
    “I admit to being more than a trifle disappointed that I now must again postpone making the acquaintance of such an obviously admired woman.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Both you and Hastings appear to be troubling yourselves extensively to aid in her…shall we say…
quest
for a savior.”
    “She seeks a spouse,” the companion chided, “not someone sent from the Almighty.”
    Zeus allowed his gaze to pointedly fix upon the tattered upholstery seat of one chair. “She seeks someone to save her from the poorhouse and her posterior from ill-padded cushions.”
    He thought he heard a snicker, but it was quickly muffled behind her hand. “Yes…well, be that as it may, shall we proceed?”
    “I am at your disposal.”
As long as you do not dispose of my suit.
    “What prompted you to respond to my lady’s advertisement?”
    “The inducements stated therein.”
    “Are you overly fond of dogs?”
    “Not excessively, no.” Not since a vile one chased him, instilling terror in a five-year-old’s heart.
    “Would you have any aversion to your wife spending her pin money on fripperies?”
    “Fripperies?” Was he about to shackle