His primed poker wilted a bit, expressing its dismay. In opposition, Zeus stiffened his legs, and shoved any dirk disappointment aside. He wasn’t here for her, he reminded himself; he was here 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…being 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 himself to some gadfly spendthrift? One who’ll have no respect for the chink he spent years acquiring? “Can you please expound upon what might constitute a frippery in her mind?”
“Oh, you know, simply things of nonsense…hair ribbons. Yarn.”
Ribbons…yarn? Neither of which amounted to the vast sums he’d feared at the question. “None whatsoever.”
“Please share your thoughts on the education of children.”
That was unexpected. Dogs, yarn… Hell, most all these deuced questions were unexpected. Regretting that he’d allowed the monstrous servant to relieve him of gloves and hat, Zeus flexed his empty hands. He knotted them in place at the base of his spine. “Education for the wee ones? I…I confess to never giving that topic lengthy consideration.”
“Please do so now, if you would.”
“Ah…children. They need some manner of learning to gain a foothold in this world, to keep them from starving in the streets. Book learning might do well for some, but trades are good too.”
She seemed to hesitate and he caught a slight rustle behind her. Then she straightened. “What about girls?”
“Girls? What about them?”
“Should they be allowed to learn?”
“I don’t see why not.” He thought of his mother and her lack of options once being used and discarded. “Otherwise they’re dependent upon the whims of men.”
“You are to be commended, Mr. Tanner.”
He was? “I am?”
“You’re very progressive in your thinking.”
Avoiding the look of surprise in her gaze, Zeus shifted his. “Suppose that makes up for all my regressive living.”
He’d meant it as a jest. Didn’t seem funny once voiced. Zeus rolled his shoulders, hoping the tenseness with which he held himself didn’t show. Wondering how much longer he’d have to wait to greet Lady Scandal. Just the name conjured sweaty bodies and entangled limbs. Delivering hot, wet kisses over the pale skin of her throat, the small of her back. Running his tongue down the arch of a dainty foot while said lady
