He took another sip of his tea. He should make conversation. Discuss anything other than his inappropriate behaviour, anything other than how he had shamefully embarrassed this lovely young woman. ‘You must be very enterprising to open your own business. What made you decide to leave the security of a job in service to take such a risk?’
Yes, her work...that was a much safer topic.
She shrugged. ‘It didn’t feel like a risk and I’ve always wanted to work for myself. When I worked for the Duchess of Somerfeld, when she was still Arabella van Haven, back in New York, I had so many society ladies asking me if I’d work for them that I knew people wanted my services. Not that any of them deemed to ask me directly.’ She pulled a face of disapproval and Dominic smiled. That was the disapproving little madam he had seen in the kitchen at Hardgrave House.
‘They always got a member of their staff to do that. Too high and mighty to talk to me themselves.’ She sniffed. ‘And it was the same when I came to London. Then I noticed that a lot of middle-class women only had a few servants, or even just one maid of all works. Not many had their own lady’s maid. They’re all trying desperately to copy the aristocracy, but they haven’t got the staff to achieve the look. So, I thought a hair and beauty parlour would be a good business. And it has been. I’ve only been in business for six months and already I’m completely booked out most days.’
‘Yes, very enterprising.’ He took another sip. ‘Although I’m surprised you’re booked out.’
He suppressed a smile as she glared at him through narrowed eyes. ‘Why would you say that? My work is greatly admired.’
‘I’m sure it is, but you don’t exactly make it easy for people to hire your services. Last night was the third time I tried to ask you if you’d be willing to do my sister’s hair.’
‘Oh, yes, about that...’ She laughed to try to cover up her embarrassment. ‘Sorry, but you know, I got that one a bit wrong.’
‘You thought I wanted to tell you off for impersonating me?’
She bit her bottom lip and blushed slightly. ‘Well, I was pretty rude.’
‘Yes, you were. But it hardly matters.’ He smiled at the memory of her strutting round in front of the servants mocking him and Cecily Hardgrave. His smiled faded. He wasn’t the only one she had mocked.
‘You can make fun of me as much as you like, but Lady Cecily doesn’t deserve to be laughed at.’
‘Yes, I’m sorry about that.’ She pulled a small frown that didn’t look particularly sorry to him.
Dominic looked down at the cup in his hand. He hadn’t thought of his fiancée since he had left the Hardgrave Estate. That was unforgivable. In fact, just about everything he had done and thought since he’d met this pretty former lady’s maid had been unforgivable.
And as rude as she had been, she had, unfortunately, not been far from the truth. He had never looked at Cecily the way he had looked at Miss Regan this morning. He had never had thoughts of ripping off Cecily’s clothing and feasting his eyes on her body, had never felt that primal, lustful urge to take her and make her his own, but that was exactly what he wanted to do with Nellie Regan.
He moved uncomfortably in the bed. He had to get his thoughts under control. It was an insult to Miss Regan, not to mention highly inappropriate for a recently engaged man.
He coughed to clear his throat. ‘So, you lived in America for a while,’ he asked, once again trying to move the conversation on to safer ground. ‘But that gentle brogue is Irish more than American.’
‘Mmm, I was born in Ireland, but moved to America when I was still a young lass. I came to London last year, when Arabella—I mean the Duchess of Somerfeld’s father sent her over to England to find a husband with a title. He’s a right social climber, that one.’ Her hand shot to her mouth and a soft blush tinged her cheeks.
Was that how she saw him, as a right social climber? Is that why she thought he was marrying Cecily? Dominic released a long sigh. Well, she would be right. But his social advancement was not for himself, but for his sisters. Wasn’t it? Dominic was starting to wonder why he had ever thought marrying Cecily Hardgrave was a good idea. He shook his head and pushed that thought away. Of course it was a good idea. How could he think otherwise?
‘Perhaps advancing his daughter’s position in society was the kindest thing her father could do for her.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘I think letting his daughter live her life in a way that made her happy would have been kinder.’
It was his turn to roll his eyes. ‘Being secure, having a place in society are what’s important, not some wishy-washy idea of happiness. And anyway, the Duchess of Somerfeld looked happy enough to me.’
‘Well, she is, but that’s because she’s in love, but that wasn’t anything to do with her father.’
‘Love,’ he snorted. ‘Love and happiness, how many lives have been ruined because people have chased those illusive concepts?’
‘You don’t think it’s important to love the person you’re married to?’ She blushed slightly. ‘Sorry, that’s none of my business.’
She was right. It was none of her business, but he felt compelled to make her see how wrong she was. ‘I believe there are many important things to consider before deciding who to marry and love is not one of them. A couple should be well matched socially and temperamentally. The decision should be made based on reason, not some illusive concepts like love and the desire to
