"But he's your guardian. Not a man at all, if you take my meaning."
"I see."
Blake scowled at this. He grew determined to show Arabella just how much of a man he could be. He put on his most winning smile and tapped on the door.
Arabella looked up and smiled. "Hello. How are you?"
His hazel eyes glowed as he gazed at her lovely face. "Well, my dear. And you?"
"Very well, thank you."
"I must say you're doing wonders with the place. Much more cosy to come home to. Wonderful cushions, crocheted blankets. I think I must have the best wardrobe in London now thanks to you. Not to mention Cook's new receipts. Something smells delicious.
"So, Mrs. Evans can have the night off, and we can go out to the Elthams. They're having an at home, music, cards, and charades, if you like."
A pretty dimple peeped out. "It sounds wonderful. Are you sure you can spare the time, Doctor?"
"I always make time for things which are important."
"What shall I wear?"
"I like your lavender and white. It really brings up your eyes. Have you checked your investments today?"
Said violet eyes sparkled. "I have."
She hastened over to the small desk to show him her book, with the price and her tracking on the graph.
"I've heard that that's as high as it is going to go. Would you like to sell now, or take a gamble that my informant was wrong?"
"I trust you. You were correct last week, after all. We shall sell."
"We shall speak to the broker on the way to the clinic tomorrow."
"We?" she said, her brows raising.
"Yes. Now that you've transformed this house, it is about time you transformed the clinic as well."
"But Dr. Sanderson, I really must protest," Mrs. Evans exclaimed. "Arabella should not be consorting with-"
"She will not be consorting, as you put it," he said coldly. "She will be helping me."
"Very well, but you have some odd notions of what is appropriate for a young lady."
His tone remained even. "I own it. Prudery and a narrow mind are perceived by most as desirable attributes for the female gender. I would like to think it suits neither sex."
"It is my duty to obey, of course. However, I feel it incumbent upon me to state my objections now."
"Duly noted. Thank you, Mrs. Evans. Have a good evening."
The older woman was surprised that he had not asked her to join them for dinner. He simply took Arabella's hand and departed.
She shook her head. The girl was never going to get a good husband this way. She rather flattered herself a good matchmaker. There were so many eligible young men in London at present. She just had to push things forward a bit, or try to, if she could ever get Arabella out of the house. Wouldn't it be a fine thing….
"I say, Adam, you're never going to guess. Our little country mouse of a cousin is here in Town!"
Adam Neville lifted his thin lips languidly from the lewd lady he was dallying with. He squeezed her breast hard, and sighed. "What concern of this is ours?"
"Because Peter Davison is gone. Overseas. Leaving her with some old friend of his as her guardian."
Oliver sat down on the red velvet chaise longue, sandwiching the whore between them in a most suggestive manner which set her to wriggling anew.
"Peter gone? A guardian, you say?" His bushy black brows rose. "What is her fortune?"
"A good one, and getting greater all the time. She sold her shares in Pinkus' last week just before the bottom dropped out, and made a killing. This could be the making of us, old boy."
"I don't see-"
"Marriage, you fool. A fortune ripe for the taking." Oliver grabbed the prostitute's bare backside by way of emphasis. "One of us marries her, bails out the other."
The two dark-haired men stared at each other for a moment.
Adam shrugged. "Even assuming it were possible to meet with the virtuous young miss, how could we ever deceive anyone into thinking we were suitable? Her guardian will carry out inquiries. If I'm not mistaken, several of our creditors are about to call in our vowels."
"We can get them to hold off. Go to a cent-percenter, cut a bit of a dash. Find a desperate solicitor who can try to smooth things over, negotiate the marriage settlement, in exchange for a portion of whatever one or the other of us gets."
Eventually Adam nodded. "You know, Brother, it might just work."
"I'm telling you, she's ripe for the plucking," Oliver said with a laugh, groping the girl until she gasped in pain.