Lord Romney's Exquisite Widow by Jenni James Read Free Book Online

incredible.” He grabbed two more and then continued to plague Hamson. “In fact, you are acting remarkably more like a two-year-old upset that he did not get his sweet biscuits than a grown man of five and twenty. Thunderation! And you expect to have women falling at your feet, do you?”
    Hamson snorted. “Why have you not gone yet?”
    “Because someone has to knock some sense into you. And also, your tarts are rather good.”
    Hamson took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, his appetite suddenly gone. “Well, what if my mother is correct? It is fairly obvious that Lady Romney is most definitely soiled, and Miss Hemming is not.”
    Atten slowly uncrossed his legs, and then ever so cautiously began to replace two of the sandwiches. He looked to be in complete and utter shock. After a few more beats of silence, the lord stared pointedly at Hamson and said tersely, “Forgive me, George, but out of all the years we have known each other, I have never heard something as callous or disrespectful as that come out of your mouth. Had she been my sister, I would call you out this instant.”
    “Oh, come now! It is not that atrocious! Who is the one creating melodramas now? Call me out, indeed. Some friend you are.”
    Atten’s frozen gaze met Hamson’s. “This is no jesting matter. Tell me, did you express to the pitiable lady that someone thought she was soiled?”
    A strange feeling of unease settled over Hamson. “Yes.”
    Atten glanced down and then gave a short, quick nod. “Well, my fellow comrade, I have no assistance for you. There is simply nothing else I can say at this moment. If you have not already concluded the great erroneous wrong you have committed—even more so than Compton and that infamous bet at White’s!— there is no help for you.” He stood up. “One thing is for certain, however. Since you have guaranteed that Lady Romney will not be seeing you ever again, she is fair game for me.” He grinned. “And perhaps she is in need of some support, as your brutality and exceptional rudeness will have left her shaken to the core.”
    “Hang about, man! What is the meaning of this? I did not say I was giving up on her. Why would you wish to court the gel? Go find your own. I have been pining for her these past four years at least.”
    Atten slammed his fist upon the desk. “Then act it!” He strode to the door and then turned back before opening it. “Nay, I can see by your face that you are honestly confused. I am so infuriated right now, it is useless to expect me to be rational. However, let me attempt to make you see reason. George, you insulted the lady fully—a married lady—and treated her like you would a courtesan. When a fellow like myself happens to be out browsing the shops and chances upon her and her sweet daughter-in-law this afternoon, and sees that kind smile and hears her soothing words to her step-grandson and future heir, one is completely captivated by her calm beauty and cannot help but marvel at such a woman. Your idiocy merely spared me the inconvenience of feeling wrong in wishing to court the gel myself. To make my point clear—she is an angel, and any man who has an in with her now is a fool to consider her anything less than the heavenly being that she is. You, my dear friend, are such a fool. However, now I am free to court her and shall.” He gave a short salute and bowed before shutting the door most forcefully behind him.
    In all his life, George Verl Hamson had never felt so completely chastised as he did right then. And when a strange feeling of dread came over him, he soon acknowledged he had no one to find fault with but himself.
     

CHAPTER NINE:
     
     
    It was a few days later at Lady Allington’s card party that Hamson saw Lady Romney again. Indeed, when the two women and the new Lord Romney appeared in the doorway, the whole place tittered to a stop. Hamson had been searching his cards when he noticed the direction everyone else was staring