Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“The source is as unimportant as her name. For I will not marry her. Any silly girl running throughout society seeking a man with a title is either grossly ignorant or enormously vain and pretentious. Neither is appealing. Maybe that is why she is still unwed.”
“That is hardly fair,” she replied, reaching up to dust the grass off the sleeves of my coat. “All ladies in our society are expected to marry a man of equal birth or higher. You know that, August. The Du Bells are one of the greatest noble families in England. Her elder sister became a duchess just two years ago. I see nothing wrong with your aunt wishing to match you both based on status. Lady Hathor is a good, respectable young lady. And you…”
“And I am a notorious rake?” I smirked, placing my hands on her hips, drawing her closer to me. “I do not deny it…if only my aunt would accept it as well. I’m sure this Lady Hathor is a respectable, innocent little lamb and this is meant to subdue me. They believe she can mend my poor judgments and make me an honorable, boring man. But I like being bad, it is much more fun.”
I kissed her cheek before stepping around her.
“So you wish to waste your life away seeking fun? You shall not be young forever.”
“But I am young now, and it seems a waste to spend such a grand time of life with the dull, infantile ladies of society. All of them are nonsensical, fluttering like chickens with not a clue about the world or a care beyond balls and their dresses. Their company is even worse than that of children, for a child at least has some sense of adventure and imagination.”
“Marriage matures all ladies. You cannot fight this, August, and I do not see why you wish to make such a matter of it. Just marry and do as all men do after…whatever they like. My husband had several mistresses and lived as though he were a bachelor till the day he died. No one cared.” That expression upon her face I knew very well. No one cared…but her.
What was the point of taking such vows if no one bothered to uphold them? Her husband carried on as though he were unmarried, and she acted wantonly in the shadows. It was all so much effort that could simply be avoided by remaining unwed.
“Besides, what of your inheritance? If you are not married by twenty-five, are you not going to lose everything?”
“Because I have so much now.” My voice dripped with sarcasm. “I doubt they shall truly leave me penniless, but if they do I shall count on your kindness as always.”
“This is no joke, August, you should truly be concerned—”
“Thank you for your advice, Vivi, I’ll let my aunt know I heard you, for I am sure that was part of your purpose in luring me out today. But my mind remains unchanged. No, in fact, I am even more staunchly opposed. Why have mistresses when I can simply enjoy the company of the finest women in the world unburdened?”
“So you may have a home, family, and children.”
“I already have home and family. As for children…well, there is no guarantee of that in marriage either, and so I’d rather not risk my freedoms. Truly there is nothing more liberating than going to a woman and leaving a woman with no further expectation than coin…or fun. So sweet Lady Hathor is going to have to find new prey to hunt. There is no threat or inheritance large enough that will change my mind.” I snickered, handing her my arm for us to return. She gave me a stern look.
“You really are impossible to reason with.”
“I’m glad you have surrendered. Let us never speak on this matter again. Though I do wonder what type of name Hathor is; it does not seem English at all,” I mused as we began to walk forward. Then all of sudden, I heard an answer come from behind me.
“That is because it is not English, it is Egyptian.”
I glanced back to see a light brown–skinned woman with an angelic face, honey-colored eyes, and long curly hair that hung loose down her shoulders. She wore a deep green dress with gold trim that seemed to blend into the grass field she stood upon. If not for her hands, which were clearly balled into fists, one might think she were some divine muse of nature. She glared at me with a fury I did not understand nor think warranted, as I did not know her. I would surely have remembered her face if I had seen her—or slept with her—before.
From her clothes and the maid behind her, it was clear she was not a woman I would or could have had…history with. Though I greatly wished to, for she was truly stunning. Breathtaking in fact. I glanced to Vivienne, thinking maybe she was an acquaintance of hers, but Vivienne stared, eyes wide, and then took a deep breath before speaking.