The Wanton Widow - A Regency Novella (6 page)

“
What did Philip say about me?”

“
You know...” As she hesitated, she let Eddie nibble on her index finger. “Is it true that you've never been with a woman?”

“
That is the complete and utter truth,” Edward confessed. “I am sure my unusual chastity might look pathetic to some, but... I am actually quite proud of it. If I am to expect a chaste wife, why should she not expect a chaste husband?”

“
A chaste wife...” Willow repeated with a pout. For some reason, she was strangely disheartened by his words. “So, you have no desire to lay with a woman? To see her naked? To hold her in your arms?”

Edward nervously nibbled on his lip. It seemed like an awkward conversation to be having with a lady, but Willow was hardly a typical lady. “Of course I have the
desire,
I simply suppress it. I have every intention of waiting until I am married... to share that moment with someone special.”

“
What if... the woman you fell in love with was unchaste? Could you overlook it?”

“
If I was truly in love with her, of course,” Edward said. “It is my deepest belief that love will blind you to a person's shortcomings.”

“
So if the woman was not a virgin... it would be a shortcoming?”

And then it dawned on him. They weren't just talking about any woman, they were talking about
her
.

But why?

Before he could reply, Willow said, “Well, no matter. I am certain your Miss Abrahms is the pinnacle of virtue. Having said that, what did you think about my idea? Do you think it might be beneficial if she saw us together?”

“
P-perhaps.”

He waited for his pinch, which was a bit delayed. Willow's distraction was written all over her face.

“
When can we meet her?” she asked.

“
Saturday. She goes to Hyde Park on Saturdays,” Edward said. “She and her grandmother go for a stroll every Saturday afternoon.”

“
Every
Saturday?”

He nodded. “Yes. Every Saturday.”

“
And how, might I ask, are you aware of this?!”

When he didn't answer, Willow simultaneously shook her head and rolled her eyes.

He was more smitten with Jane Abrahms than she realized.

Chapter Seven

When he found her in Hyde Park, Edward thought she looked more beautiful than ever. Her dark tresses were hidden beneath a straw bonnet; apart from the few curled tendrils that framed her face. Her cheeks were tinted rouge, likely from the heat. In the light of the sun, her tawny eyes looked more warm and vibrant than ever.

“
G-good day, Willow. It's l-lovely to see you again.” Every time he stuttered, Edward could feel himself wince. It had been two days since he had received any pinches from the beautiful widow, and he was out of practice.

But not anymore. She pinched his arm two times. “And you are looking handsome, Edward Harcourt.”

“
And you're as beautiful as ever, Wilomena Worthington,” he fired back at her. “I l-like your bonnet.”

Another pinch.

“
Thank you for the compliment, but I hardly think it's anything special,” Willow said. “I keep asking Philip to take me to a milliner. Unfortunately, I don't think having a fashionable mistress is very high on his list of priorities.”

“
If you were with me, you would be my
only
priority.”

Willow could feel her cheeks getting warmer. His words were innocent enough, but did he have any idea what sort of effect they had on her? Ignoring the pangs of her heart, Willow took him by the arm and proceeded to guide him in the direction of the greenery. “Well... if I'm a bit drab, perhaps it is for the best. I would not want to outshine your Miss Abrahms.”

“
You could never be drab, Willow.”

“
Nor could she be outshone, I am sure.” When he didn't respond, Willow assumed it was true. “So, where might we find your Miss Abrahms?”

“
She is hardly
my
Miss Abrahms,” Edward said with a chuckle.

“
Oh, but you wish she was... do you not? And I am sure she will be, if you play your cards carefully.”

“
I am not so certain of that. I have a lot of competition.”

Willow tried to ignore the voice in the back of her head, the voice that was hoping he would fail. Did she really want him to sweep Jane Abrahms off of her feet? Hardly! Though she said she wanted to help him, Willow secretly wanted him to fail. Her contradictory thoughts had her feeling incredibly wicked. Nevertheless, she could only imagine how jealous she would be to see another woman in his arms.

Jealous
? At what point had she allowed jealousy into her heart? It was ludicrous. It wasn't as if she wanted Edward Harcourt for herself.

Did she
?!

Edward spoke again, simultaneously breaking the silence and interrupting her unwelcome thoughts. “As for where me might find Miss Abrahms... I have no clue. I was hoping we might wander around and happen upon her.”

“
And the likelihood of that is very slight,” Willow said. “Hyde Park is enormous!”

“
True. But I feel as if fate is on my side today. In the meantime, I have your company to enjoy.”

“
Do you enjoy my company, Edward?”

“
Most definitely. I always enjoy your company, Willow,” Edward insisted. “I trust Lord Mowbray did not protest when you said you would be spending time with me?”

“
He did not protest in the least. Poor Philip... I believe he thinks his claim on my heart is much larger than it is.”

“
Are you in love with him?” Edward knew it was an inappropriate question, but it was out of his mouth before he had a chance to mull it over.

“
No.”

“
Have you ever been in love, Willow?”

“
I--” Willow took a moment to ponder his question, for it was a question she had never considered. She certainly did not love her husband, who was much older and quite cold. Not long after her husband's death, she had enjoyed a two-month-long relationship with a viscount, but she never loved him. Before Philip entered her life, she had enjoyed a brief tryst with a man named Brittley Christian, but
brief
it most certainly was. “No, I have never been in love. Sad as it is.”

“
Do you think you
could
love Philip?”

Willow had to wonder why he was asking so many intrusive questions. Was he curious for his own sake, or did he simply have his friend's best interests at heart? “Alas, I am starting to believe I am incapable of love,” she confessed.

“
Nonsense! No one is incapable of love!” Edward disagreed. “You are a good woman, and you have a warm heart. If you keep your heart open to the possibility of love, I am sure love will find its way in.”

“
How very romantic of you.”

“
It is what I truly believe.”

“
And...” Willow went on, “you have not been stammering at all! I am really quite impressed!”

A self-satisfied smirk twitched the corner of his mouth. Maybe Willow's pinches were having an effect on him after all? He hoped her praise would not jinx him.

“
Now that we are on the subject of love, how do you feel about Miss Abrahms?” Willow asked. “Are you in love with her?”

“
I suppose... sometimes I believe I
am
in love with her,” he confessed. “However, if I am being completely honest with myself, it couldn't possibly be more than a simple infatuation. She is beautiful and kind and accomplished... she is everything I could want in a woman. But true love, real love, would have to be something deeper... a respect for the woman she is, and a deeper admiration of her character.”

“
But do you like being around her?” Willow asked. “Are you happy when she's near?”

I'm happy when
you
are near
. Willow wished, from the bottom of her heart, that he would say something similar to that. As time went on, she found herself envying Jane Abrahms—and she hadn't even met the girl!

“
Willow.” Edward squeezed her wrist.

“
What?”

“
That's her... over there.” He bowed his head in the direction of a willowy blonde girl, as precious as a basket of bunnies. As soon as Willow laid eyes on her, she understood why Jane might be the source of his infatuation.

“
And the woman at her side?” Willow focused her attention on the tight-lipped crone standing next to Edward's lady love. She looked about seventy, with severe eyes and a stern expression. “I would assume that is her grandmother. Are you sure you want to tackle that dragon?”

“
I'm p-p-positive.” Already he was stuttering, and Willow didn't have the heart to pinch him. “Come. Let us walk by her... and try to look casual.”

Arm-in-arm, they made their way toward the effervescent Jane Abrahms, whose blonde hair was glowing in the sunlight. Her adorable bonnet was covered in posies and nosegays, which seemed to add to her allure of innocence. The closer they got, the more Willow could feel her envy mounting.

“
Mr. Harcourt!” Jane called to him. “Mr. Harcourt, it is so wonderful to see you.”

“
I--” He could feel his tongue tying up. “I... I...”

Willow gave him a pinch and a prod. As much as she envied the lady in front of her, she couldn't let poor Edward make a cake of himself.

“
It is a pleasure to see you too, Miss Abrahms,” Edward said. “You look as beautiful as ever.” His compliment earned him a sneer from the disapproving grandmother.

“
Thank you, Mr. Harcourt. You look quite well yourself!” Jane exclaimed. Her voice was tiny and sweet, which put Willow in mind of a baby bird. “And who is your lovely companion?”

“
This is Wilomena Worthington,” Edward introduced her. “Though she prefers to be called Willow.”

“
Oh...” Jane pouted. She was a bit concerned by his familiarity with the woman at his side. “How long have you known... Miss Worthington?”

“
I am not a
miss
... I am a widow,” Willow cut in. “And we have not been acquainted for very long, have we?”

“
Not too long,” Edward agreed, flashing a smile at the brunette on his arm. “Although... it feels like I've known her forever. It is amazing, really, how easily we converse.”

“
Oh...” Jane said again, apparently rendered speechless. Was it his imagination, or did her lips quiver slightly?

“
Edward is so handsome, is he not?” As she spoke, Willow reached up and gave his hair a ruffle. “And he is so very pleasant! After being in the company of Edward, I believe it is impossible to fully appreciate the company of any other man.”

Willow's compliments were making him blush. He didn't know if she meant them, or if she was saying them for the sake of inspiring jealousy in Miss Abrahms.

“
He is very... kind,” Jane agreed.

“
But my dancing leaves something to be desired, does it not?” Edward asked with a chuckle. “I believe I owe an apology to your poor feet, Miss Abrahms.”

“
Oh? Well... it is quite alright,” Jane said. “Will you be attending Lady Georgina's ball? If it isn't too much for me to say... I would like to dance with you again, Mr. Harcourt.”

Beside her, the old lady cleared her throat.

“
Of course, Miss Abrahms. Nothing would give me more pleasure than that,” Edward said. “It was truly wonderful to see you again.”

“
And you, Mr. Harcourt,” Jane reciprocated. “And it was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Worthington.”

Willow wanted to return her kind words, but all she could do was smile. Now that she had seen the chaste beauty in person, she knew she had no chance at--

No chance at
what
? At stealing Edward's heart? At capturing Edward's interest? Willow was more confused by her thoughts than she had ever been confused by anything. Whatever feelings she had for Edward Harcourt were completely and utterly ludicrous!

“
Come, dear,” the crone finally spoke up. She laid a hand on her charge's arm and proceeded to steer her away. “We mustn't waste any more time!”

“
Farewell, Mr. Harcourt!” Jane called to him.

“
Farewell, Miss Abrahms!”

As she was being led away, Edward glanced over at her. Jane was staring at him over her shoulder, as if trying to keep him in view as long as possible.

“
You know, Willow...” Edward said, grinning like a misbehaved schoolboy. “I think that might have worked!”

“
Wonderful!” Willow said, wincing.
She didn't want it to work!