“You could have a gown made the color of my new red waistcoat.”It was a deep maroon-looking color, perhaps the only thing in his new wardrobe that he actually liked.
“I can admit that I am in need of a new gown.”Her arm tightened around his.“Though I had access to the Summerset fortune, Hughes greatly monitored every farthing.”
He turned them away from the gleaming carriage, the Summerset arms shining brightly in gold.
Tavish gritted his teeth, wanting to snap Hughes’s neck for not allowing her the freedom to purchase whatever she wanted.If anyone was deserving of the fortune, it was her.He didn’t know his da’s cousin personally, but Tavish had heard stories about old Summerset.He could only imagine what a disagreeable ass he was.
“Lead the way then, Princess.”Tavish tilted his head at her, not knowing where the blasted modiste’s shop was.
She began walking, and like the faithful dog he was becoming, he followed her down the paved walk.
“You’re being kind,” she said suddenly as she led him through a throng of shoppers.
He chuckled.“You’ve only just met me.How do you know that I’m not always kind?”he asked, knowing that perhaps he hadn’t behaved in a way that would let her know who he really was underneath it all.
Tavish may be a fighter, but he was kind to those he cared about.
His own life hadn’t been hard.His parents had always cared for him and his siblings and his cousin.They’d never gone hungry, but there were times they were close.
“No one’s kind, not really.Everyone pretends to be of course.”Florentia led them to a bustling street filled with carriages.
Women of all shapes and sizes strolled along the shops, peering into windows and speaking to each other, more than one pair of eyes flitting their way.Florentia was greeted by mumbled greetings of “Your Grace” as they passed.
“You’re not kind?”he asked her.“I already know you have no manners?—”
“No manners?”She halted in front of an elaborate shop, her green eyes digging into him.“I have no manners?”She pressed a gloved hand to her chest.“Says the man who eats with his fingers.”
“You don’t say please or thank you.That’s just as rude as eating with your fingers.”Tavish pulled her closer, his lips brushing her ear.She trembled, and he couldn’t stop the delight that ran through him.“Besides, I’d wager you’d like my fingers.”
It was a crude remark to say to a lady, but he wanted to see that fire in her eyes that threatened to burn him whole and leave him in a pile at her feet.
She pretended to ignore him, peering at something in the shop window, her teeth biting at the corner of her plump bottom lip.
“You’re vile,” she said, her cheeks rosy.“Even if I did.”Her gaze darted to him as she leaned forward, the move bringing them closer together in broad daylight.“There’s nothing to be done about it.”
“Aye, there is.”He replied, his gaze never leaving hers.
He wanted her wrapped around him from the moment she’d stood in front of him bold and bare.
This was utter fecking madness.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tavish followed behind Florentia as they exited the carriage.An entire damn day of shopping.If he never saw another cravat or ribbon again, he’d be the happiest bastard in the world.
After spending nearly two hours at the modiste, they had gone to the haberdashery and the milliners, before stopping at Hatchards.
Tavish could honestly say that he’d never gone shopping for books in his entire life, but Florentia seemed to enjoy it.He was surprised that she didn’t choose one of those famous books by that woman Austen.Not his duchess, she was more practical than that.She liked reading gothic novels.Something he’d learned as they had perused the shelves, him trailing dutifully behind.
He tried not to question his sudden need to protect and care for this woman he’d barely known twenty-four hours.Perhaps it was the way she didn’t expect anyone to care for her, or how her body tensed at the mention of her dead husband or her mother.
“That was a productive trip,” she said, walking in front of him toward the large mansion.
Anderson was holding the door open for them like they were royalty.It had only been one day, and yet Tavish already could sense the change in himself.Not only was he dressed like a king, but he was being treated like one.
“Is that your way of saying thank you?”he teased, knowing that being kind was difficult for her.
Entering Summerset House,he passed Anderson his newly acquired coat, hat, and cane.It all seemed unnecessary to him, who had always worn a shirt and trousers.He wore a jacket only for special occasions, and in bare-knuckle boxing, there were none.
