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“Orsini will agree to any arrangements you would care to make There are a score of others in the Society who feel as strongly as I that you must allow this artist the chance to paint you Good God, ?”
Logan regarded him with mock alarm and took another s of coffee While Beauchaan considered the possibilities After a htly and spoke “I have an alternate proposition Tell Orsini that I'll allow him to paint my wife”
“Your wife…” Beauchaht, I'd heard that you were married recently…but I'm positive that Orsini would much prefer you as a subject—”
“A portrait of Mrs Scott will be a suitable centerpiece for an exhibition If Orsini is able to capture what I see in her, I'll ensure that he is amply rewarded”
Beauchaarded him doubtfully “Well…Mrs Scott is reputed to be a very attractive woman—”
“She's daan stared into the silken dark surface of his coffee “There's a quality of innocence about her that won't change even if she lives to be a hundred…” Abruptly he recalled hie, she's never been painted before Orsini is fortunate to have the opportunity”
Lord Beaucha amusement “I'll inform Mr Orsini that he must paint her, as everyone will be avidly curious about the woman who's made you so besotted”
“I wouldn't use that word,” Logan replied, scowling faintly
“Dear fellow, no other ill do The look on your face as you described her…” Chuckling, Lord Beaucha to his own table
“‘Besotted,’ h the play folio “I only said she was beautiful”
Orsini accepted the proposal without hesitation, forwarding a letter of gratitude that arrived at the Scotts' London ho informed of the plans for a portrait, Madeline reacted with dismay
“I'll be showing before the portrait is done,” she protested, standing before Logan in the library, nervously cru a sheet of paper in her hands
Logan closed an account book and turned in his chair to face her “An appropriate goill disguise your condition, and Orsini will triive you so confinement”
“I can think of ”
“I want a portrait of you After Orsini uses the work in his exhibition, I intend to purchase it”
“Exhibition!” Madeline exclaian, I have no wish to be displayed as if I were some object, or a trophy—”
“But you are,” he countered The devilish light in his eyes gave her a chill of apprehension “You're mine, and I'll flaunt you when and where I choose”
Madeline stared at him ide eyes, too flustered to speak
“What is that?” Logan asked, his gaze flickering to the paper in her hand
“It's a list…a-an estis must be eliminated, and I would like your advice—”
“Come here and show it to me” He moved his chair back fro an expression that made her uneasy
Approaching hierly on his lap, her spine held straight “Perhaps you would be more comfortable if I sat over there—”
“I' until she reclined against his chest Taking the paper frolanced down the list of nu untoward “It's more or less what I expected,” he said calmly
“It's going to cost a fortune,” Madeline replied “I kept telling the duchess there was no need to be so extravagant, but she kept ordering the best of everything, and doubling the a like that?”
“I had no idea you were so reluctant to spend an discarded the list and resettled Madeline on his chest “Prudence is a fine thing, but you're hardly a fiddler's wife”
“Of course not, but…e live on for the rest of the year?”
He toyed with the lace at the neckline of her bodice and pulled gently at the gauzy scarf that covered her throat and collarbone A smile touched the corners of his mouth “You can set your mind at ease, Maddy We could comfortably afford a ball like this every week for the rest of our lives”
Perplexed, she stared at hi “You…we…have as much as all that?”
“Four estates, not including a hunting lodge in Wiltshire” Noting her interest, he continued casually “We also own a yacht, a brewery, a building yard and tilery, and holdings in a colonialco stocks, which are producing excellent revenue Then, of course, there is the art collection and the theater, as well as other assorted properties” He seemed amused by her thunderstruck expression “You may open accounts wherever you choose, madam I have no doubt that I have the means to afford you”
It took a ather her wits It appeared that she had reater than that of her parents or either of her sisters, and larger by far than Lord Clifton's
Logan watched her expression and laughed suddenly, as if he could read her thoughts “Before you get too high for your buttons, e, and none of your children will have titles”
“That doesn't matter to me,” Madeline replied, while her heart quickened at the implication that they would have more children
“It may to them”
“They won't need titles to distinguish them They'll learn to stand on their own accomplishments, as you have”
“Why, Mrs Scott” Histo flatter me”
As he shifted her on his lap, Madeline felt the hard ridge of his sex straining beneath her, and she flushed Although his advances were hardly unwelcome, it was improper behavior for the ht walk in, or soan,” she said faintly as his s to do…”
“So do I” He began to unfasten the front of her gown, brushing away her hands as she tried to deter him