Miss Simpkins School: Flora Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Epilogue

  Biography

  Miss Simpkins School: Flora

  Miss Simpkins School For Seduction: Book 1

  Raven McAllan

  Breathless Press

  Calgary, Alberta

  www.breathlesspress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or

  persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Miss Simpkins School: Flora

  Copyright © 2013 Raven McAllan

  ISBN: 978-1-77101-202-7

  Cover Artist: Victoria Miller

  Editor: Deadra Krieger

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations

  embodied in reviews.

  Breathless Press

  www.breathlesspress.com

  To all at Breathless Press, for having the faith in me to let me write this series of sexy short stories. Thank you, I’m having a ball—Regency of course.

  Prologue

  Molly Simpkins wandered from room to elegant room. Number fifty-seven Blake Gardens. Such a fashionable address in the heart of the ton.

  Who would have thought that she could be elevated from seamstress and erstwhile mistress to Ashley, the Earl of Addersley—pre his marriage, of course—to a respectable school owner? Not her.

  She ran her fingers over the carvings of an elegant ladder back chair and appreciated the smooth flow of the wood. The picture above the fireplace drew an admiring glance. This room was the perfect place and space to greet prospective pupils. Everywhere she looked the building and its contents personified understated comfort, exceptional taste, and dust. Oh, the house needed cleaning from top to bottom, but the proportions were perfect. Could she ever live anywhere like this and not feel out of place? It seemed she was going to have to. Molly smiled to herself; it was obvious she had a lot to learn.

  Each room surpassed the last. As she returned to the small chamber, which Adriana, Addersley’s Countess—with a grin and a wicked chuckle—had called the sewing room, Molly was overwhelmed. Not only by her good fortune, but also by the generosity of some people. Not long ago, she’d been fending off unwelcome and improper advances from rakes who thought that as she was no longer under Addersley’s protection, she would welcome theirs. Within days she was receiving apologies, flowers, and assurances of respect and help if necessary. This, she learned, was due to Ashley Addersley and his influence. To be offered this house and a chance to have a future without worry of poverty, plus the opportunity to help young ladies to have a fulfilling life, had made her wonder just what she’d done to deserve such good fortune.

  She glanced at the couple in residence. They happened.

  The tall, impeccably dressed gentleman who leaned against the mantelpiece, legs crossed at the ankles, had his arms folded over his chest. He was an imposing figure, and the stance only enhanced his physical attributes. He raised one eyebrow.

  “Well?”

  “Oh, ‘tis very well, but why?”

  The dark-haired woman who sat on the settee giggled. The red highlights in her hair glinted in the sunlight that streamed through the window. “Ash, stop it. You know fine what Molly means.”

  She struggled to stand up, her advanced pregnancy making her clumsy. Her husband walked over to her and put his arm under hers to lever her into a standing position. She smiled her thanks and Molly stifled the pang of envy that filled her like a child who had been told she couldn’t have any more marchpane but her friend could. They were so happy. Although Molly didn’t want that with Ashley, how she would like a man just for her. One to gaze at her as if she was his everything. She hadn’t thought she ever wanted to be in that situation, but now, seeing the love and contentment that shone out of them, she wondered just what it would be like.

  “I swear I have an elephant in here.” Adriana patted her bump. “A herd of elephants.”

  “I hope not. My seed is to produce Addersleys, not elephants,” Ash drawled.

  Molly had never understood the way they spoke so openly even though it was to her favor. She did her best not to blush. Adriana saw and smiled at her in sympathy.

  “What he means, Molly, is we want to help you. You did us both a service, you know. When I found you two together before our marriage, I wanted what you had,” Adriana continued, with a twinkle in her eyes.

  Molly blushed. To know Adriana had seen what she had could have been so embarrassing, if anyone had allowed it to be.

  Ashley laughed. “Did she?” He raised one well-shaped eyebrow. “Oh yes, she did, and it gave me immense pleasure showing her.”

  “You see, Molly, I said why be a wife when a mistress has more fun.” Adriana giggled. “I wasn’t going to settle for anything less, and I didn’t. How many women of the ton can say that? So many husbands do their duty and depart the marriage bed. Women deserve more.”

  Oh, how Molly agreed. Ashley had been her only lover, and that was before he married. He wasn’t the sort of person to countenance anything else, and Molly agreed with him. He had also been invaluable in making sure she wasn’t subjected to any unwanted advances by so-called gentlemen who thought that she would be an easy mark. Due to his protection, many still thought of Molly as Ashley’s mistress. The three of them had long decided that was an irrelevance that they could ignore.

  This approach from the earl and countess came out of the blue. On a previous occasion, Adriana commented how many ladies of the ton complained about their husbands. She was amongst the lucky few who enjoyed all they wanted in their marriage. So many debutants were now hesitating to marry because they didn’t think their intended would buck the trend of leaving the marital bed once they sired the required heir and spare.

  “You see, Molly, there are so many ladies who need to know more than they do—both unmarried and wed. It seems my exploits are well documented in the ton.” Adriana hadn’t seemed unduly worried. “Several young and not so young ladies asked either directly or in a roundabout way what I did and how. So many females are sadly lacking in womanly wiles. You, and I, and some of my close friends are going to rectify that. I have a list of interested ladies and others who will be happy to come and talk to your, shall we call them scholars,” Adriana had said. “So are you willing to do this?”

  Molly didn’t feel she could say no. To be honest, she admitted she didn’t want to. Her life, safe as it was, had become mundane and boring. This would enliven it.

  “Yes, and I hope I can earn your faith in me. But Ad…Adriana,” she said and stumbled over calling her ex-client from when she was a seamstress by her Christian name. “Where will I find the ladies who need help?”

  “You won’t. I and my friends will,” Adriana told her.

  Chapter One

  The knock at the door was unexpected. Molly dropped the duster down onto the half-moon table next to the wall and glanced down at her apron-clad body. She grimaced at the dusty streaks on her arms and clothes. As her staff weren’t due to arrive until the next day, and Molly couldn’t remain idle unless she’d been tied down, she’d decided to start sorting some of the rooms out. Adriana had told her she should wait, but Molly had shaken her head.

  “I can’t, Adriana. I
need to be busy. Are you sure you don’t need a new dress for the Mayburn’s ball? I have a lovely roll of silk that would be perfect. Or some more swaddling clothes for the baby? Can you ever have enough? Perhaps I need to stitch more gowns or edge blankets?” Anything rather than be idle.

  “The child could be re-swaddled every hour for a year with the amount you have made,” Adriana said with a giggle. “And have a different set of clothes and blanket every day until he or she reaches its first birthday. As for a new gown, I’d look like Lunardi’s balloon,” Adriana added, reminding Molly of the flight her mama had spoken of seeing in her youth. “So perhaps not. Save it for after the baby is born.” She kissed Molly. “I came with the list of who will help you, with what, when, and how. Ash has put his foot down, and told me I need to rest more. I have only a few weeks to go, and I agree even moving is wearying. However, if you are worried, you send word.” She made her slow way to the door. “Take a day away from work, you’ll be hard at it soon enough.”

  Molly had agreed, but once Adriana left, she began to look around and see little things she could do. The room she’d earmarked as a guest bedroom was the largest bedchamber after the one Adriana insisted was to be Molly’s. Molly decided this second room was perhaps the least attractive, but had potential to be one of the best. The proportions were good, and the window faced west. Furnishings could be refreshed, and wall hangings changed. First she’d see what soap, water, and a duster could achieve. She’d donned a serviceable dress, covered it with an apron, and started to clean.

  Three hours later she was satisfied, and about to change into something more personable when a rap of the doorknocker had reverberated throughout the hallway. If she hadn’t been crossing the landing at the top of the staircase, she’d have missed the summons. For one moment Molly wondered if she should ignore it, but it was repeated. With a sigh, she undid the apron and hid it behind the buttoned back of a chair. Molly glanced into a now sparkling mirror and smoothed her hair into some semblance of neatness, before running down the stairs. She walked swiftly across the wooden floor to the imposing front door and opened it. It was stiff and heavy, and Molly was relieved to think that from the following day it wouldn’t be her job to address.

  The young girl standing there took her by surprise. Her companion made Molly take a pace back in astonishment.

  “Tilly?” Molly chose not to mention the hooded lady standing next to the person she addressed.

  “Yes.” She had a haunted look in her eyes, and kept taking a glance over her shoulders. “Please let us in, Molly.”

  Molly took another step back and Lady Tilly Hammond, Adriana’s sister, walked past her in a hurry. Her companion scurried after her as she kept her head down, and the hood of her cape up.

  “Please shut the door. Mama thinks I’m at Hatchards with Louisa Flitchett. Louisa is waiting for me there.” Tilly turned and stood in the middle of the entrance hall. “I had to come. I overheard Riana and Ash talking and I knew you were my friend’s savior.”

  Molly raised one eyebrow, but didn’t reply. She closed the door carefully and garnered her thoughts.

  “Hardly a savior, and as you can see, I wasn’t expecting visitors.” She gestured to her serviceable gown, which was not from that season, or the previous one.

  Tilly stared and giggled. “The cobwebs in your hair gives that away.” She brushed at Molly’s hair. “Now, that’s better. So?”

  “Follow me,” Molly said abruptly. She wondered what was happening. Adriana might have said that Tilly was unhappy, but surely she wasn’t visiting because of that? It must be something to do with the cloaked and mysterious lady. Molly was certain she recognized her from the rings on her finger. Molly had heard through the tittle-tattle that the lady was nigh on betrothed. Perhaps she needed help to decide if the gentleman so assiduously paying court to her was going to be the one she accepted? Without haste, Molly led the way into the sewing room. She couldn’t think of it as anything else now, even if she had promised she wouldn’t sew in there but use the room she had set aside on the next floor for that. Apart from her bedchamber, the tiny salon was the one room outfitted properly. Most of the furniture elsewhere had holland covers over it until the decorations were finished.

  Start as you mean to go on. Molly took a deep breath. “Why are you here, Tilly?” It took all of her determination not to use Tilly’s title and curtsey, but Molly knew that now some people didn’t need that. Tilly was one of them. “And your friend?”

  Tilly bit her lip. “What we say is in confidence?”

  “Of course.” Molly wondered how best to reassure her. “I assume you heard your sister talking about my school?”

  Tilly giggled. “I think it’s perfect. So many of my friends are in despair. I mean, we don’t want to put the demi monde out of business, but nor do we wish our partners partnering them, not us.” She paused and sighed. “But my problem is more than that. I don’t want to get married. Ever.” She sounded fierce, and her voice was deep and hard. It sent shivers over Molly’s skin. “And I have to.” She sounded as if it was a walk to the scaffold.

  “It’s natural to be nervous, or so I’m told,” Molly said. “However, I’m sure we can help.”

  “I’m sure you can’t but we’ll see.” Tilly worried her lip. “Anyhow this is not about me. It is about F... er, my friend. One moment, you said we. Who is we? Not my sister. She is about to produce the start of the next generation of Addersleys. I don’t want her worried.”

  “Not Adriana,” Molly said as she made haste to reassure the younger girl. “She has friends who will aid me where necessary. Adriana and Ash are my, my mentors, I think I can say, but several other people have pledged to help if help is needed.” She waited with as much patience as she could muster, while Tilly paced the room. After several minutes, as the air seemed thicker, and the tick of the clock louder, Tilly looked at her cloaked friend, who nodded.

  “Then I’ll leave you both to chat,” she said. “Although I may well come for advice at some point in the near future, this isn’t about me.” She hugged her companion who returned the gesture. “When shall I return for you?”

  Molly wondered if the hood was ever going to be removed to reveal the identity of her visitor. It was time to intervene. “Do you need to? Can I not procure a hackney? Even though I may not have any staff in place, I’m able to step out and perform that small act. I have feet to walk to the main thoroughfare, and a shrill whistle to attract attention. And I will accompany l…” She stopped herself saying more. After all, she still hadn’t been shown who the other person was.

  “I don’t know.” Tilly sounded dubious. “It’s not up to me.”

  “No, it’s up to me,” her companion said, and pulled back the hood. “I’m sorry, I’m being so stupid. I’m the one who needs help and fast. I’ll be fine, Tilly, really. My brother is at Tattershalls and won’t even know I’m missing. Anyhow, he thinks I’m at Lady Fenton’s tea party, with lots of other people. She thinks I’m at Lydia Howe’s poetry reading, and Lydia thinks I’m somewhere else. All my tracks are well concealed. I’ll make my way home in a hackney and see you at the Markham Ball tonight.”

  Tilly nodded. “Then I’ll leave you.”

  Molly accompanied her to the door. “And what about someone to accompany you?”

  Tilly grinned. “My maid is waiting in the carriage over there. I covered all eventualities. Bessie is loyal and knows what problems I and others face.” She gave Molly a swift hug. After a brief hesitation, Molly returned it. It still felt strange. At times she was convinced she’d wake up to find herself asleep over a ball gown, needle in hand.

  “I’ll be back soon, Molly, for me, once I work out what I need to know.” Tilly sketched a wave, ran down the steps, and across the square to where a carriage waited. With a deep sense of foreboding Molly closed the door, and went back to the sewing room. I really must start thinking of it as a parlor.

  As she entered the room its occupant turned, and gave he
r a half smile.

  “I’m glad you don’t mind me pushing myself on you, but truly I have so little time to decide what to do.”

  Chapter Two

  Flora Gilchrist bit her lip. Her heart was thumping loud enough to drown out the sound of the clock, and she had the hint of an incipient headache. Had she done the correct thing by turning to Molly Simpkins for help? If it hadn’t been for Tilly’s assistance she would have been stuck in an impossible situation. As it was, Flora didn’t think she’d have any course to follow other than the one set out for her. Nonetheless, she was going to do her best to make sure as much as possible went in her favor.

  She glanced at the slender and bright-eyed lady in front of her. It was almost unbelievable that she hadn’t been born into the ton. Her dress, even though it was old and had streaks of dust over it, was of the highest quality, and the needlework perfect. Of course, Flora mused, as Molly was formerly a mantua maker, and perhaps still kept her hand in, her clothing would be so.

  “Maybe we need to sit down again and you can tell me what you need?” Molly said, and waved toward a brocade-covered chair. “Would you like refreshments? It won’t take me a moment. As I said, my staff doesn’t arrive until the morrow, hence my grime. I couldn’t be inactive when I have so much to do. If I can be of service to you, believe me it will help me as well. I abhor idleness.”

  Flora could understand that. She was of a like mind. Her decision made, she opened her cloak and threw it over the back of the chair before she sat down. “Wine if you have some, please. I’ve a feeling this next half hour isn’t going to be easy.”

  Molly nodded but didn’t comment as she went to a sideboard and poured two glasses of a deep red wine into goblets. She passed one to Flora, who took a hasty sip. It went down her throat like liquid silk, smooth and fruity. “This is good.” Why did she sound surprised? “I’m not saying it shouldn’t,” she added in a hurry. “But it looks heavy and it isn’t.” Argh, maybe I need to ask for social skills, not sex ones?