misunderstand. “I thought I was much too ‘respectable’ for those sorts of thoughts.”
That flustered her. “Well…er…that’s true. But you are still a man, after all, and even the most gentlemanly of your sex is predictable in that respect.”
He chuckled. When had the uncertain, shy Juliet blossomed into this impertinent minx? “Is that so? Well, don’t leave me any longer in suspense if you don’t want me leaping to”—he allowed his gaze to sweep her sweet form—“interesting conclusions.”
Although she noticeably stiffened, he didn’t garner any more of her pretty blushes. She tossed her head back. “I wish you to be my tutor.”
That stymied him. He could think of a thousand things he’d like to teach her, but she’d most certainly disapprove of them all. Calmly he lifted his glass to his lips. “Oh? And what is it I’m to teach you?”
“How to recognize scoundrels.”
He nearly choked in the middle of sipping his brandy. Coughing, he set the glass firmly on the desk. “Excuse me?”
“No doubt one of my meddling relations has told you of the difficulties I’ve had choosing a husband.”
“They did imply something of the sort.”
“It occurred to me this morning that my problem all along has been an inability to distinguish true gentlemenfrom rogues masquerading as gentlemen. Ever since I mistook Morgan Pryce for a gentleman, I’ve been unable to trust my instincts regarding men.”
“I see,” he said tightly.
“It makes it very difficult to choose a husband,” she went on, “especially in society where everybody already masks their true nature. No matter how acceptable a man seems, I always find him suspect.”
Apparently, her sister had been right in this one respect—she had indeed become skittish. “So you want me to teach you how to separate the wheat from the chaff?”
“Exactly.”
He swallowed more brandy. “And what makes you think a ‘respectable gentleman’ like myself is qualified for such a task?”
“Your father was one such scoundrel, wasn’t he?”
Skittish and forthright. “Yes, a thorough scoundrel, most especially when it came to women. But I didn’t share in his activities.” He set down his glass and added sarcastically, “I’m much too proper for that, remember?”
“Still, I’m sure you had opportunities to observe how he worked. To see him practice empty flatteries on a woman or lie convincingly or persuade her that he cared for her when he really didn’t.”
Deuce take her, this was moving a bit too close for comfort. He’d often regretted having to play the smooth seducer two years ago when he’d first wooed her. “The occasional opportunity, yes,” he gritted out.
“Well then, you should have no trouble teaching me how to recognize such ploys. Despite my experiences with your brother and in society, I’m still woefully inept at recognizing scoundrels myself. So to be safe I tar everybody with the same brush. But if I keep it up, I’ll remain unmarried all my life. I don’t wish to become a spinster, my lord. You could be quite useful in ensuring that I do not.”
He could indeed. But not the way she thought. “Youmentioned a proposition. Propositions generally have two parts. I do you a favor; you do me a favor. What will you do for me?”
The hazel eyes hardened into green-gray steel. “I’ll refrain from convincing my brother-in-law to drag your family’s name through the mud for what your brother did to me and my family.”
“Ah.” So she was bent on revenge.
She adopted a casual stance, calmly straightening her gloves as she continued. “Of course, if you’re afraid that being in my company might expose more of your dark family secrets, do feel free to refuse. I wouldn’t wish to make you uncomfortable.”
He nearly laughed aloud. The impudent chit was daring him to spend time with her. Not that he would say no. He could keep his “dark family secrets” well enough—he’d proved that last
That flustered her. “Well…er…that’s true. But you are still a man, after all, and even the most gentlemanly of your sex is predictable in that respect.”
He chuckled. When had the uncertain, shy Juliet blossomed into this impertinent minx? “Is that so? Well, don’t leave me any longer in suspense if you don’t want me leaping to”—he allowed his gaze to sweep her sweet form—“interesting conclusions.”
Although she noticeably stiffened, he didn’t garner any more of her pretty blushes. She tossed her head back. “I wish you to be my tutor.”
That stymied him. He could think of a thousand things he’d like to teach her, but she’d most certainly disapprove of them all. Calmly he lifted his glass to his lips. “Oh? And what is it I’m to teach you?”
“How to recognize scoundrels.”
He nearly choked in the middle of sipping his brandy. Coughing, he set the glass firmly on the desk. “Excuse me?”
“No doubt one of my meddling relations has told you of the difficulties I’ve had choosing a husband.”
“They did imply something of the sort.”
“It occurred to me this morning that my problem all along has been an inability to distinguish true gentlemenfrom rogues masquerading as gentlemen. Ever since I mistook Morgan Pryce for a gentleman, I’ve been unable to trust my instincts regarding men.”
“I see,” he said tightly.
“It makes it very difficult to choose a husband,” she went on, “especially in society where everybody already masks their true nature. No matter how acceptable a man seems, I always find him suspect.”
Apparently, her sister had been right in this one respect—she had indeed become skittish. “So you want me to teach you how to separate the wheat from the chaff?”
“Exactly.”
He swallowed more brandy. “And what makes you think a ‘respectable gentleman’ like myself is qualified for such a task?”
“Your father was one such scoundrel, wasn’t he?”
Skittish and forthright. “Yes, a thorough scoundrel, most especially when it came to women. But I didn’t share in his activities.” He set down his glass and added sarcastically, “I’m much too proper for that, remember?”
“Still, I’m sure you had opportunities to observe how he worked. To see him practice empty flatteries on a woman or lie convincingly or persuade her that he cared for her when he really didn’t.”
Deuce take her, this was moving a bit too close for comfort. He’d often regretted having to play the smooth seducer two years ago when he’d first wooed her. “The occasional opportunity, yes,” he gritted out.
“Well then, you should have no trouble teaching me how to recognize such ploys. Despite my experiences with your brother and in society, I’m still woefully inept at recognizing scoundrels myself. So to be safe I tar everybody with the same brush. But if I keep it up, I’ll remain unmarried all my life. I don’t wish to become a spinster, my lord. You could be quite useful in ensuring that I do not.”
He could indeed. But not the way she thought. “Youmentioned a proposition. Propositions generally have two parts. I do you a favor; you do me a favor. What will you do for me?”
The hazel eyes hardened into green-gray steel. “I’ll refrain from convincing my brother-in-law to drag your family’s name through the mud for what your brother did to me and my family.”
“Ah.” So she was bent on revenge.
She adopted a casual stance, calmly straightening her gloves as she continued. “Of course, if you’re afraid that being in my company might expose more of your dark family secrets, do feel free to refuse. I wouldn’t wish to make you uncomfortable.”
He nearly laughed aloud. The impudent chit was daring him to spend time with her. Not that he would say no. He could keep his “dark family secrets” well enough—he’d proved that last
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