Love With the Proper Husband by Victoria Alexander Page B

well, then, it was just an idea.” Reggie plopped back on the sofa and held out his glass for a refill. “Do you think that’s a flaw in their characters? Women, I mean? The men they seem the most taken with are the ones I wouldn’t let alone in a room with my sister for so much as the blink of an eye. A crowded room at that.”
    “No doubt one of many flaws, Reggie. I am not certain trying to study them with an eye toward rationality is at all possible.” Marcus grasped the decanter beside him and reached forward to refill Reggie’s glass. “However, what makes men superior is that we can turn their flaws to our advantage. The chinks in their armor are to our benefit.”
    “Does your Miss Townsend have flaws?”
    “Every woman has flaws. Miss Townsend is no different. Thus far, I can confidently say she is stubborn and opinionated. She is overly independent, annoyingly outspoken, and has the oddest views on marriage and the relationships of men and women. Although, I believe if any woman could take care of herself, Miss Townsend would be the one. In addition, I understand she can be quite impulsive as well. And worst of all”—he grinned—“I suspect she is nearly as clever as I am.”
    “Pity. Still, I assume you are not allowing a few minor defects to dissuade you. You are still determined to marry this termagant, are you not?”
    “She and her attitudes are a blasted inconvenience, but my resolve is unshaken. What choice do I have? I have three months until my birth date, and I shall spend every day of that in pursuit of her until she relents or I am impoverished. In truth, though, now that I have met the lady”—Marcus grinned—“the prospect of marriage to her is not unappealing.”
    “I cannot believe your luck. In spite of the fire in her eyes”—Reggie returned his grin—“she did have the face of an angel.”
    “Both the face and the fire make her a most interesting challenge. I’m surprised to find I am quite looking forward to it.” Marcus wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to confess just how much he was looking forward to it, either to Reggie or to himself.
    He had conceded that Miss Townsend—Gwendolyn—had had the oddest effect on him and had spent the day since their meeting trying to determine why.
    Certainly she was pretty, and he would be eternally grateful for that, admitting to himself that he was shallow enough to wish for a pretty wife. But he had seen prettier, indeed had had prettier cast their eyes in his direction. It was not Gwendolyn’s appearance, although he had always had a particular fondness for red hair, that intrigued him. No, it was something entirely different. Her manner, perhaps; her attitude, indeed; even her mind.
    He had met clever women before, of course. The two women in his past to whom he had nearly given his heart were clever. And pretty. But Gwendolyn was unique among women of his acquaintance. She had something they did not; yet at the moment, he had no idea what that something was. Perhaps it was simply knowing his future was in her hands, and his attraction to her was nothing more than a concession to the inevitable, a means of accepting what he had no choice in. In a convoluted way, that did make sense.
    “You’re rather passionate about a woman you just met,” Reggie said mildly. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you quite this animated since Lady—”
    “Nonsense.”
    “Denying the obvious?” Reggie studied him for a moment. “How very interesting.”
    “Don’t be absurd,” Marcus said firmly. “If I exhibit any passion at all about Miss Townsend, it’s only because I have worked myself to a minimal amount of enthusiasm for that which I cannot avoid.”
    Reggie snorted. “You can protest all you want, old man, but don’t forget: I know you as well as you know yourself. In spite of your reluctance to engage in displays of emotion, or indeed to admit you have emotions, I would wager a great deal that this woman has intrigued you to