waving her on, “if you were more certain.”
“And I’d be more certain,” she replied, moving down the hall, “if you weren’t God’s gift to women, if I hadn’t seen you in your role of stud at the Countess Minton’s, and mostly , if I wasn’t in the habit of indulging my sexual desires.” She gave him a sideways smile. “But barring those discrepancies, a platonic relationship isn’t completely out of the question.”
“It appears I’m on my own,” he drawled.
“In truth, I don’t understand your resistance. How can it possibly matter if we have sex? Particularly since we’re going to be in close proximity for the foreseeable future.”
“I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“In the event your principles are at all tractable, I want you to know that I have no intention of suddenly becoming Prince Ernst’s daughter. Titles mean nothing to me, I have no need of money, I have a very comfortable life here in London, and wherever Dalmia might be, it’s not London. So as soon as you can eliminate this Von Welden, I’ll thank you both to leave me in peace. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy an amorous interlude with you,” she said with a grin, “in the interim.”
“I can see you’re going to be difficult,” he grumbled.
“On the contrary, you’re the difficult one. I’ve never had a man refuse my overtures”—she flashed him a playful smile—“until now. Ah, here we are.” She stopped outside the dining room. “Why don’t you wait here for me? I’m going in to finish dinner in order not to cause comment. Gossip is outrageous enough without this lunatic story becoming known.” Without waiting for an answer, she pushed open the door and walked in.
Those guests facing the door surveyed her and her companion with such avid interest, the others turned in their seats to see what they were missing.
Sofia leisurely strolled across the brilliant Turkish carpet, a bland smile on her face.
“You don’t take orders, I see,” she whispered to the man at her side.
“No more than you do,” Jamie said under his breath.
“Come then, meet my dinner partner. He’s quite anxious to make love to me tonight.”
Jamie smiled thinly. “We’ll have to change his mind.” “Not we. I intend to be flirtatious.”
“Don’t fuck with me,” Jamie warned, his voice hushed. “You’ll lose.”
Her gaze was sugar sweet. “If only I could fuck with you. As for who will lose, that’s still a moot point. I’m sorry the countess isn’t here tonight; you could fuck her.”
“Now why would I do that when I have you to entertain me?”
“I’m afraid we won’t be seated near each other.”
“You don’t know me very well,” he silkily murmured.
CHAPTER 10
A FTER TAKING HER seat, Sofia was annoyed to see Jamie lean over and address Lord Airlie on her left.
Dex Champion was more than annoyed. He’d done as much himself in pursuit of a woman; he knew full well what Jamie was doing.
Speaking quietly so others couldn’t hear, Jamie was appealing to the elderly man’s benevolence. “Would you mind if I took your place and we found you another? My cousin Sofia wants to grill me on everything that’s transpired in my life while I was abroad. You know women,” he added in collective male lament. “She’s already asked a dozen questions on the way upstairs.”
Half-turned in his chair, Lord Airlie offered a commiserating smile. “Pesky ones, I don’t doubt.”
Jamie grimaced. “I’m planning on drinking my dinner.” The man had the look of a country squire, stout and red-faced from drink and outdoor sport; he was sure to understand.
Airlie guffawed. “Can’t live with ’em and can’t live without’em—eh?”
Dex couldn’t help but hear that ringing declaration, the comment bringing knowing smiles to many of the male guests and alternately, pursed lips to the women.
Jamie didn’t respond.
“Very diplomatic, my boy,” Airlie jovially
“And I’d be more certain,” she replied, moving down the hall, “if you weren’t God’s gift to women, if I hadn’t seen you in your role of stud at the Countess Minton’s, and mostly , if I wasn’t in the habit of indulging my sexual desires.” She gave him a sideways smile. “But barring those discrepancies, a platonic relationship isn’t completely out of the question.”
“It appears I’m on my own,” he drawled.
“In truth, I don’t understand your resistance. How can it possibly matter if we have sex? Particularly since we’re going to be in close proximity for the foreseeable future.”
“I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“In the event your principles are at all tractable, I want you to know that I have no intention of suddenly becoming Prince Ernst’s daughter. Titles mean nothing to me, I have no need of money, I have a very comfortable life here in London, and wherever Dalmia might be, it’s not London. So as soon as you can eliminate this Von Welden, I’ll thank you both to leave me in peace. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy an amorous interlude with you,” she said with a grin, “in the interim.”
“I can see you’re going to be difficult,” he grumbled.
“On the contrary, you’re the difficult one. I’ve never had a man refuse my overtures”—she flashed him a playful smile—“until now. Ah, here we are.” She stopped outside the dining room. “Why don’t you wait here for me? I’m going in to finish dinner in order not to cause comment. Gossip is outrageous enough without this lunatic story becoming known.” Without waiting for an answer, she pushed open the door and walked in.
Those guests facing the door surveyed her and her companion with such avid interest, the others turned in their seats to see what they were missing.
Sofia leisurely strolled across the brilliant Turkish carpet, a bland smile on her face.
“You don’t take orders, I see,” she whispered to the man at her side.
“No more than you do,” Jamie said under his breath.
“Come then, meet my dinner partner. He’s quite anxious to make love to me tonight.”
Jamie smiled thinly. “We’ll have to change his mind.” “Not we. I intend to be flirtatious.”
“Don’t fuck with me,” Jamie warned, his voice hushed. “You’ll lose.”
Her gaze was sugar sweet. “If only I could fuck with you. As for who will lose, that’s still a moot point. I’m sorry the countess isn’t here tonight; you could fuck her.”
“Now why would I do that when I have you to entertain me?”
“I’m afraid we won’t be seated near each other.”
“You don’t know me very well,” he silkily murmured.
CHAPTER 10
A FTER TAKING HER seat, Sofia was annoyed to see Jamie lean over and address Lord Airlie on her left.
Dex Champion was more than annoyed. He’d done as much himself in pursuit of a woman; he knew full well what Jamie was doing.
Speaking quietly so others couldn’t hear, Jamie was appealing to the elderly man’s benevolence. “Would you mind if I took your place and we found you another? My cousin Sofia wants to grill me on everything that’s transpired in my life while I was abroad. You know women,” he added in collective male lament. “She’s already asked a dozen questions on the way upstairs.”
Half-turned in his chair, Lord Airlie offered a commiserating smile. “Pesky ones, I don’t doubt.”
Jamie grimaced. “I’m planning on drinking my dinner.” The man had the look of a country squire, stout and red-faced from drink and outdoor sport; he was sure to understand.
Airlie guffawed. “Can’t live with ’em and can’t live without’em—eh?”
Dex couldn’t help but hear that ringing declaration, the comment bringing knowing smiles to many of the male guests and alternately, pursed lips to the women.
Jamie didn’t respond.
“Very diplomatic, my boy,” Airlie jovially
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