The Seducer by Madeline Hunter

for one of those, and you know it. You could at least have the decency to do as other men, and offer me property and jewels or some settlement.”
    He looked over with a startled expression, and then with an amazed one. She definitely had all of his attention now.
    “You have misunderstood me, Diane.”
    “I understand very well. I have always understood in my heart, but ignored the evidence. You have been overly generous and introduced me to luxuries and comforts beyond my dreams. I own a wardrobe the daughter of a count might envy. I am presented as a lady and live like one. Madame Leblanc warned me of things before I left with you, and I understand now that she was correct.”
    “I can see how it might look to you, especially after what occurred in the carriage.”
    “
Indeed.
I may not be very worldly, but neither am I as stupid as a cabbage.”
    “I assure you again that you have misunderstood.”
    His eyes held amusement, and also a charming warmth.
    A dreadful thought poked at her. Perhaps she
had
misunderstood?
    “You really speak of my being your sister’s companion, and no more? That is all that you will expect of me?”
    “That is all that I will expect of you.”
    Humiliation flooded her. It was bad enough to accuse him of such a thing, but to have been wrong . . .
    She covered her face with her hands and laughed at herself. “I . . . Oh, dear . . . This is very awkward . . .”
    “There is no reason for you to feel awkward.” He spoke, and looked, more kindly than she had ever seen him. “You wonder about my intentions. I don’t blame you. The last weeks must have confused you. What was the point of this generosity? Why turn you into a lady if you only sought to be a governess?”
    “It
has
been peculiar, and exactly what Madame predicted.”
    “Then I fulfilled the prediction last week. I promise you, this is not a grand scheme to get you into my bed.”
    She blushed hotly and was grateful when he rose and went to the fire.
    He gazed at it. “I should probably admit that the generosity has not been without benefit to me, as will be your presence in my household in London. I am a man of affairs. Wives and women relatives are very useful to men such as myself. My sister’s infirmity means that she cannot attract the attention of men whom it would be profitable for me to meet. You will, in London as you have already done here. There is nothing sordid to it. It is the way of the world. With a lovely cousin in society, my circles will expand, that is all.”
    “Do you expect me to encourage these men?”
    “Not at all. It will happen without any effort on anyone’s part. Admirers will appear. I will meet them and their fathers and uncles. Cards will be played at clubs, business will get done, and you will be none the wiser.”
    She wiped tears of embarrassed laughter from her eyes. “I thank you for explaining this. It certainly gives the last few weeks more sense. After what Madame said . . . well, it appeared as though . . . and then the opera . . . but I see that was truly a result of the danger. It is reassuring to know that you do not think of me in that way.”
    He turned. “I did not say that I do not think of you in that way.”
    Her giddiness disappeared with one sharp intake of breath.
    “There is no reason to be afraid, Diane. That we took a first step does not require me to take any more. You are very lovely, and, like most men, I will notice and react, that is all.”
    “If I continue living in your home, that may be quite a lot. You say that you will expect nothing more of me. I want total honesty now. Will you
request
anything more? Was Madame correct? Are you thinking to ask me to be your mistress?”
    “It is not my intention. As to what I think, I cannot always control that.”
    His ambiguous response hardly reassured her. Nor did his expression. Her heart pounded with caution and an excitement that she did not want to acknowledge.
    “If I did ask, what would you say?” He