Convenient Proposal To The Lady

How much ardent entreaty he put into those words, Alyssa thought, gazing back with what she hoped looked like surprise, gratification and attraction. He really was quite good at this—the blackguard.

Giving an uncertain laugh, she looked away. ‘But you hardly know me, Lord Denbry.’

‘But I’ve heard much about you. Your loveliness. Your purity. Your tender regard for your family.’

‘I would hope all unmarried ladies possess such qualities,’ Alyssa countered. Take that, for presenting me with such a list of bland generalities.

A hint of annoyance briefly crossed his countenance. ‘Not to the extent you do, dear Lady Alyssa,’ he replied smoothly. ‘But I see you are not yet convinced of my regard—or how serious I am about turning my life in a new direction. Won’t you get to know me better before you decide?’

She gazed back up, trying for a worshipful look. ‘I should like to...get to know you better.’

He pressed another kiss upon her captive hand. Alyssa had to work hard to suppress the strong desire to knee him in the groin. Instead, after suffering him to fondle her hand for several minutes, she pulled away, as if reluctantly. ‘Oh, Lord Denbry, you mustn’t!’

‘You are right, Lady Alyssa. I must control myself—no matter how difficult you make that.’

‘We should go back to the house now,’ she announced, but with a regretful glance at his lips that said the virtuous maiden was sorely tempted to be less virtuous.

Smiling with satisfaction, he leaned down as if to steal a kiss—before straightening again. ‘You tempting creature! Yes, we must return before I forget myself and do something...scandalous. But promise you will let me escort you to dinner, and partner with me for cards afterward.’

She gazed up worshipfully. ‘If you truly wish it?’

‘With all my heart.’

Do you even have one? she wondered as she let him lead her back into the house.

* * *

She left him then, pleading the need to change for dinner. She found her mother already in their chamber, her maid helping her into her evening attire.

Once Molly had done the same for her, Lady Aldermont dismissed them both before turning to her. ‘May I have a moment, my dear?’

‘Of course. What is it, Mama?’

‘I appreciate you making an effort to be agreeable to the gentleman. But Denbry...’ Her mother’s voice trailed off. ‘I’ve...overheard some things about him from your brother and I don’t believe he’s at all the sort of suitor you wish to encourage. I was quite shocked to see him at this gathering—not that Lady Fulton invited him, for he comes from an excellent family, is quite wealthy and will inherit the marquisate one day. Shocked that, with his...proclivities, he bothered to attend.’

It wouldn’t be prudent to confide to her mama any of what Mr Tawny had revealed. A shocked and outraged Lady Aldermont would demand that their hostess be told, so she might send the offending gentlemen away before they could carry out their nefarious plan.

That would put her mama and their hostess in an awkward position—and let Denbry get away without receiving the lesson she had in mind. She was now almost as determined to deliver that as she was to foil his revenge.

‘I know Harleton doesn’t like him,’ Alyssa said.

‘I’ve heard he’s a gambler and a womaniser.’

‘So I accused him of being. He admitted to it, but said he was ready to change—for the right lady.’

Lady Aldermont shook her head. ‘Men don’t truly change, my darling. I want you to marry to improve your situation—not become mired for life in a union that would exchange the tyranny of your brother and father for a man who is no better.’

‘I have no intention of doing that, either,’ she said emphatically.

‘As long as you are on your guard against him. There’s no man more charming than a selfish rake intent on getting what he wants. I should know.’

Was that how her father had persuaded her mother into marriage? Alyssa had often wondered what had led her sweet-tempered, if shallow, mother to accept the hand of her selfish, arrogant, iron-fisted father.

Yet another reason to avoid wedlock, for how could a girl possessed of a handsome dowry trust any man not to be deceitful about his reasons for wanting to marry her?

Benedict Tawny’s face flashed into mind. Perhaps there was one man who seemed to truly care about a woman’s welfare.

‘Don’t worry, Mama. I know what sort of man Denbry is.’

‘Very well, my dear. But do be careful.’

‘Oh, I intend to be.’ Careful...and cunning. Tossing the spangled shawl around her shoulders, she followed her mother out.

Chapter Three (#uccf27540-6928-52ce-81ee-e602b51f1bb8)

Early the next morning, Ben waited in the woods where he had discovered Lady Alyssa the previous day. As he paced, he had to admit feeling an anticipation a good deal stronger than it ought to be.

All he expected to gain from this meeting was a confirmation that Quinlen, Rossiter and Denbry were in fact trying to attach her, as he predicted. Once assured that she would not be taken in by them, he could return to London and begin preparing for the final battle for the Reform Bill.

Still, he had found Lady Alyssa uncommonly interesting, unusual as it was for him to be drawn to a female he wasn’t trying to persuade into his bed. Which, unfortunately, was not possible in this case, despite the promise of passion in that lush body and those mesmerising eyes.

Ah, what delights he could teach her!

Too bad those delights came with wedding lines attached. While acknowledging that, he could still look forward to conversing with a lady whose personality was as intriguing as her physical charms.

What, besides the physical, was it that had so impressed him? he asked himself again.

The independence and sense of purpose that led her to tramp the countryside unescorted to pursue her sketching was part of it. And the fact that, unlike most unmarried females, she seemed driven by something other than a pressing need to find a husband. Or at least, to capture the attention of any gentleman she encountered.

Now that he considered it, he realised she’d made no attempt to attract him at all. A novel experience for a man who normally had all manner of lures cast his way. If he’d not been so distracted by her sketching and pressed to inform her about her threatening situation, he might have felt downright insulted by her apparent lack of interest.

Also exceptional was her ability to discuss in a calm, rational manner a disturbing situation that would have reduced most females to tears. Since when had he met a female who employed logic in evaluating a situation? Or who, in distressing circumstances, retained enough presence of mind to admit her conclusions might be in error?

In short, she acted with a deliberate, almost...masculine sense of intelligence and self-control. Though, he thought, recalling her lush form, there was nothing at all mannish about her.

Unique and impressive indeed!

He’d like to ask her what she intended to do with those excellent sketches. Ladies did not produce items for sale, but he could try persuading her into gifting him one. He’d give it pride of place on his library wall—a memento of a most unusual lady.

Then he spied her hurrying across the meadow—and felt again that rise of anticipation.

Spotting him, she made her way over, sketchbook and pastel box in hand. There was not, he noted with a frown, any maid trailing in her wake.

‘Sorry to be late, Mr Tawny,’ she said as she reached the shelter of the trees. ‘I almost couldn’t get away.’

He gave her a severe look. ‘Where is Molly?’

‘Just gone down for breakfast. I couldn’t be cruel enough to drag her away from that, especially since, as you’ve discovered, she hates accompanying me to sketch. Besides, I was coming to meet you, so I knew I’d be in no danger.’