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“By smiling as though he is the most beautiful creature you’ve ever seen and looking him in the eye as he speaks,” he answered. “It shows that you are not shy and that you are paying attention to what he’s saying, even if it is utter nonsense.”

She shook her head, unable to help herself. “I find myself wondering why I happen to be the only person who hears the folly coming out of your mouth.”

“If everyone knew, then I would not be the revered Duke of Seymour now, would I?” he pointed out.

She withdrew her hand and folded her arms. “But you surely do not mean what you said.”

“Why do you presume so?”

“Because…” she trailed off as though it was obvious.

“Do elaborate.”

“You said men want more than a demure, submissive woman, yet they seem to prefer brazen women with nothing better to do than smile and look pretty and stare them in the eyes. I find the statements contradictory.”

“Yet, it is through the same contradiction that your mother got married and, by extension, almost every other woman in England.”

“It is unfathomable.”

“I assure you it is not,” he said stubbornly. “Do not judge what you haven’t tried.”

“I would not even know where to start.”

“Try looking me in the eye when you speak, for a start,” he suggested.

“I cannot.”

“Why?” he asked, curious. “I can play the part of a dashing suitor if it would make things easier for you.”

“That still doesn’t make things easier, Your Grace.”

“You have done this once before, so surely you can do it again?” he added, trying to encourage her.

“Yes, but it wasn’t on command. I just… did it.”

“Then you have to do it again,” he said with a smile. “Look at me, Selina. Do not hide your beautiful eyes from me.”

She knew he was only pretending with his words, yet they made her heart flutter. Was this how he spoke to Lottie Barnes when they had been courting?

She found herself jealous of the woman who had previously won his affection and had even gotten him to propose to her. Worse still, she was the daughter of her father’s rival, and she had treated her half-sister, Elizabeth, so poorly.

When Selina remembered how reserved Elizabeth had been when she came to live with them after her marriage to Stephen,she hated Lottie Barnes even more, and yet the Duke had decided to propose to her.

Perhaps he had terrible taste in women or was secretly as detestable as the Barnes family. After all, he had been a close friend of theirs before the hunting incident that could have claimed Stephen and Elizabeth’s lives had Lord Dudley had his way.

“Would having a conversation make this easier?” he asked, oblivious to her inner turmoil. “Perhaps we could discuss archaeology or horticulture or whatever topics you find interesting. I must admit that my knowledge is rather subpar on those subjects, but I could try to keep up with you…”

She lifted her eyes to his and smiled brightly. He really was doing his best to help her, and it was admirable.

He wants to put on an act, doesn’t he?

She smiled to herself. She would very well beat him at his own game.

“I doubt very much that you will be able to converse as well as me on such subjects, Your Grace,” she stated with a mocking smile.

“Oh? Should we put that to the test?” he asked, not backing down from the challenge.

“A wager might make the challenge all the moretempting, Your Grace?”