Page 7

“I suppose I must offer my thanks. You did indeed help me out of a dire situation,” he said with a smile. “I should offer you a reward in return.”

She was unable to meet his eyes, and her cheeks were visibly red with an adorable blush that ran down her face to her neck and disappeared into her décolletage. He was sorely tempted to see just how far beneath the blush went.

He shook his head, realizing that he needed to be away from her. He had never found himself thinking such improper thoughts about any gently bred lady, and he didn’t intend to start now.

“You can ask for whatever you wish,” he added, unable to tear his eyes away from her very appealing décolletage despite wisdom telling him to do so. “There is little to nothing I cannot accomplish.”

She shivered and took a step back. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Unable to help himself, Richard’s eyes followed the movement. Her lips were full and glittered in the moonlight. He wondered what they tasted like and how red she would turn if he were to kiss her.

“I do not want anything from you,” she answered, meeting his eyes.

He frowned in surprise. He had been expecting her to use the situation to her advantage. She wasn’t married, so she could have asked him to marry her. She was a duke’s sister, and herbrother was doing well financially, so she would not need money from him.

If she wanted gifts, he could get her anything she desired. He was interested to know what she desired of him so he could learn what sort of woman she was.

“Why?” he asked. “I am being very generous. Books, jewels, dresses. I can have anything made for you. Many women would love to be in your shoes.”

“I did nothing that needs rewarding, Your Grace,” she answered with a graceful curtsy that irked him. “I only did what I thought was best. Besides, you helped my family a few weeks ago, and that was a feat worthy of a reward, yet you took nothing.”

She was being so polite that he was tempted to pull her into his arms just to see her lose her sense of propriety.

“Surely you want something.”

“I assure you, I want nothing, Your Grace,” she assured him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe you said that staying outside for longer is dangerous. You really should take your earlier advice, Your Grace. You do not know what sort of people are lurking about the estate.”

Richard, stunned into silence, watched as she quickly returned to the house. His lips still tingled where her hands had touchedthem, his fingers subconsciously rising to his lips before he caught himself.

He really needed to rid himself of thoughts of Selina, but first, he wanted to see what she would ask for once she’d thought better of his offer.

Everyone wanted something, and he wanted so desperately to see what it would take to make her eyes go as wide as they had earlier.

CHAPTER 3

“Ido hope you’re already considering prospects,” the Dowager Duchess of Seymour said, walking up to where Richard had been sitting under one of the pavilions that had been set up in Eli’s garden.

“Good day to you too, Mother,” he greeted, not looking at her.

His eyes were fixed on Selina, who was currently standing just in front of the pavilion with her aunt and conversing with Lord Yardley. It didn’t appear to be going very well, from the looks of things. The man’s eyes kept darting around as though planning his ecape while Selina looked nervous.

He took in her appearance with a frown. She looked beautiful as always, although her dress—the same shade as a peach, cut quite elegantly—was a sartorial travesty and did nothing to accentuate her beauty.

Surely she had better dresses in her wardrobe?

It was almost painful to watch her attempt to carry on a conversation. At that moment, he decided he would help her gain confidence when conversing with gentlemen.

Her eyes kept flitting downward, and she picked at the hem of her dress. He could see the gentleman’s disinterested gaze; his body language showed that he wanted to flee as quickly as he could. The moment came sooner than Richard had expected, and he saw her aunt round on her with a frown.

Selina was a beautiful woman, by all standards. If she were anyone else, or if he was looking for a wife, he might have considered her. He had overheard men complimenting her and knew it wasn’t just his assessment alone. But looks weren’t all that mattered when it came to securing a match.

Most gentlemen were put off by poor conversation skills or an interest in unsuitable hobbies. Two factors which she seemed to have in full measure. If he were to help her, it would take a thorough reorientation of her previous education and a thorough polishing of skills she had let lie fallow. It was odd that he didn’t mind committing his time to such an endeavor.

He waited until her aunt had finished scolding her before waking over to her. He saw the second she noticed him and gave her a wink as she shook her head, warning him to stay away, before her aunt could notice. He smile brightly as he ignored her and stood only a short distance away from the older woman.

“Good day, Lady Riddington,” he greeted. “Good day, Lady Selina.”

He smiled at the annoyed, wary look that crossed her face—a clear contrast to her aunt’s excited one.

“Your Grace.” Lady Riddington curtsied. “It is a pleasure.”