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She cocked her head. “How could you possibly guarantee something like that?”

“Because I am a man.”

His eyes locked onto hers, and she wanted to look away. There was so much authority in the way he was looking at her that it both frightened and excited her.

“I told you before, we are simple creatures. Keep it simple with us and you’ll go far.”

She looked down as they twirled around the room.

“Next, keep eye contact.”

Jenny closed her eyes in defeat. She knew he was going to say that.

“Eyes on me, Jenny,” he commanded.

A wave of fire rolled over her, and her eyes rose to meet his.

“Eye contact is very important to men. You can tell almost everything there is to know about a person when you look in their eyes.”

David continued to twirl her around the room, the hand on her waist guiding her.

“If they’re honest, if they’re friendly, if they mean you harm.” He leaned to whisper in her ear, “If they want you. The key to everyone’s secrets is in their eyes. You just have to know how to unlock them.”

It was too much. Jenny wanted desperately to pull away. They were too close, too connected. Feelings she didn’t understand overtook her when she was this close to him. She never could decipher if it was a good or a bad that he had this effect on her.

“And what is it when you look into my eyes, Your Grace? What secrets do you see there?”

She hoped she sounded flirty, but she felt the conversation was veering away from flirty to something more.

“That’s where you seem to differ from most women I’ve met.”

“How so?”

David took a moment to consider her question. “Most women who approach me are looking for something, a means to an end.”

Jenny’s eyebrows rose. “You mean like what I’m doing right now?”

David smiled. “If you recall, I approached you with this offer. So, no, not like what you’re doing. As I was saying, you don’t hide what you’re thinking or feeling.”

“Much to the dismay of the ton, I assure you.” Jenny scrunched up her nose.

“Well, that’s a shame. I find it refreshing that what I see is what I get with you. I don’t feel like you have any secrets—you are probably the most genuine person I know.”

Jenny preened under his compliment. She was often made to feel that her outward behavior and free expression were a blight on her character, not a strength. Here, in his arms, she felt seen, understood, and appreciated.

The music continued as they moved around the dance floor.

David looked down at her and smiled. “Miss Bennett, did you intend to do that?”

Jenny furrowed her brow. “Do what?”

“Where is your hand?

Jenny’s eyes flicked to their clasped hands, and her eyebrows knitted together.

“Not that one, kitten.”

It was then that her body reconnected her other hand to her mind. Before she dragged her eyes to her other hand, she could feel the strand of dark hair she was toying with between her fingers.