Page 9 of The Study of Seduction

“That last strategy is why I never have to put up with idiots at social occasions,” Edwin said dryly.

“It’s also why you have no friends,” Clarissa shot back.

“Clarissa, that’s enough!” Warren barked. “You’re being rude to a man who only wants to help.”

Edwin tensed. He shouldn’t care one way or the other if Clarissa balked. Indeed, it would be a boon—he wouldn’t have to deal with her moods and her unpredictability. He could walk away, having done what Warren asked.

But for some absurd reason, that didn’t sit well with him. “Why don’t you give us a moment alone, all right?” Edwin asked his friend.

Warren glanced from Edwin to Clarissa. “Fine. Perhapsyoucan talk some sense into her.” He headed for the door. “I’ll go attend to my aunt.”

As soon as Warren left, a hush settled upon the room. Edwin said nothing. He might not have experienced Clarissa in high dudgeon before, but he’d certainly dealt with Yvette enough to learn the effectiveness of quiet calm upon an enraged female.

Clarissa crossed her arms over her chest. “I suppose you’re going to tell me that I’m being difficult.”

“No.”

As the minutes spun out between them, she tipped up her chin. “Then you’re going to try to tell me that I have no choice in the matter. But Warren is not really—”

“Your guardian. Yes, I know. You’re too old for that. But your father did leave him in charge of your fortune and did ask him to look after you. So that’s what Warren is trying to do. And you always have a choice. I’d never take that from you.”

When he allowed the silence to build again, she regarded him with rank suspicion. “You’re going to remind me of my duty to my family?”

That made him smile. “Hardly. Seems to me that you’re already fulfilling your duty to your family admirably.” Before she could retort, he added, “But if you don’t agree to this, Warren will worry about you while he’s off dealing with your brother, so his mind won’t be on what he’s doing. And that will hamper his ability to get Niall out of whatever mess he’s in.”

Gritting her teeth, she glanced away. “It’s surprisingly devious of you to come up with that, Edwin.”

“Not a bit. It’s the truth.”

“Then Warren should let me go with him. He can keep watch over me better that way.”

“And you will slow him down. Is that what you want? For him to arrive too late to help your brother?”

Her gaze swung back to him, a roil of flashing green that took his breath away. “Why should I slow him down?”

He shrugged. “You’ll need servants. You can’t travel without a maid at the very least, so arrangements will have to be made, more luggage accounted for, more time spent in customs—”

“Enough.” She fisted her hands at her sides. “I hate it when you’re logical.”

“I’m always logical. You hate it when I’m right.”

To his surprise, her lips twitched as if fighting a smile. “That, too.”

With his blood pounding, he searched her face. “Would it really be so terrible to spend time in my company?”

“No, of course not.” Whirling away from him, she went to stare out the window at the back garden. “I just hate that the count has more power over my life at present than I do. And we don’t even know if he’s still interested!”

“True. But if he is and he continues to plague you, wouldn’t you prefer to have someone in your corner?”

A sigh shuddered out of her. “Areyou in my corner, Edwin?”

The question tightened an unfamiliar knot in his chest. “I am always in your corner.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “I should hope we are friends at the very least.”

“Friends?” She turned to cast him an enigmatic look that threw him off-balance. “Is that what we are? I’ve never been quite sure.”

Neither had he, but he wouldn’t admit that toher. “We are for the next few weeks. I gave Warren my word that I would look after you.”

For some reason, that seemed to provoke her. “I amnota child!” A hurt look crossed her face. “I’m a grown woman perfectly capable of handling some . . . unruly suitor.”