Dorian smiled, amused by how forthright she was being with him. Why could she not summon that boldness with the eligible men of the ton? “You have a real fire in you, Lady Leah,” he murmured. “Tell me: does it only come out when you are speaking to me--or trying to foist yourself upon me?”
Lady Leah’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that when you were speaking to Mr. Roland now, you were so demure as to appear almost uninterested. But right now, you are like a spitfire--and while it isn’t exactly ladylike, it is far more attractive.”
“I’m not being a spitfire,” Lady Leah snapped. “I’m just trying to find myself a husband in the next two weeks. And you should be trying as well! Otherwise you’ll be stuck with me forever, and that doesn’t seem to be what you want.”
Dorian laughed. “I am trying to help you find a husband. That’s what I’m doing right now. The more gentlemen that are interested in you, the better. It increases your appeal. If they think you have many suitors sniffing after you, they will be more likely to pursue.”
“Sniffing?”
“Chasing after you,” he amended. “And it doesn’t hurt either that I am a Duke. And an exceedingly charming and handsome Duke, to boot. With me on your arm, you are increasing your desirability tenfold.”
“You are unbelievably arrogant,” she said, staring at him with an expression somewhere between shock and amusement. “I don’t remember that about you from when I was younger.”
“Well, you only knew me as your brother’s friend. Now you are getting to know me as London’s most notorious rake.” He smiled wickedly at her. “And I am very, very arrogant.”
For a moment, they stared at each other, and he thought he saw her cheeks pink slightly. Then she rolled her eyes and looked away, and he was sure he had imagined it.
“Well, I hope it’s working,” she said, “because Mr. Roland is now talking to Miss Beauregard. And he looks very pleased with the conversation.”
Dorian glanced in that direction as well. Mr. Roland was, indeed, talking to the pretty, blonde-haired Miss Beauregard, and he had a much warmer and more sincere smile on his face than when he’d been speaking to Lady Leah.
Oh dear.
“Meet me after lunch in the music room,” he murmured. “We will begin our lessons then.”
“But, we should not be alone together!” She said, looking affronted.
Now it was Dorian’s turn to roll his eyes. “What’s the worst that could happen? We are caught alone together and forced to marry? Heaven forbid!”
CHAPTER FOUR
The Duke had a good point about being caught. The worst that could happen would be that she would get what she wanted: marriage to someone other than Lord Dubois. Anyone other than Lord Dubois, but was it too much to hope for someone quick-witted, at least?
Still, Leah felt nervous as she walked to the music room after lunch, and she kept checking over her shoulder. When she reached the door, she raised her hand to knock, then realized how ridiculous she was being. Pushing it open instead, she slipped inside.
The Duke was already waiting for her, and he gave her a haughty smile as he came over to her.
“You came,” he said, as he kissed her hand. “Despite the danger.”
“I was thinking about that on my way here,” she said, as he released her hand. “Or really, I was thinking about last night and how I tried to trap you like that, and I wanted to apologize.”
The Duke raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. His look of comical skepticism somehow only made him more handsome. He was very tall, taller even than her brother, with wavy dark brown hair that he wore longer than was fashionable.
The effect was to make him look a little bit like a pirate. This was only enhanced by the bright blue color of his eyes, which reminded her of the ocean on a calm, clear day. It was easy to see why this man was considered such a notorious rake and flirt. He was so handsome it was almost jaw-dropping.
Fortunately, Leah felt immune to this kind of appeal . It was the attractiveness of rakes, and she had never been interested in rakish gentlemen. Lucien might not be as strict as he used to be, but he had instilled in her a firm sense of her duty and responsibility to her family.
Falling for some sort of rakish character was not worthy of a responsible lady. Besides, rakes never fell in love. And of course, it was love Leah desired above all else.
But she forced herself to push this thought away. She had no time for love anymore.
“You never need to apologize for kissing me, Lady Leah,” he said, his smirk widening. “I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I give you permission to kiss me anytime you like.”
“Very funny,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “But I’m being serious. What I did. I never imagined I would be the kind of person who would treat someone so cruelly.”
“Cruelly?” Now both of the Duke’s eyebrows had shot up. “Do you think you are so bad at kissing that it was cruel to me?”
