Tears pricked the back of her eyes as his tongue traced her jaw.Mon Dieu, what had he done to her? Why was she acting like this with him? “You cannot do this. You’ll ruin me.”
“I’ve already ruined you. Now, I’m going to marry you. As soon as possible.”
Marry her?“You cannot.”
“I can and I shall.”
“Non. Youcannot!”
What the hell was she saying? Will leaned back and pierced her with a gaze meant to intimidate. He didn’t understand her at all. Most women would give their eye teeth to marry him, and Miss Villaret was refusing? No, she said he couldn’t, but what reason could she possibly have? “Why not?”
Her breasts heaving under the modestly cut gown was the only sign that she was still upset. “You need the consent of both my guardians.”
He shrugged lightly. “You’ll be twenty-one in the next week or so.” He tilted her face up, bringing his lips down on hers. “I can wait that long.”
“It is my youngest sister that has a birthday. I am already twenty-one.” Eugénie raised her chin and smiled sweetly. “That is not the age of majority here.”
Will jerked his head back, feeling as if he’d been slapped.“What?”She had to be wrong. “What do you mean?”
A smugness that made him want to shake Eugénie crept into her voice as she said, “It is five and twenty.”
“Twenty-five?What the deuce are the Danes thinking?”
Apparently it was her turn to shrug, and she did. “That one-and-twenty is too young.”
He glared down at her. “Who are your guardians?”
“Maman.”
“That’s easy enough.” He smirked, and watched as her eyes spit fire. “I already have her consent.”
“You arrogant, perfidious brute.” She began struggling against him again. “I cannot believe you spoke with my mother before saying anything to me.”
“It is the way this type of thing is usually done.” He held her fast as she bucked against him, trying to escape. Damn, she’d be a challenge. Not like any of the English girls his mother would likely pick for him. “Who is the other one?”
“Your father,” she spat.
Will didn’t believe her. “How is that possible? He’s your trustee.”
Her lips curved into a tight smile. “The court here approved Papa’s will. He left it like that.”
“Damn.”The curse was out before Will could stop it. “I’m sorry. I should not have said that with you present.”
“On the docks, I have heard much worse.” Her chin went up a notch. “Besides, we have already established you are not a gentleman. I am not sure I want to marry you. I wish for a husband who will treat me with kindness. Not like a blood—”
“That’s enough,” he barked. Good God. What was it about her that had him acting like a barbarian? “Hasn’t anyone ever told you, ladies don’t use certain words?”
Neither did gentlemen for that matter, but he might make an exception in her case.
One well-shaped brow lifted. “I have no need to use them with anyone else.”
He was going to kill her. Eugénie had to be the most difficult, temperamental woman he’d ever met. “Well, they don’t.”
God, he sounded like a prig.
“I am perfectly ladylike when I’m treated as such.” Her eyes flashed. “Which you do not.”
Even if it only lasted a few weeks, this was going to be a long betrothal. He wanted her in his bed now, before he could murder her. “We should go up immediately and tell your mother you’ve agreed to marry me.”
