Lord Ware leaned down, close to her ear.“And you.Have you had scores of suitors?”
Heat filled her cheeks.“I’ve had a few.”
He cocked a brow.“You, my lady, deserve to have your pick of any man you wish.”
The words filled her with the sort of joy that made her feel light as a feather.She knew that such compliments were another tool in courting.Yielded well, they’d help a man earn the woman of his choice.But Lord Ware didn’t seem prone to flowery flattery and so, coming from him, they made her feel…appreciated.“Thank you, Lord Ware.Most kind.”
He leaned closer still.“My given name is Wyatt.No one but Ralph uses it and him not that often.Normally, he calls me something far more colorful.”
She giggled at possible list of names Ralph might use.“I can only imagine.”
“Now tell me.What else do you do with your time?”
She drew in a breath.“I’ve some feminine attainments.I…” The words she’d considered for her ad flitting through her thoughts.“I crochet admirably and I play the pianoforte well enough.”
“For fun?”
She supposed not.But did she tell him about the things that made her different from other debutantes?She wasn’t so certain.
But his gaze was riveted to her, as though he were truly curious and open to any answer she might give.And truth be told, she wished to answer for the same reason she wanted to know more about him.She didn’t need a love match, but she did wish for a compatible relationship with her spouse.“Well, since I don’t go out much these days, I’ve been working on the investments my father has placed in my care.I can’t access the money, but my father’s solicitor has been kind enough to allow me to offer opinions on how and where it should be invested.”
She reached for a pale pink ribbon, fiddling with it as though she were considering it for purchase.Anything to keep her hands busy and pretend that she wasn’t avidly watching how he responded to that information.
“How so?”he asked, touching the same ribbon and her fingers as he did.
In a rush of words, she whispered her explanation of how the farms had not produced well for last year’s summer crop and how she was strategically converting their fields to wetter crops.By the time she’d finished, his touch and her revelation had made her thoroughly breathless.
“I’m impressed,” he said, his fingers quickly lacing through hers as he gave them a light squeeze before he pulled his hand away again.“You may have to give me some pointers on my viscountcy after we’re wed.”
“If we’re wed,” she answered, wincing slightly.She hated to break the spell that seemed to be wrapping about them both but she still needed to make certain he was the right man for her.
She wanted to claim that her personal preference didn’t matter.Only, whether or not he’d keep all the promises he’d made concerning her holdings.But somehow, she couldn’t quite make herself agree to the match without knowing more about the man.
“If,” he agreed, taking the pink ribbon from the shelf and moving to another display.“Tell me what still concerns you.”
She shook her head.“What concerned me yesterday.We hardly know each other.”
He stopped again, thin strips of lace on display before them.“I’d like to address your concerns and so I’m hoping you’ll be a bit more specific.”
Specific?How did one specifically ask a person one barely knows to reveal their inner self?
* * *
Wyatt felt—andwitnessed—her hesitation.It was in the tension that travelled from her hand to his arm.The way her mouth tensed, the slight pulling back of her body.
Clearly, she had some reservations.
Who could blame her?
“I…” she started, her tongue licking at that little corner of her lip.His body responded without any reserve at all.“I don’t have anything specific…it’s more…” She drew in a breath, giving him a sideways glance.“I’ve been honest with you about Eugene.About my finances.My interests.”
“You have,” he answered with a nod.
Her other hand came to his biceps, physically pulling them closer.
“And you’ve been completely affable.”
“Good.”He sensed thebutcoming.
