Page 40 of How to Tempt an Earl

“I see. Did you perchance speak with Ellie or Olivia?” he asked.

“Oh, yes. They are both friendly.” A memory crossed her mind, and she frowned. “I think your mother means well, but Lady Taddlesworth does not know what gentlemen prefer.”

“Who?”

“Lady Taddlesworth is a widow who your mother thinks will assist in Ellie and Olivia’s debut.”

“I recall my sisters mentioning a woman by that name when I last visited them.”

“Did you know Ellie dislikes the piano but loves to read? And Olivia hates to sing but enjoys riding?”

A dark eyebrow shot up. “I didn’t know.”

She tried to look down her nose at him and failed. Even seated, he was too tall. “You should spend more time with them.”

“I plan to. I want them to come live with me.”

He did? She was surprised he’d want two young women to live in his house. She leaned across the table and pushed a wayward lock of hair out of her eye. “I now fully understand why you’re doing this.”

“Doing what?”

“This,” she said, motioning to the table with a sweep of her hand. She would have knocked over his glass if he hadn’t snatched it back in time.

“You feel a sense of responsibility for your sisters. Do you deny it?”

“I don’t.”

She swallowed her wine and licked her lips. His gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered. A tingle raced down her spine. Did he want to kiss her again? Her face heated at the thought. Did she want him to?

“You are more admirable than you lead others to believe,” she said. “You must care for your sisters if you are going through this with me. I also suspect some of my instructions make you recall life in your earlier days.”

“It’s been years. I have grown rusty.”

“I suppose I shouldn’t complain of my commission. I would never have been able to repay the six thousand pounds otherwise.”

His expression darkened. “You shouldn’t have to. Coming to the Raven Club was downright dangerous, even though your reckless visit benefited me.”

“That’s being a bit hypocrit—” She couldn’t get her tongue to properly say the word, so she continued. “Foolish.”

“If you were married, you would not have to worry about your household. It would benefit your younger brother as well. He’d have a strong male influence, and you would not have to worry about his schooling.”

By strong male influence she knew he meant anyone other than their wastrel father. A part of her wanted to defend her father, but she couldn’t argue against Ian’s logic.

Still, his assumptions irritated her and she glowered at him. “I don’t want to marry just anyone. I’ll have you know there were interested gentleman, but I refused to marry the Viscount Thorp who is in his late sixties and searching for his fourth wife. And the Marquess of Haverton is grossly overweight and has false teeth. I want to marry for love.”

“For love?”

She set her goblet down with a thunk. “What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s not a requirement.”

“I’m quite aware of the desirable requirements.” She held up a forefinger. “Wealthy.” She held up a second finger. “Titled.” She held up a third, and hesitated as she tried to come up with another trait, then she sat up and said, “And faithful.”

He arched a dark eyebrow. “Faithful?”

“Yes, ladies do not want unfaithful rogues for husbands.”

“I do believe you added that just for yourself,” he said.