Page 47 of The Devil to Pay

“Nonsense,” he said briskly. “You are used to managing a household and people. You can’t be bullied, and you have a strength of character I recognise as something to be admired. Besides all of that… I need you. You know that I do.”

He watched her, saw the scepticism in her eyes, and knew this would not be easy. Davenport was no pushover, but he had known that from the start.

She gave a little snort and shook her head. “You need a good editor, that’s all.”

Jules shifted closer to her on the seat and leaned closer, dismayed when she gasped and pressed back harder against the side of the carriage.

“You liked it when I kissed you before,” he reminded her.

“That was different,” she replied with dignity, blushing hard enough that he could see the colour rise, even in the indifferent light from the carriage lamp.

“How was that different?”

“Because, my lord, we are in a closed carriage,” she replied, sounding exasperated. “Why I must explain that I shall be ruined if anyone finds us here, I do not know.”

“Oh, you don’t,” he said blithely. “However, the same applied to the other times I’ve kissed you, and you didn’t object then.”

“That was before,” she muttered, tugging her cloak tighter around her and folding her arms.

“Before what?”

“Before I knew you were the heir to one of the most powerful dukedoms in the country!” she snapped. “Have you taken leave of your senses? You need to marry someone of your own kind.”

“Don’t be such a snob. Besides, you are my kind,” he said, grinning at her. “The kind I like best. Bossy and opinionated and managing, and likely to murder me if I behave in a way that you disapprove of.”

“You,” she said with dignity, “are a very odd fellow.”

“Perhaps,” he agreed with a shrug. “But strong women don’t frighten me. I view them as a challenge.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “If you are thinking of making sport of me—”

“Lord, no. I’ve made my intentions clear, I think. Haven’t I? I want to court you. If you’ll let me.”

She put up her chin, turning away from him. “You would need to apply to my father for permission,” she said coolly.

“Nonsense. That halfwit? You wouldn’t listen to a word the old windbag said, nor care for the opinion of that fribble of a brother of yours, so don’t try giving me that line, my girl. Did you see the appalling get up he was wearing?” Jules shuddered.

“Oh, wasn’t it awful?” She smiled before realising she had been betrayed into doing so and firmed her lips in a thin line. When she spoke again, it was with renewed hauteur. “I will thank you not to speak of my father, nor my brother, in such terms.”

“Well, it’s not my fault he looked like a constipated pigeon,” Jules retorted. He studied her face, pleased to note that her lips twitched with the effort of not laughing. “Don’t deny it now, love.”

She sent him a reproachful glare. “I’m not denying it, but I am not your love, and you must stop speaking to me in this… this ridiculous fashion. It won’t do,” she added, but with enough regret behind the words to encourage Jules that all was not lost.

“I think it will,” he told her firmly.

Davenport threw up her hands and turned to look out of the window. He watched her as the darkened streets passed by. She was silent for a long moment.

“You are going back to London?”

“Yes. In the morning,” he said with a sigh. “I… I’m afraid I’m in rather a lot of trouble. I hope it will come to nothing, but there’s a chance there will be a very unpleasant story in the newspapers over the coming days.”

She turned back, giving him a hard, questioning look. “What did you do?”

“What I always do,” he said with a bitter laugh. “I jump in with both feet without considering the consequences. Like pretending to be someone I’m not in order to get back at a lady for a cutting, if accurate, review.”

“Like throwing yourself into courtship with an unsuitable lady when you barely even know her,” she amended, with a little sniff.

“That’s different,” he said softly. “I know I’m right this time and, as for not knowing you, I do know you. I know all I need to know, but I am perfectly ready to spend the time to discover every single thing about you, my own dreadful Davenport.”