Page 3 of A Marriage of Necessity

He blinked, then his mouth thinned. “The gentlemen you draw into your web are most fortunate.”

She lifted her chin. “You will not count yourself amongst their ranks.”

It seemed he would say more, but he spun on his heel and strode away.

Anne released a deep breath, then realized a nearby group of men were staring. God help her, by tomorrow, word will have spread through Edinburgh that one of Lady Peddington’s graduates was available for the taking.

“You can’t fully blame him, you know,” drawled a deep male voice behind her.

Anne whirled to face the speaker, a tall man leaning against the wall. Good heavens, he was handsome. The blue eyes that started at her were made all the more blue by his raven dark hair.

“I beg your pardon?” she said.

“There is no denying that Niall is uncouth,” he said. “But you can’t fault him for speaking the truth.”

The temper that had got her into far too much trouble over the course of her life—including just a moment ago—reared its ugly head once again. “You know nothing of the situation.”

“Unlike Niall, I respect a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to pursue it,” he said without rancor.

She frowned. “What the devil are you talking about?”

“A woman has just as much right to pursue her pleasure as does a man,” he said.

Then she understood. “Where did you get the idea that I’m seeking lovers?” She should have known better than to stay for the Midnight Ball.

“Are ye saying it isn’t true?” he asked, but before she could answer, he added. “It seems to be a well-known fact.”

“Something can be a fact only if it’s true,” she said with exasperation.

He laughed. “You just rejected Niall’s advances by telling him that you won’t add him to your list of lovers.”

She gave a frustrated shake of her head. “I was angry.”

He laughed. “There is no need to be coy. I meant what I said, I respect a woman who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants.”

Anne exhaled a breath in an effort to control her temper. “But you insist that what I want is a string of lovers. What in heaven would I do with them?”

He pushed away from the wall. “Perhaps I can be of help in demonstrating the benefits of having at least one lover.”

She rolled her eyes. “That would completely undermine my plans.”

“What might those plans be?”

“I fail to see how that is any of your business,” she said.

He shrugged. “If I’m to help, I must know your plans.”

“Help?” Anne narrowed her eyes. “If you intend to help in the same fashion as that other gentleman, no thank you.”

“I would never be so uncouth,” he said.

A twinge of hope surfaced.

“Niall should never have asked you to trade your charms for the possibility of introducing you to a man who might be interested in becoming your protector.”

“What should he have done?” she asked cautiously.

The man took two steps closer and grasped her hand. The warmth of his fingers caught her off guard. Eyes locked with hers, he lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her fingers, then released her.