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Shrugging off his strange paralysis, he forced his mouth to form words. “Can a gentleman not enjoy a lady’s company without being accused of nefarious motives?”
One delicate brow arched. “No. And you, as you so kindly informed me, are no gentleman. You have no real interest in me. Therefore, I must assume you intend to use me as a means to whatever—or whomever—it is that truly interests you.”
“How can you be so certain I have no interest in you?” He let his eyes roam over her in a deliberately suggestive manner.
Her expression did not alter one iota. “Because, with only one other exception, you have sought out the companionship of married women.”
It was stated plainly and without scorn or disgust. Though he’d quickly come to expect direct speech from her, hearing her boldly say what everyone else only dared whisper behind his back was both shocking and refreshing.
“Now we come to it at last.” He chuckled. “Very well. You told the truth about the offers you refused. Therefore, I shall do likewise concerning my past. I was indeed the man you describe, a cheerful usurper of wifely affections.”
He waited, but she neither reeled aghast nor even blushed, so he continued, spurred to even bolder speech. “I enjoyed my life immensely, amusing myself at the expense of others with no cost to myself—other than my good name and perhaps the stains on my soul for which I shall have to answer in the hereafter. But I am that man no more.”
She looked him in the eye as she calmly threw his own words back at him. “There are countless others who would beg to differ. Most would insist men like you are incapable of turning from their wickedness.”
That stung. “They would be wrong. The events surrounding the…‘other exception’ to which you referred wrought many changes in me. Changes that were not, I can avow, either anticipated or very comfortable.”
“Oh?” Her tone was laden with sarcasm. “Do tell.”
Wrath, not at her but at himself, flashed through him. “I tried to pick up the threads of my previous life, believe me. I pursued my old vices with all the fervor of a devout worshipper of all things carnal,” he drawled, determined to wring some sort of shocked reaction from her. “Drink, wagers, duels, women of loose morals—I threw myself headlong into every sinful diversion I could find.”
“And?” Her blue eyes bored into him.
That she had not even flinched was a disappointment. “I found no joy in it.” It was hard to admit, even now that he’d accepted it. The grim truth was he was done raking Hell’s coals.
Her staid expression slowly transformed into one of wonder. “Good Lord, you grew a conscience.”
“Apparently,” he spat, furious. “And it’s a bloody pain in my arse!”
“Con
gratulations.” Her lips quirked. “Welcome to humanity.”
A growl of frustration rumbled in his throat over her unconcealed amusement. How dare this untried chit of a girl find humor in his predicament?
“You still have not answered my question,” she prompted. “Why did you ask me to accompany you today?”
And she was as tenacious as a terrier on the scent! Fine. An excuse, then—damned if he was going to tell her the truth. “I suppose I wanted to make up for the way I treated you when we met.”
“By causing everyone to speculate concerning our association and thus question my moral rectitude?” A half laugh escaped her upturned lips. “But that was really the point all along, was it not?” Her eyes narrowed. “Wells put you up to this. The man is determined to see my good name overturned as vengeance for my having refused him.”
Percy’s vexation instantly withered into contempt. “I am no man’s puppet, madam,” he said with as much dignity as he could muster. “I’m at your side this day to satisfy my own curiosity concerning your person. Wells had nothing to do with it.”
Her expression remained one of doubt.
“It is true he brought you to my attention,” he confessed, annoyed. “But I very quickly ascertained he was wrong about you.” No change. He softened. “You are not a heartless jade, Eden.”
He watched, relieved, as the chill faded from her blue eyes.
“And you are not the despicable rogue you pretend to be.” A faint smile trembled on her lips for a moment. “It seems our reputations have become a stumbling block, something to overcome rather than to recommend us. Come. Let our opinions of each other be unbiased by the words of others. Rather let us agree to shape them from our own unique experiences.”
“I think that a wise course,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Though I will own that mine is the significantly larger obstacle.” He offered his arm again. “Mountainous, in fact.”
Her smile widened. “I will certainly not deny it is so. But nothing is truly insurmountable.”
He’d not thought it possible for her to be any lovelier than she’d been the night of the Wyndham ball, but here in the bright sunlight of this fine clear day, the woman was breathtaking. There wasn’t a trace of maquillage anywhere on her face. Not many women could lay claim to such unadorned beauty. As well, most ladies preferred the gentle forgiveness of candlelight, which hid a multitude of imperfections. Not so, Eden. What some might think of as the harsh light of day was for her the perfect illumination.
“Have I sprouted a freckle?”
