“I should hope so.”
“There is an undeniable attraction between us,” she said softly. “Won’t you agree?”
“Yes.”
“There are rumors floating in the ton that you are seeking a wife.”
His dark head tilted arrogantly. “Rumors? Come now, Evie, I expect better of you than to listen to bored ladies’ idle speculations.”
Blast the man. “Is there veracity to the rumors or not?”
“It is the reason I am attending a few balls and outings for the season. Emily will eventually need more…more than I alone can give her,” he said softly. “Though my logical mind tells me that, I cannot push aside the aversion I feel at the notion of marrying.”
He’d told her once of his desire to marry the beautiful socialite Lady Trenear. There had been nothing but chilling indifference in his voice when he spoke of her perfidy. Was his aversion because he mistrusted women?
“You said you did not offer for me because I am a darling of society.”
He slid her a considering glance. “I deduce we are going to have a conversation about it?”
She pursed her lips at his bland tone. “Yes.”
He bit into an apple, crunching for a few seconds before speaking. “Then get on with it.”
“You are truly insufferable at times.” She reached for an apple and bit into it, carefully ordering her thoughts. She had been determined to inform him of the mystery gentleman she wanted to ensnare. “Is that your only objection to a match between us?”
Subtle tension wove through his body. “I was not aware there was a speculation about us joining.”
“I think after our moment in the carriage it bears such speculation, don’t you?”
Heat flared in his gaze before a neutral mask settled on his face. “We would be a most imprudent match, Evie.”
“We’ve been friends for years, and I daresay we have wonderful conversations, and I quite like your kisses.” She bit the inside of her cheeks as her body flamed with heat. Drat. The last thing she wanted at this moment was to be blushing like a virginal miss. She needed to be confident, blasé even, on equal footing with Richard’s arrogant countenance.
“I have no intention of being miserable in marriage when I do take the plunge.”
With a gasp, Evie threw the half-eaten apple at him, which he ducked, chuckling.
“How could you say such a horrid thing, as if being married to me is such a wretched idea?”
“If we are being frank, the idea of having you in my bed forever is quite delightful.”
His reluctant admission cheered her slightly.
“But that delight would be short-lived.”
She arched a brow. “And why is that?”
“There isn’t any one reason why we would be an imprudent match.”
The words caught her sharply in the chest. “It seems you have thought about courting me.”
“You want love, Evie. I know you well enough—you have a romantic soul.”
She swallowed, understating his objection with those few words. I do not love, nor trust. “I see, and you do not believe love and trust may grow over time in a union?” she asked, though her heart rejected the very idea. She wanted the same burning hunger she had in her soul for him, from the start.
His eyes shadowed. “Perhaps. It is evident to me you would expect me to honor my vows, to honor you with love. I will, in turn, expect you to cross the social divide and use your wit and influence to fight for those less fortunate, to love my daughter and the children I’ve adopted as your own. We are worlds apart, as silly as the notion seems.”
“You would not be faithful to your marriage vows?” she asked, appalled at his outrageousness. Many had labeled him a degenerate, a profligate libertine, and never had it been more obvious.