“Indeed. Fleuridia is known for producing headstrong females.”
“Oh my God…zzzzz,” I hissed. “Did you just use the word ‘headstrong’?”
“Do not fear, Countess, I’m changing my mind about the manner in which I’ll allow you to address me.”
“A-allow?” I choked.
His eyes settled on my mouth. “Do you need me to stroke your back?”
My nipples suddenly perked up.
“Why on earth would I need that?”
His gaze came to my own. “You seem to be choking on your words.”
I shifted out from in front of him, declaring, “I think we’re done here.”
He caught me with an arm around my belly and pulled me back.
I looked to where I stood but a moment before, then I looked down at the toes of his boots that were again amongst my skirts.
Then I looked up at him.
“Did you just deny my departure and do that physically?”
“I did, as I disagree. We are not done here.”
“A warning, Lord Remington,” I said low. “When I wish not to be somewhere, I do not allow a man to waylay me.”
“Do you not?”
“It would seem we’re destined to wed,” I pointed out.
“It’s lovely to know you understand the concept of a contract.”
I allowed myself to smile.
His eyes raced to my mouth with that.
So he watched my lips say, “And it’s lovely to know I haven’t scared you off and you have more mettle than I first assumed.”
His lips twitched, accepting my score.
And then I shared softly, “So I will be your wife, and I may give you daughters. I urge you, your grace, to consider for a moment how you would feel if another man prohibited me or them from going when we wished to go.”
His gaze came to mine.
“Countess,” he whispered, appearing contrite.
In other words, he got my point.
“Call me crazy, but I’ve enjoyed our tête-à-tête. However, it would mean a great deal to me if you would make an effort to learn when to back me into a corner, and when…not.”
My heart skipped in my chest when he immediately stepped aside.
Okay, um…
Why was that the sexiest thing a man ever did around me?
Feeling weirdly nervous all of a sudden, I touched my wet hair and moved to the door, mumbling, “I must be off. I fear my toilette prior to dinner will take twice as much time.”
I stopped after I opened the door and turned back to him.
Damn, he was good-looking.
Also, he liked ass too, since when I turned, his eyes were aimed at mine before they came up to my face.
“I’m very sorry about your mother and sister. I’m also sorry, with what happened to them, that what I did with the horses concerned you. I’ll make a point not to do something like that again.”
“I would be obliged, Countess.”
I dipped my chin.
He watched me intently.
I slipped out the door.
During our discussion, the rain had gone.
Dodging puddles, I dashed to the house as quickly as my skirt would allow me, feeling unsettled.
Because before I got to Pinkwick House, Loren Copeland, Marquess of Remington was just a guy I had to play to buy time to get my mom safe and get the hell out of there.
Now he was a guy I might just like.
And that complicated things.
Greatly.
Chapter Four
Highest Bidder
Loren
“You’re absolutely certain the woman you saw in the sanatorium was Lady Maxine Dawes?” Loren asked his father.
They were in Ansley’s study. Drinks to be shared with Dawes and Maxine were to be served in the parlor in fifteen minutes. Thus, they were both in evening attire.
And his father and he were further discussing the bombshell Ansley had landed on him that afternoon, just prior to his brief, wet adventure with the Countess Derryman.
“She was the image of the woman who arrived this very afternoon,” Ansley replied.
“And the doctors told you that the damage done when she was a child was unrecoverable?” Loren pressed.
“Yes, son,” Ansley replied sharply, his deep voice pitching louder.
“Calm down,” Loren said low.
“It feels like you’re questioning my sanity.”
“I’m not, but I believe you are.”
Ansley blew out a breath, tore his hand through his hair and turned to stare out the window into the darkness.
“As we did not have time earlier today, now, can we speak for a moment about the fact you didn’t tell me that my affianced had a debilitating brain injury?” Loren requested.
Ansley turned back to his son. “If you’d known you’d been released from the contract, what would you have done?”
“I’ve no idea. However, I think whatever that is should have been mine to decide.”
Ansley let it sit a moment.
And then he said, “You are all I have left, Loren. It is, indeed, about our line. Mostly, it’s about me wanting to precede at least one member of my immediate family to death.”
Loren flinched.
His father did not let up.
“I am proud of your service to our kingdom, but I fear you’ve become addicted to that chase.”