He swallowed, doing his damnedest to keep those harrowing memories at bay.
Instead, he leveled her with an assessing stare. “What kind of freedom did you have in mind?”
She squared her shoulders and stated, “I want to be able to do what I please.”
“You’re not going to find that,” he said honestly. He cringed, hating to be the bearer of unbearable news. “You’re not going to find a wealthy man who will allow you to do whatever you want, Jack. It’s not generally what they do. However, I’m sure we can find someone who’s willing to make a compromise. He will appreciate your finer points.” And as he stared at her, his own admiration for her growing at her audacity, he began to wonder what those points were from a gentleman’s perspective.
Jack appeared to be exactly the opposite of what every man he knew wanted in a wife.
She was dressed in breeches, to begin with. And her body was strong, capable. Ready for adventure. That was absolutely and abundantly clear to him as he gazed at her beautiful hips hugged by her fawn breeches and her rather pert breasts pressing against her linen shirt.
Much to his dismay, he found himself wondering if her body was as strong as it appeared to be. He loved the idea that she was strong, that she might be able to go as far as he and be as full of endurance as himself.
He ground his teeth, cursing his unruly and shocking response to her.
At last, she nodded, acknowledging her hopes were too high.
“Right then, Jack, barring freedom,” he ventured softly, “and being allowed to do whatever you please. What do you like?”
She bit her lower lip, a subtle gesture she clearly had no idea did the most remarkable things to her appearance.
He sucked in a soft breath as the idea of sucking that lower lip between his own crossed his mind.
She was without guile. It was he who was enticed by her. Not the other way around.
But how many people had ever told him that all they required was freedom and happiness? None.
“Come, come,” he urged before he teased slightly, “be bold. Do you like to go for long walks by the coastline, share a glass of wine with a friend, listen to music?”
Her eyes lit up with anger. “Do you jest, Your Grace?”
“I am not making fun of you,” he promised. “I have a whole list of things that I ask people before I am willing to help them in this endeavor.”
“Do you?” she breathed, wary.
“I do,” he replied. “So…”
“I adore music,” she confessed abruptly.
He nodded. “Tell me more.”
“When I am at the pianoforte, the real world disappears, and I slip away into another world,” she rushed.
He groaned inwardly.Oh dear, he thought to himself,another lady who loves the pianoforte.
“Do you practice your scales every day?” he asked, doing his best not to tease again. After all, this was most serious. But her response had been a surprise. He’d not thought she’d reply with a typical accomplishment of a lady.
Her eyes flashed, and she looked as though she was about to punch him.
He held up his hands in faux surrender. “Now, now, Lady Jack, I warn you. If you tussle with me, I shall be forced to defend myself.”
Her eyes crackled with a challenge. “Go ahead, then,” she said. “I dare you.”
His brows lifted at that, for his idea of defense was merely a quick step out of the way, which might land her on the rug. And would prove embarrassing for them both. “Do you, indeed?”
“I have brothers. I know how to defend myself in turn,” she said firmly. “And while you might be a rake and a rogue, I know you are not a roué and a rascal.”
He smiled. “I’m glad to hear I have at least some estimation in your opinion.”