“Are you wondering if I am wife hunting?” he asked with a touch of amusement.
“One hears rumors,” she said with an indulgent smile. “Is it true?”
“I have decided it is time for me to find a countess.”
She arched a brow. “Is that why I have seen you attend at least three balls so far this season? You are searching for your countess?”
“I will find my bride using intellectual logic, not attending balls, Lady Charity.”
Her lips parted in an O of surprise before she laughed. “Intellectual logic. That is a very interesting viewpoint.”
“Ah, does that mean you are a lady who believes heart and marriage go together?”
“I do believe those who marry should at least like each other.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
They spun in several graceful movements before he said, “I wanted to speak to you about what happened in my study and to apologize.”
Her eyes were very bright and a little wary. “You want to apologize for kissing me?”
The soft throb of hurt in her tone had him reassessing sharply. “No. I wanted to apologize for implying you would not be safe from my advances. I am not a green lad unable to control his impulses around an attractive woman. It was boorish of me to have even suggested it. You are welcome in my home.”
“It did lead me to the astonishing awareness you might not be as boring as gossips suggest.”
“Boring?”
A little smile touched the corners of her lips, yet it did not reach her eyes. “Yes.”
He wanted to kiss her again, right now. Except this exercise was merely to prove he had control around her, and he was not a lad led around by his damn cock. “Women normally find me diverting,” he said drily.
“I seem to have pricked your vanity,” she said with laughter lurking in her tone. “I am also curious to discover who these creatures are.”
Her tone suggested she did not think these nebulous women existed.
“Surely, one of them is not a particular baroness who recently bought a charming cottage in Brighton?”
His last lover and mistress. “You seem well-informed on my personal matters, Lady Charity.”
“There is never a shortage of gossip within society.”
“I presume society gossips about me frequently.”
Her gaze narrowed speculatively. “They cannot seem to help themselves. You are frequently on the lips of many ladies and even a few society sheets.”
“Ah…perhaps that means I am more diverting than dull, hmm?”
Her eyes sparkled, and she laughed, moving with perfect grace into the twirl.
“I admit I do not find you at all dull.”
“How gratifying to hear.”
“So you are prepared for my visit then, my lord.”
“I have stiffened my back against all temptations.”
Her lashes lowered, hiding her expression for a precious moment. “I tempt you?” she murmured.
He thought to brush it aside, for he had revealed too much through their bantering. Instead, Ethan replied, “You do.”
A delighted sigh whispered softly between them, and he studied her thoughtfully. Ladies were normally so coy with their flirtations, except he did not think the lady flirting. It was merely an honest reaction to knowing he was attracted. Ethan smiled, and as he spun her into several more graceful twirls, he admitted that he was keenly looking forward to her presence in his country home.
This did not bode well at all.