“Why?” he asked.
“Why do I want a lover? Or why am I considering you, specifically?”
“Both.”
“Well, I’ve had several offers of marriage, and I suppose I’ll have to accept one of them sooner or later. I can’t live with my parents forever. Unlike you men, single women don’t have the luxury of setting up their own establishments. So, before I’m immured in a loveless marriage of convenience with someone like Wilton, I’ve decided to live a little.”
Ha. She’d never accept Wilton, not even to gain a modicum of independence.
“Hmm,” Raven said.
“I made a list.”
“Of course you did. Women are forever writing lists. What of?”
“All the things I wish to achieve before I marry. Or die. Whichever comes first.”
“Death would be infinitely preferable,” he drawled. “This list includes taking a lover, does it?”
“Indeed. Why should you men get all the fun?” Heloise hid her smile. She reallydidhave a list, although taking a lover wasn’t on it. At least, notofficially.“As to why I’m considering you, I’m being practical. Your reputation with women is well known. I can only assume you must be an accomplished lover. I might as well learn from someone who knows what they’re doing.” Her heart was racing. She couldn’t believe she was having such a risqué conversation.
His lips twitched. “You flatter me.”
Heloise studied her nails. “At first I considered going to a professional, but I’m not entirely clear on how I’d go about finding one.”
“Your brothers would be extremely relieved to hear that,” he murmured.
“And then I thought of you. The next best thing, so to speak. After all, we do have a certain amount of shared history. I think I might be able to relax and enjoy it more if it’s not with acompletestranger. Although again, you men seem to have no trouble with that, from what I’ve heard.”
Heloise bit the inside of her cheek to banish the mischievous smile from her lips. “Of course, there’s always the danger you might not find me attractive enough. You’ve turned me down before, let’s not forget. And that wasbeforeI was scarred.”
He made a noise that was very close to a snort. She ignored it.
“From listening to my brothers I’ve received the impression that when faced with a naked female most men manage to muster up some enthusiasm. Especially after a period of abstinence. Which for someone as…ah…active as yourself, I imagine must count as a few days, at best.”
Raven cleared his throat. “It sounds like a decidedly one-sided arrangement. I fail to see what’s in it for me. Why should I waste my time with a tiresome virgin?”
“The novelty?” she hazarded. “I thought men liked virgins.”
“On the contrary. It’s rarely pleasurable when one’s partner has no experience whatsoever. On the other hand, some men prefer virgins because they’re like a blank piece of paper. Untouched by human hand, so to speak. They’ve had no time to pick up nasty habits.” He raised his brows. “Or diseases,” he added, straight-faced.
“Charming,” she said. “I’m insulted on behalf of virgins everywhere.”
He grinned, showing straight, white teeth. “You started it. And though it pains me to point out a flaw in your otherwise perfect plan, won’t your husband-to-be expect you to be untouched on your wedding night?”
There wasn’t going to be a wedding, or a wedding night, so it was a moot point. Having seen the love between her parents and, more recently, that between her brother Nic and his new wife, Marianne, Heloise was firmly of the opinion that marrying for anything less than love was unthinkable. Since the only man she’d ever wanted had made his views on marriage quite clear, she’d undoubtedly end up as an eccentric spinster aunt to her brother’s children, living in one wing of her parents’ house forever.
She suppressed a sigh. “Never mind. Forget I asked. I need to talk to you about something important.”
“More important than your virginity?” he teased.
“You’ll think so. Is there somewhere we can be private?”
Raven’s intrigued smile made her stomach knot with desire. “Of course. This way.”
Chapter 4
He steered her through the open French doors and out onto the terrace. The strains of a quadrille followed them as he drew her around the corner of the house. Heloise’s skin tingled as he pulled her down the steps from the terrace and into the shadowy garden beyond. Her heart skipped, even though he wasn’t escorting her anywhere for nefarious purposes. Sadly, the only time men tried to lure her into dark corners was to get her opinion on the latest translation of Ovid.