he despises being the target for covetous females. And in the second, he is perfectly aware of the successful techniques of arousing a man’s ardor, since he taught me himself. He would know exactly what I was attempting.”
“But you could manage a more subtle approach.”
She shook her head. “I have no intention of trying to coerce him to love me. If he is truly serious about wedding me, he will have to take responsibility for fostering a love match himself.”
Tess looked amused. “You expect him to make all the effort?”
“Precisely. But like you, I doubt he is the least bit interested in a real love match.”
Roslyn had little faith that Drew would change his stripes so drastically. She might wonder, wistfully and foolishly, if he could ever come to love her, but she still believed he was too cynical to let himself give his heart to anyone.
“What will you tell your sisters?” Tess asked.
“I’ll tell Arabella about the betrothal, of course,” Roslyn replied, “but not the rest…not about my wantonness. Marcus still considers himself our protector if not our legal guardian, and he wouldn’t be pleased to know that I’ve been intimate with his friend. I’ll write Belle tomorrow at Marcus’s family seat in Devonshire, although there is no hurry, since they aren’t expected to arrive there until next week. They should still be touring the Lake District at present.”
“What about Lily? You know she won’t be happy to hear you are engaged to wed a man you don’t love and who might never love you.”
“I know.” Roslyn’s mouth quirked ruefully. “I think I had best make a trip to London and tell her in person, although I will have to be discreet. Lily wants everyone to think she is visiting our old friends in Hampshire. Only you and Fanny know otherwise.”
“That would be wise,” Tess agreed. She drank a swallow of wine before speaking again. “Would you mind if I asked a personal question, Roslyn?”
“Of course not.”
Tess hesitated, looking oddly embarrassed. “Was…passion as remarkable as Fanny says it is?”
Roslyn felt her own complexion warm as she recalled the incredible interlude with Drew in the cottage. “It was better,” she said softly. “I can understand now why Fanny forsook all her genteel upbringing and let herself be swept away by desire.”
Tess sighed. “I regret that I may never know that kind of passion. I almost envy you…” With a sharp shake of her head, she squared her shoulders. “But I promised myself I wouldn’t dwell on the past. And now I feel obliged to play schoolmistress for a moment.” She gave Roslyn a stern look, although her eyes held a glint of humor. “If you mean to become intimate with the duke again, you should take precautions.”
“Precautions?” Roslyn asked.
“Against becoming enceinte. If you find yourself with child, you will be forced to wed him, regardless of your feelings for him.”
Roslyn’s cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. “I confess, I had not given the matter any thought. Fanny never worried about such things.”
“Some women, like Fanny, cannot conceive easily, but others are more susceptible to breeding. There are ways to prevent a man’s seed taking root. You should ask Fanny about them.”
Roslyn nodded at the sage advice. For all her romantic sentimentality, Tess had always been rather levelheaded and practical.
“No doubt you are right,” Roslyn said. “But my being intimate with the duke should not be a problem in the future. I am determined it won’t happen again.”
Though looking skeptical, Tess merely sipped her wine.
Roslyn took a swallow of her own wine and silently renewed her vow not to surrender to her wanton desires again. It shouldn’t be as difficult as it had been the past two days. Now that she understood what she was up against, she could better guard herself.
She had let passion sway her when what she really wanted was love-and look at the quandary she was in now.
She would certainly
From the first moment he entered her library the following morning, however, Roslyn realized that Drew’s intentions were the very opposite of hers. He strode to the window seat where she was curled up reading, pulled her to her feet, and seized her mouth in an unexpected and unexpectedly gentle kiss that was no less devastating for its tenderness.
Instantly breathless, Roslyn tore herself from his embrace and retreated halfway across the room, her fingers pressed to her burning lips. “Your grace-Drew! You cannot kiss me like that simply because we are betrothed.”
He looked unchastened as he moved toward her. “I suspected you were having second thoughts and wanted to remind you why our marriage is still a good idea. Here, this is for you, darling.”
For the first time she noticed that he was carrying a flat blue velvet box. When she took it from him and opened the lid, Roslyn nearly gasped to see an incredible sapphire-and-diamond necklace with matching earbobs.
“These are Arden family heirlooms,” Drew explained. “I retrieved them this morning from the bank vault in London.”
Frowning slightly, Roslyn looked up at him. “They are beautiful but far too expensive for me to accept.”
“Nonsense. It’s appropriate for me to bring you a betrothal gift. You can wear them tomorrow evening at the dinner Lady Freemantle is giving. It will lend credence to our betrothal.”
Roslyn refrained from mentioning that she would likely be returning the jewels to him since she doubted the wedding would ever take place.
“I admit,” Drew added when she was silent, “they are something of a bribe, since I must ask you to perform a distasteful task.”
“What task?”
“As much as I regret it, I will have to introduce you to my mother.”
“The Duchess of Arden?”
“Yes. She spends the summer at Arden Castle in Kent. I’m on my way there now to inform her about our betrothal.” His mouth curled. “She would be outraged if I merely sent her a message announcing our engagement, and I would rather not get her back up since I want her to fully support you. I will take you to meet her later this week, if you are free.”
“Must I meet her?” Roslyn asked reluctantly.
Drew grinned. “I fear so. If she is seen to give her approval of the match, your acceptance in society will be assured. My mother holds significant sway over her peers.”
“I suppose you are right.”
Roslyn started to close the lid to the jewel box, but Drew stopped her. “No, try it on.”
“Very well,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. The neckline of her green muslin morning gown was too high and the color wasn’t right to do the beautiful piece justice, but it didn’t seem polite to refuse.
“Allow me to help,” Drew offered, lifting the necklace from the velvet bed.
Roslyn turned so that he could slip the necklace around her throat, but when he fastened the clasp, she found herself recalling yesterday when he’d helped her don her corset. This was much less wicked, yet she felt a tingling shock where his fingers touched the bare skin of her nape.
To distract herself, she asked him about his promise to search for Winifred’s thief. “Did you have the chance to speak to Bow Street yet?”
“Yes. I have two Runners investigating the color livery our thief wore. For now we will leave the search to them.”
Drew turned her around, his gaze surveying her. “Sapphires look lovely on you,” he said softly. “They complement your beautiful eyes.”
Roslyn felt her heart warm at his praise, yet she still felt uncomfortable at his flattery. “Drew…please-”
