“I know you don’t care to hear how beautiful you are, but it’s true.”
His tender look affected her even more than the words. He did make her feel beautiful-
Which no doubt was his calculated intent, Roslyn suddenly realized.
She stiffened with renewed resolve. Pulling back, she managed a light laugh. “I know what you are about, your grace, but your tricks are wasted on me.”
“What tricks?”
“You are employing the same techniques of seduction you taught me.”
“Is that so?” Drew asked innocently.
“You know it is. You bring me expensive gifts and attempt to flatter me. You look deeply into my eyes and make me the sole focus of your attention. You touch me in order to arouse my senses… Shall I go on?”
Flashing her a slow smile of irresistible charm, he held up his hands. “Guilty as charged. But can you blame me? I know I must use every means at my disposal to convince you to wed me.”
“I don’t want you to shower me with jewels or empty flattery, Drew.”
“My flattery isn’t empty. Come here, sweeting. I want to show you how much I desire you.”
Reaching for her, he drew her into his arms. Discomfited, Roslyn exclaimed in protest. “I don’t want you to kiss me, either.”
“Now that I know isn’t true.” His green gaze intimate, knowing, he smiled softly. “Let me prove it to you, sweet Roslyn…”
Bending his head, he kissed her with controlled expertise while his hands drifted lightly over her body. Every movement was laced with mastery and kindled sparks wherever he touched.
To her dismay, Roslyn soon stopped resisting and surrendered to the clever explorations of his mouth and hands. When he finally pulled back, he left her hot and breathless and dazed.
“The next time we make love,” he murmured in a husky voice, “will be much better than the first.”
She couldn’t imagine how it could be better, but that was hardly the point.
“There will not
“I can see I will have to change your mind.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. “That is just what I would expect of you, you grace, using your sexual prowess to try and sway me.”
“Why shouldn’t I, since it is one of my chief talents?”
“I know.” Roslyn sent him a disgruntled look. “Fanny says you can make women weep with rapture.”
His eyebrow arched. “How could Fanny possibly know? I have never patronized her.”
“She is merely repeating rumor.”
Drew shrugged. “My efforts are not entirely calculating. It makes a man swell with pride, knowing he can please his lover.”
“Not according to Fanny. She says it is extremely rare for a man to consider his lover’s pleasure before his own.”
Drew’s smile was rueful. “Well, I confess I have cultivated my amorous skills so I would be wanted for something other than my wealth and title.”
Roslyn was struck by the odd look in his eyes. It was almost…vulnerable. She found it difficult to believe so powerful nobleman as Drew would have any kind of vulnerability, but she could understand why he wanted to be wanted for himself, not his material assets.
“You certainly succeeded-” Roslyn shook herself abruptly. “How did we stray to this scandalous subject? Yesterday you said you would call on me this morning to further discuss our betrothal.”
“And I meant to. But then I realized I would do better to work on my mother, since she could prove to be a thorn in my side. I intend to stay the night at Arden Castle, by the way. While I’m making my duty visit, I have some estate affairs that need tending. But I’ll return here in time to escort you to the betrothal dinner tomorrow night.”
“You needn’t trouble yourself, Drew. I plan to attend with my friend, Miss Blanchard. It would be best if I am not always seen in your company.”
“Is that the real reason?”
Roslyn flushed. “To be perfectly honest, I don’t want to be alone in a carriage with you.”
“Because you don’t trust yourself with me.”
“Exactly.”
His smile was rather smug although still charming. “Very well, love, but I won’t allow you to avoid my company altogether. I want the chance to court you properly.”
“If you mean to be proper, you will have to abandon your plan to seduce me.”
“Now,
Crossing to her chair, he bent and placed a brief kiss on her lips, then turned and exited the library, leaving Roslyn with her pulse racing wildly.
She pressed her hands to her overheated cheeks and frowned unhappily. She fully comprehended Drew’s idea of a courtship. He meant to woo her ruthlessly, using every ounce of charm and every skill at seduction he possessed to overwhelm her senses. And she knew it would be devastatingly effective.
Or would it?
Absently, Roslyn reached up to finger the glittering jewels at her throat. She might be unable to resist Drew’s expert physical overtures, but his assault on her senses was not likely to touch her heart. Indeed, knowing the cold, calculating techniques he was employing would make it easier to protect herself from falling in love with him.
Drew Moncrief might be a splendid lover, but he knew almost nothing about real love, and love was the only thing that could convince her to wed him.
The gathering for Winifred’s dinner on Monday evening was small and intimate, with only the betrothed couple’s closest friends attending.
When Roslyn arrived with Tess and was shown into the drawing room, Winifred welcomed her with a hearty embrace while whispering in her ear, “I’m afraid Fanny could not come, Roslyn dear, since she had a prior engagement. And I did not invite Lord Haviland. I decided it would not be appropriate, considering he is the duke’s rival for your hand.”
Roslyn refrained from arguing that Haviland was no longer a possible suitor and merely smiled.
Drew was already there before her, but his greeting was surprisingly tame. He merely took her hand and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. “There, are you satisfied? I intend to behave with consummate circumspection tonight.”
“Thank you,” Roslyn murmured wryly.
Miss Jane Caruthers, a spinster and teacher who managed the day-to-day affairs of the Freemantle Academy, greeted her next, embracing Roslyn with sincere warmth. “Your betrothal is certainly a surprise,” Jane said, “but I am very happy for you, my dear.”
Marcus’s sister, Lady Eleanor Pierce, had also been invited, along with Drew’s close friend, the Marquess of Claybourne. Lady Eleanor expressed her delight to Roslyn, while Claybourne offered felicitations. “Marcus thought you might make this old fellow an admirable duchess.”
“Did he indeed?” Roslyn responded with skepticism. “I never expected Marcus to be a champion of matrimony.”
“He wasn’t until he met your sister. He became a convert only then.”
As soon as the butler supplied Roslyn with a glass of wine, Lady Eleanor pulled her aside for a private moment. “Drew tells me the announcement of your engagement will be in all the society pages tomorrow. The ton will be astounded to learn he came up to scratch, since he has been so staunchly resistant to marriage, but I am truly delighted by your betrothal, especially for Drew’s sake. And I know Marcus will be as well.”
Roslyn glanced across the drawing room at the marquess. “How does Lord Claybourne feel about our betrothal?”
“Oh, he is exceedingly amused. Drew always said he wouldn’t marry until he had no other choice. When is the wedding to be?”
“We have not set a date yet. Perhaps sometime in the fall. There really is no hurry.”
