To Seduce a Bride

avoid advertising her identity. She didn’t want to be easily recognizable by anyone she encountered during her ride with the marquess.

“The possible benefits to our pupils,” she said, “are well worth any risk to my reputation. But Basil, in future please do not do me any more favors that involve you playing matchmaker.”

He grinned. “I promise. Enjoy your ride.”

“Oh, I will. I mean to show his lordship that I would make him an extremely unsuitable wife.”

Basil frowned as she turned away. “Lily,” he called after her, “just what devilish scheme are you planning?”

She laughed lightly as she continued down the corridor. “Nothing more mischievous than usual. I shall return in time for my class at nine.”

“You know coves like Claybourne don’t like mannish young ladies, Lily. You will put him off if you insist on outriding him and outshooting him and outthinking him.”

“That is precisely my intention!”

Ignoring Basil’s muttering, Lily made her way through the house to the front entrance. But when she stepped outside and saw Lord Claybourne waiting on the street for her, accompanied by a groom holding the reins of two magnificent bay horses, she came to an abrupt halt.

“Oh my heavens,” she murmured to herself. How had he known she couldn’t resist such superb horseflesh? She would be delighted to ride a spirited mount any time, but particularly now, when she’d been deprived of her favorite pastime during the entire month she’d been in London.

Stiffening her spine, Lily gathered her composure and continued down the steps. Clearly the marquess was not going to play fairly. But there was no need for panic. Indeed, she was counting on their absurd game to aid her cause, even if it meant being compelled to spend time with him. For she was convinced that if Lord Claybourne came to know her better, he would soon realize that he would not be at all happy with her as his bride.

Heath felt his loins tighten at the sight of Lily looking as fresh and lovely as the summer morning. She ignored him completely, however, and instead had eyes only for his horses.

Going directly to the smaller of the two bays, which sported a lady’s sidesaddle, she spoke softly to the mare, stroking her face and receiving an affectionate nicker in return.

When Lily finally deigned to notice him, her lively eyes held appreciation. “I must say one thing for you, Lord Claybourne. You do have excellent taste in horseflesh.”

“Is that actually a compliment, Miss Loring?” Heath responded.

“I give credit where it is due…although I’m certain you are merely trying to score points with our judges.”

“And with you as well. I thought you might have missed riding and hoped to disarm you by providing you an excellent steed.”

“Well, I admit you succeeded,” she said with rueful amusement. “I have rarely been privileged to ride such a wonderful animal.”

“You may consider the mare a gift. After all, you are here in London without a mount because of me.”

She shook her head. “I cannot accept so expensive a gift.”

“A loan, then.”

Lily gave the mare’s face another fond stroke. “Thank you, my lord. I will love riding this beauty. Shall we be on our way?”

Heath had thought she might be reluctant to share his company this morning, yet she looked as though she was anticipating their outing with relish. But then, he should have known he wasn’t dealing with any meek- mannered miss. Lily would throw herself into every challenge that confronted her, their courtship game included.

“I am trusting that you can handle a spirited horse,” Heath said as he moved closer to help Lily mount.

Her vibrant smile left a dimple in her cheek. “You needn’t worry about that. You should be more concerned about handling me.”

Her sparkling dark eyes enchanted him, while her beauty and vitality made him want to touch her. It was with great pleasure that Heath put his hands on Lily’s waist and lifted her onto the sidesaddle. The mare jigged a little, but Lily easily brought her under control, then adjusted her skirts and pulled down her filmy lace veil, which regrettably covered all of her face but her mouth. Then without waiting for him, she set off down the street.

Heath quickly swung up into his own saddle and gave orders to his groom to await him here, before urging his gelding after her.

“I thought we would ride in Green Park,” he said when he caught up to her. “It is closer and won’t be as crowded as Hyde Park.”

“That will do nicely,” she said in approval. “We can have a good gallop.”

Green Park was only about a half mile from Fanny’s boardinghouse on Gerrard Street, although in a busy part of London. The route they took to get there was congested by vendors hawking wares and all manner of traffic- drays and carriages, sporting vehicles and other riders. Heath kept a watchful eye on Lily, yet she dealt with the spirited mare so skillfully, he was soon able to relax and simply enjoy her company.

Heath found his mouth twisting with rueful amusement as he wondered how he’d wound up in this utterly alien situation-courting a woman he wanted for his bride who clearly didn’t want him.

He had never courted anyone before. Certainly he’d never had to expend such extreme effort just to gain a woman’s attention. With his wealth and power, he needed merely to show a modicum of interest for her to become his. And not in his wildest dreams would he ever have expected to have to woo Lily under the eagle eyes of her protective courtesan friends.

Yet he was looking forward to the most intriguing challenge he’d encountered in years.

He had every confidence that he could eventually change Lily’s mind about not wanting to marry him. His powers of persuasion were legendary, with charm and persistence being primary weapons in his arsenal.

In truth, winning had always come easily to him, Heath reflected-and he had every intention of claiming victory in their courtship.

But since Lily was so unconventional, he knew conventional methods would be ineffectual with her. If he hoped to keep her off balance, he needed to be creative and enterprising. Thus the superb Thoroughbred mare he’d bought for her late yesterday.

His instincts told him the way to Lily’s heart would not be through jewels and other feminine gewgaws. And from her pleased reaction to the mare, he knew he’d succeeded in winning their first skirmish.

However, the first words out of Lily’s mouth were not those of a young lady eager to win his own heart:

“I wish you would believe me, Lord Claybourne, when I say I will never marry.”

Heath cocked an eyebrow. “You mean to remain a spinster your entire life? I just cannot see it.”

“I can, quite easily. I imagine I will find spinsterhood delightful,” Lily contended. “Besides, two married women in one family is more than enough.”

He chuckled. “You haven’t yet forgiven your sisters for falling in love.”

“I have not.” Since Lily’s face was mostly veiled, he couldn’t see her eyes, but her luscious mouth was curved in a half smile. “I suppose they have a right to choose their own futures, however. And I am very glad they are happy. As for me, I was perfectly content before Marcus inherited the title from our late step-uncle and came into our lives.”

“Even living under the taint of scandal as you were?”

When her smile faded, Heath was sorry he’d brought up the subject. “It is highly regrettable that you and your sisters had to bear the brunt of your parents’ ignominy.”

Lily’s shrug was nonchalant. “You needn’t pity us, my lord. We quickly realized there was a silver lining to the disgrace. We were no longer expected to behave like perfect ladies.”

“Which you rarely did in any case.”

Her smile returned. “Indeed. But the scandals liberated us in a way.” She sighed. “You have no idea how frustrating it is to be shackled by the restrictions deemed proper for genteel young ladies. Frankly, I envy Fanny the freedom she enjoys.”

“But society permits more freedom for married ladies to behave as they please than single ones.”

She laughed. “Possibly, but that still won’t induce me to marry you.”