Love and the Single Heiress

gentleman, simply did not argue with you.”

He bit back a smile at her snort. “Not argue with me? Well, that is a first.”

“I sensed it was the wisest course, and I very much wanted to know what boon you wished. Believe me when I say that I was delighted to discover that your wish so closely mirrored my own.”

“Yet now I owe you a boon.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“And what do you desire?”

His fingers kneaded her supple waist. “So many things… it will require a great deal of thought to settle upon just one.” He ran his palms down, over her hips. “What is this?” he asked, fingering a small, hard bump near her hip.

After a slight hesitation she slipped her hand into her robe’s pocket and withdrew a ring, which she held up to the light. Prisms of diamond flash glittered, bouncing off the walls, floor, and ceiling, as if she’d tossed a handful of stars into the air. “My wedding ring,” she said.

Unreasonable, ridiculous jealousy slapped Andrew at that physical symbol of her husband’s claim upon her. He knew a fair amount about gems, yet one did not need to be an expert to see that the stones were exquisite. Forcing his voice to remain neutral, he said, “I’ve never seen you wear it. Why was it in your pocket?”

“I don’t wear it. I was merely looking at it. When I heard the knock on my door, I slipped it into my pocket and forgot about it.” She handed him the ring. “What do you think of it?”

He studied it carefully. “The stones, individually, are all beautiful, even the smaller ones. Yet, I’m surprised this is a ring you would have chosen.”

“Why?”

He handed it back to her, not wanting to touch it any longer. “It just somehow doesn’t seem to suit you.” Because I didn’t give it to you. “It looks a bit overwhelming for your delicate hand. But I suppose that there is no such thing as too large a jewel.”

“Actually, I think there is. And while I’d wager many would think this ring lovely, I hate it. I’ve always hated it.”

He watched her closely. “Why is that?”

“Believe it or not, I’m not overly fond of diamonds. I find them colorless and cold. Although he was aware of that, Bertrand still gave me this ring, not because he thought I would like it, but because it was the ring he wanted me to wear. It did not matter what I liked or wanted. Unfortunately, I was too naive at the time he gave it to me to see it as a harbinger of things to come.”

“And what had you wanted?”

“Anything other than a diamond. Emerald. Sapphire. Something with color and life. My mother used to wear an emerald brooch that I loved-it is one of my most prized possessions.” She inclined her head and gazed at him curiously. “With all your travels I imagine you’ve collected some very interesting items. Which one do you prize the most?”

He hesitated for several seconds, then said, “I’d rather show you than tell you. I’ll bring it back with me tomorrow so you may see it.”

“All right.”

“Catherine… if you dislike this ring so much, why do you keep it?” Why were you looking at it?

“Because it is another of my most prized possessions- but not because of its monetary value.”

“Then why?”

“It’s a reminder. Of what I had with Bertrand.” She stared down at the ring resting in her palm. “Unhappiness. Loneliness. And what I didn’t have with him. Laughter. Love. Sharing. Our union was colorless and cold, just like these stones.”

He tipped up her chin until their gazes met. “Why would you want to be reminded of that?”

Something in her gaze hardened. “Because I never want to forget. I refuse to make that same mistake again. Refuse to give my life, my happiness, my care, or that of my son, over to another man again. To allow anyone to have that sort of control over me or Spencer ever again.”

Andrew clearly read the resolution in her voice. Her eyes. And realized with a sinking heart that her words were a subtle warning, reiterating the fact that she did not want another marriage-the one thing he wanted more than anything.

He’d hoped, prayed, that after making love, she would have come to see that they belonged together. That there was room for him in her life. That their relationship would be nothing like her previous marriage. But the ring in her pocket was very telling. Clearly the thoughts their night together had inspired were not what he’d been hoping for.

Well, obviously he’d lost the battle. But he’d be damned if he would lose the war.

Chapter 16

Today's Modern Woman needs to maintain an air of mystery in order to keep her gentleman’s interest alive. Once he knows-or thinks he knows-everything about a woman, he will consider her a “solved” puzzle and seek out a more intriguing enigma to decipher. To achieve this mysterious air, Today’s Modern Woman should never allow a gentleman to be too certain of what she’s thinking, or how she’s feeling.

A Ladies’ Guide to the Pursuit of

Personal Happiness and Intimate Fulfillment

by Charles Brightmore

Catherine entered the library, and smiled at the sight of Spencer sitting in his favorite wing chair before the fire, his nose buried in a book.

“Shakespeare?” she guessed, with a smile.

Spencer looked up and nodded. “Hamlet.”

“Such a sad story for a lovely day.”

One shoulder lifted in a shrug, and he averted his gaze, apparently finding something fascinating on the carpet-a gesture she recognized as one that signaled something was troubling him.

She approached his chair, then leaned down to lightly kiss his still damp hair. “Did you enjoy your morning soak?”

“Yes.”

“Is your leg hurting?”

“No.”

“Would you like to join me for a walk in the gardens?”

“No.”

“A ride in the curricle?”

“No.”

“A trip to the village?”

“No.”

“Accompany me on my visit with Mrs. Ralston?”

“No.”

Catherine sank down to her haunches in front of him and dipped her head until she caught his eye. She clasped his hand and smiled. “Can you tell me the names of three chess pieces?”

A puzzled frown creased his brow. “Knights, bishops, and pawns. Why do you ask?”

“I wanted to hear you say something other than ‘yes’ or ’no, ‘” she teased. When he did not smile in return, she squeezed his hand. “What’s troubling you, darling?”