He was spurring her to start asking herself that question. Every person in the kingdom would vehemently insist he wasn’t better by any standard, but he was keen to have her suppose he was.
He sauntered over to her, and she stood her ground. She was no shrinking violet, and he preferred females who were bold instead of timid.
“If you’re caught in here,” she said, “how will I explain it?”
“I locked the door.”
“Yes, but my maid might come back to check on me.”
“Will you let her in? Should I leave? Is that what you want?”
He grinned a cocky grin, being certain she wouldn’t send him away, and if she did? He’d try again on a different night. He had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve, and he’d continue tormenting her until she couldn’t resist.
She assessed him forever, her moral inclinations at war with her reckless ones. According to rumor, her father had had a wild side when he was young. Had she inherited any of his wicked habits? So far, she hadn’t exhibited many dissolute tendencies, but it was early.
“No, I don’t want you to leave,” she ultimately said.
“Of course you don’t.”
“But I’m not convinced you should stay either.”
“You’re conflicted about what’s best, so I will have to help you decide.”
“Let me guess,” she scoffed. “You’ll persuade me that it’s best if you tarry.”
“I’m betting I won’t have to work very hard.”
He dipped in and kissed her, just a quick brush of his lips to her own. He’d kissed her before, and she’d reveled in it. He’d reveled in it too, and he would be thrilled to walk down the decadent road they appeared bound to travel.
“You’re going to get me in so much trouble,” she said as he drew away.
“I’m not planning on it.”
“It’s a large house, but it’s a small house too. The servants always know everything that’s occurring. There’s no way to keep an affair a secret.”
His grin widened. “Is that where I am with you? Are we having a secret affair?”
She sighed with disgust. “I’m about to become betrothed to Lord Barrett, and my father has promised me that he will be the perfect husband. Yet if I carry on with you, and we’re discovered, my reputation will be ruined, and I’ll likely never marry.”
Simon waved away the comment. “Why would you be so eager to wed Lord Barrett? He’s so much older than you.”
“My father claims that’s beneficial, that an older husband can guide a young bride in a good direction.”
“That’s nonsense. Barrett is stuffy and stodgy, and you’re so vibrant and vivacious. He could never love or understand you. You’d suffocate as his wife.”
“You can’t be sure of that, and I shouldn’t listen to you about it. You make me doubt my father, and I’m very fond of him. He wouldn’t steer me wrong.”
“Wouldn’t he?”
The query hung in the air between them, and it had the desired effect. She glowered at him, quite ferociously too.
“I’ve upset you,” he murmured, and he kissed her sweetly, tenderly, keeping on until she relaxed against him.
“You bewilder me,” she said.
“Aren’t you yearning to live happily ever after?” he asked.
“Isn’t everyone?”
“Would you really be happy with Lord Barrett? Be honest with me.”
“I barely know him, so I can’t imagine if I’d be happy or not.”
“You’re only eighteen.”
She bristled. “Don’t cite my age as if I’m a child. How old are you?”
“Twenty.”
“You’re not exactly a wise old elder.”
“I simply mention it because I’ve seen more of the world than you. I’m certain you have a very romantic view of marriage.”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You expect to have the wedding of the Season, then you’ll retire to Barrett Manor, and eventually, Lord Barrett will fall madly in love with you. It’s how girls picture these things.”
“First off, I’m not a girl, and I’m not deceived about my future.”
“I apologize. You’re a young lady who’s anxious to be a bride, but might I suggest that you have some skewed ideas as to how matrimony will unfold with Lord Barrett?”
“Why couldn’t he fall in love with me? It could happen.”
Pity slid into his expression, and he scrutinized her in a gentle way, as if she was precious and might break into a dozen pieces if he wasn’t careful with her.
“Should I confide a secret about him?” he asked. “Could you bear to learn a hard truth?”
“I’m not sure,” she tentatively replied, “and how would you have learned any of his secrets? As far as I know, you’re not acquainted with him.”
“That’s as may be, but I’ve unearthed one tidbit that’s shocking. Would you like to hear it or not?”
She debated, then said, “I’d like to hear it.”
“He loves someone else.”
She gasped. “Who is she?”
“I probably shouldn’t name names.”
“No, no, now that you’ve blurted out the news, you have to tell me who it is.”
His pitying expression grew remorseful. “I’m sorry, but it’s my cousin, Libby.”
“Miss Carstairs?”
“Yes.”
“Oh . . .”
“Even if he weds you, I don’t believe he intends to give her up. Could you live like that? I realize it’s common for men of his class to have mistresses and second families, but I deem it to be horrendous behavior. It seems so . . . duplicitous to me.”
She staggered over to a chair and sank down, and she studied the floor. He hoped he hadn’t wrecked Libby’s sojourn at Roland, hoped Penny didn’t demand their immediate departure, but he didn’t think she would. If Libby left, Simon would go with her, and Penny wouldn’t want that.
“It’s not a mystery why he would love your cousin,” she said. “She’s so exotic and beautiful. What about Miss Carstairs? Does she return his affection?”
“Unfortunately, yes. She’s always had scoundrels circling her like vultures, but she’s never been interested in any of them—until Lord Barrett came along.”
“I see.” She pulled her gaze from the floor and settled it on him. “Might my father have discovered their affair? Might he be aware of it, but he pursued the match anyway?”
“They’ve been very discreet, so he couldn’t
