Page 32 of The Insufferable Duke
“I beg your pardon?”
“Let me be clear on something, Lady Helena.” Christopher stepped away from the mantelpiece. “Maybe Lord Mistwood has recommended himself to you as a gentlemanly man, but do not mistake plaintive politeness for anything more than that.”
“What do you mean?” She frowned a little, waiting for him to go.
“I mean that love does not manifest itself in polite words, stiff bows, and boring questions, such as, ‘What did you think of the weather today?’ I warrant most of Lord Mistwood’s conversations have been in such a vein, have they not?” he asked. As he waited for her answer, he saw her hesitate, her lips opening and closing. “I knew it to be true.”
“I did not say anything.”
“Your expression said it all when your words did not.” He stepped toward her once again, coming closer to her position in the armchair. “If you do intend to marry someday, Lady Helena, then pray, avoid such men as Lord Mistwood. They would bore you once you were wed. Pick a man for love, not manners.”
“You speak of love?” Her head tilted to the side, her lips parting. “I hardly expected a man such as you to speak of love.”
“And why should I not? Do you think as I am a Moore that I was born without a heart? That there is some vacuous hole in my chest?” He thumped a fist to the center of his chest.
“That is not what I said.” She moved to her feet and held her palms upward. “You are mistaking my words.”
“Or understanding what you really mean?”
“You are just out to cause an argument. You always are!” she insisted, breathing heavily. “What can you possibly know of love that makes you qualified to lecture me on what it is or how to choose a husband?”
“You wish me to tell you?” he asked, stepping nearer to her.
Had they been caught standing so close together, it would undoubtedly by scandalous, but they were quite alone in this library, and Christopher hardly cared. He just wished to keep speaking to Lady Helena in this way and for the two of them not to be disturbed.
“Yes, pray tell!” she ordered. “Because at present, I do not see how a rake should know anything about what love or devotion truly is.”
“Then let me reveal some truths to you, Lady Helena. At least you may admit that I am of a greater age than you, and perhaps my few advanced years on this earth have taught me a lesson that you do not have.” He waited for her response. She folded her arms but did not object to him going on. “Shall I take that as a yes?”
“You wish to make everything a competition, do you not? Even a chance to speak.”
“Very well, I’ll go on,” he said, ignoring her words. He could have sworn she nearly smiled.
Is she enjoying this strange argument too?
“Love is not a case of admiring a man’s manners, nor being impressed by a man’sgentlemanliness.”He grimaced at the words. Rather than her arguing with him, she stared, waiting for him to go on. “I’m the son of a very happy marriage. I saw my mother and father married for years, deliriously happy. I know what love is better than some children of theton.”
Her interest was piqued. She no longer frowned, and her lips had parted a little, revealing their fullness.
“They loved one another with everything they had. They made each other happy when times were sad, and in truth, I don’t think there was a day that they were married that they were not smiling.”
“What is love then? If you profess to be such an expert on it, describe it to me.” She waved at him, encouraging him to go on.
“It is a fascination for one another even when you know all their flaws. No man or woman is perfect. We each have worries, fears, and imperfections in our manners. Yet it is not the sum of a character. If you can feel a fascination and an excitement for another, despite all those things, thenthatis love, Lady Helena.” He spoke so hurriedly, he caught his breath after he was done. She said nothing but just continued to stare without blinking. “I’ve shocked you.”
“I thought a rake would know little of such things.” Her voice had softened. The heat had gone out of her manner now, and it had been replaced with something he had never seen in her before. It was a quiet interest.
“Then allow me to teach you something more.” He stepped even closer toward her, so near that she had to lift her chin to keep looking at him. He was being bold, audacious, he knew it, yet he couldn’t hold himself back from it. “There should be something else in the partner you choose for life. A thrill.”
“A thrill?” She raised an eyebrow as if scoffing at such an idea, but she spoke without vigor.
“Excitement. Racing heartbeats, shudders, the kind of anxiousness that has you turning to look at the other person.”
“How… how do you know any of this?” she asked, her eyes fixed on his face. “With your reputation, I suppose, I shouldn’t be surprised at you knowing something of excitement, but to talk of it so openly and to think of it as love —”
“I have observed our siblings enough together to see it for myself and my parents.” It was partly true but not completely. He’d felt that excitement as of late, but its mere presence was shaking him. It wasn’t love but attraction he felt. The fact the object of that attraction was Lady Helena was most inconvenient indeed.
“I would have said you were a reader to use such words,” she whispered.
