Page 47 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
He took a deep breath. “All right, let me give you a mild example. We’re introduced at a dance.”
Suddenly he leaned toward her and smiled so charmingly that she caught her breath.
“Miss Shelby, you are a wonderful dancer.” His voice was smooth and flowing, and did things to her insides that she had no name for.
Trying to remember her skepticism, she said, “Thank you, my lord.”
“I hear you’re a woman of many talents.”
“I do play the piano.” She didn’t understand what he was trying to say. It all sounded so normal—although said in his most elegant, charming way.
“Do you play the flute?”
“No, but I’ve always wanted to learn.”
“Then I’ll have to make sure you do.” With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.
It took her a moment to get over the spell of his attention. “What?” she demanded.
“There are some men, when they say they’ve heard that you’re a woman of many talents, are implying something…sordid.”
She gaped at him. “Talents as in…”
“In the bedroom.”
She felt her face flame. “That can’t be so.”
“And talking about making sure you learn to use a flute?”
“Yes?” She tensed.
“That can be an allusion to a man’s genitalia.”
She inhaled swiftly, and didn’t seem to know what to do with her hands. Thank God he couldn’t see her. “Really?” she whispered.
“Really. I’ve seen groups of men employ this technique just to amuse themselves for the evening.”
“Such scandalous men aren’t worth knowing,” she said primly.
“My point exactly. And in conversation, a woman needs to learn how to tell the difference. So often it’s in his expressions, in the way he holds his mouth, or glances to the side at his friends.”
“Or by reputation?”
Simon hesitated. “There is that. One can never be too careful.” He rose to his feet, picking up his cane. “Manvil?”
His valet entered and came to his side.
“Think on what I’ve said, Louisa.” Simon put his hand on Manvil’s shoulder.
“How can I disillusion her?” she said, standing up to block his way. “She’s frightened enough. If I give her such knowledge, she’ll only speak to old ladies. I was never told such things, and I was just fine.”
He shrugged. “Were you? Or maybe you didn’t know what was going on. Good night, Louisa.”
She watched him leave, and inside her nerves made her stomach ache. Had she had conversations where she didn’t understand the real meaning? She didn’t like how that could twist her memories. It just couldn’t be true.
~oOo~
Late that night, Simon couldn’t stay in his room any longer. He took to walking the corridors in frustration. He shouldn’t have explained the innuendoes to Louisa. She’d sounded genuinely horrified. How could someone acquire such a fast reputation and not know the intricacies of flirting with a rake?
