Page 107 of The Truth Serum
Fletcher watched them traverse the room, his expression smug. But by the time they finally made it to him, he became more conciliatory. He greeted them warmly, he kissed Kynthea’shand, and offered to get the baron a glass of something more sporting than lemonade.
Rebecca tried to take that opportunity to escape the man. “Kynthea, let’s get the lemonade—”
“No, no, stay with us,” the baron interrupted. “After all, we’ll be family soon. Even you Miss Petrelli! Fletcher says he and the duke are old school chums.”
“Yes,” Kynthea said with a tight smile. “So he mentioned.”
Fletcher grinned. “Do allow me a waltz, Miss Petrelli. We must get to know one another better.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kynthea said. “I’m afraid the duke has captured all of those.”
“Ah then, at least a quadrille.”
And so the conversation went. Polite discussion, all smiles, and every time Rebecca tried to escape the men, one of them firmly pulled her back to the baron’s side. And because Kynthea was showing herself to be a loyal friend, the future duchess remained nearby, even when other people tried to gain her attention.
Rebecca couldn’t have been more pleased when the dancing finally began. Since this was a come-out ball, the young lady and her father had the opening dance. After that, everyone could join, and Rebecca dutifully allowed the baron to take her hand.
“I’m very pleased that your brother and I could come to an understanding,” he said as they stepped into position. “He compromised on the last point and is anxious to see our two families united.” The baron waggled his eyebrows. “He spoke of a special license so we can wed immediately.”
She arched a brow. “Immediately?” No doubt to finalize that before the sale of her dower property. “And what exactly is this understanding?”
“That you and I shall live happily ever after together.” He leaned forward and winked. “Your dowry shall see to that. I saweverything I wanted during my visit there. Excellent piece of land.”
Oh really? She bit her tongue rather than speak her true thoughts aloud. “And what shall I get from this?”
“Ecstasy in the bedchamber.”
Her eyes widened. That was a bold thing to say straight to her face.
“Don’t blush! Fletcher tells me you’re well-versed in these things. The benefits of a country education, I suppose.”
“And what does Fletcher get out of this situation?” She wanted to hear the words straight from the baron’s mouth.
“The opportunity to work with me!” He turned and gave a broad wink to her brother who was joining the dance line with his own partner. He stood right next to the baron as he addressed Rebecca.
“Don’t worry, my dear,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. “Everything is working out splendidly.” Then he grinned at his partner as they prepared to dance.
She gave her brother a wan smile. Both men were in the happiest of moods. Well, let them enjoy their crowing. So long as she kept the baron engaged—without becomingtoo engaged—then everything would work out all right.
But she couldn’t exactly roll over for him, either.
“Do not be so sure of me yet, sir,” she said archly. “You wouldn’t respect me if I tumbled too easily.”
The baron snorted. “You must learn when to resist and when to submit. But never fear. I will give clear instructions when necessary.”
A shiver ran down her spine at those words. The man didn’t like her challenging him, especially in public. Well, he would learn—after tonight—that she was not a woman who allowed others to make her decisions. But for right now, her task was to dance a quadrille.
So she did.
She smiled, she danced, and she even enjoyed some conversation with others at the ball. Thankfully—or miserably, she wasn’t sure which—the baron stayed nearby. He had his own dance partners, of course, and times when he stood along the wall drinking whatever liquor he fancied. But he never let her out of his sight and so she was easily able to keep track of him.
If she were brutally honest, he wasn’t much different than other men she’d met. The attitude that her marriage could be decided by her brother was a typical belief. The fact that he never talked about his daughter was also normal. And his general attitude that he would teach her to obey, well that was a common as bread. Her brother couldn’t understand why she was upset about it.
And she was. Because she was the unusual one here. The one who had secretly learned medicine in defiance of her family. The one who blithely said yes to her brothers, then went off and did whatever she chose without guilt. Or without much guilt.
And now, she was the one who had an acute distaste of the baron because she’d spent the night with a man who appreciated her tales as much as she enjoyed his. She’d told him about sneaking out of the house just so she could tend to a set of sick twins. He told her about tending ill sailors and the horror of drunks trying to manage the sails.
She doubted that the baron would enjoy her stories nearly so much. Nor would he touch her the way Nate had—with reverence and an innate glee at watching her discover pleasure. She had enjoyed many more peaks that night than he did, and he didn’t seem to care. Or count!
