Page 14 of Sense and Suitability
Yes, a dear friend. And more. A sliver of longing clawed its way up his throat before he crushed it.You must push her from your mind, Simon. Emme isn’t an option.
It was time to bury any fanciful notions of a match with her. He no longer had the luxury of marrying for himself.
He dragged his focus back to Ben, a deep sigh pulling at his shoulders. “Who would your sister suggest first?”
Ben nearly stumbled in surprise. “Pardon?”
“No doubt you’ve seen the list.” He gestured toward the room. “Which of the ladies do you think I would have the most possibility of winning with the best financial remuneration?”
“Well, that does cut out the frills, doesn’t it?” Ben drew in a deep breath and surveyed the room with exaggerated deliberation. “Miss Algerton?” he announced at last, gesturing toward a brunette in pale blue. “Nora’s words, mind you: ‘Tell Simon she’s well tried—third season, you know.’”
Well tried?Simon’s eyes slipped closed. “How delightful.”
“But between us, though”—Ben leaned in conspiratorially—“I suspect there’s one name on the list you’ll want to avoid.”
“Do I dare ask?”
Ben gestured toward Simon’s jacket, as if referencing the list. “Selena Hemston.”
Simon resisted the urge to retreat outright. “Let me guess. She still believes Ravenscross should be hers?”
“Determined as always, I’d wager.”
“It’s thealwaysbit that keeps me up at night,” Simon countered, stilling a shiver at the thought of the woman. “I’m certain Mr. Hemston would like nothing better than to have his daughter permanently connected to the land adjacent to his own.”
“He makes no secret of his wish for it, I’m afraid,” Ben admitted. “A titleandinfluence over the extensiveness of Ravenscross through an heir. Just imagine...”
Simon’s jaw twitched from sudden tension, and he almost turned and left the ball altogether, but that would succeed at nothing. If he failed to secure a bride soon, Ravenscross itself might be lost. Would it fall to auction? To Mr. Leo Hemston’s hands? The thought turned his stomach. Simon would not fail at this.
He couldn’t.
Though Miss Hemston brought a dowry the size of which would restore Ravenscross and care for his siblings, she proved as boorish and arrogant as her father. Most likely she wished to remake Ravenscross and Simon too.
Six dances and a mounting headache later, Simon wondered if selling Ravenscross to a tradesman might not be preferable. Just as he sought solace in a drink, a pair of dark brown eyes locked onto his. Her lips curled into a predatory smile, and she began weaving her way through the crowd like a cat stalking its prey.
Miss Selena Hemston.
“Dash it,” Simon hissed under his breath. He’d thought for certain Selena was still abroad.
Oh, how the past brought claws with it. Long, feminine-looking claws.
He’d made many mistakes in his life, usually involving women or horse racing. But encouraging any acquaintance with her had beenthe worst. Indulged, determined, without any comprehension of the wordno, she took his harmless flirting and massive estate as her personal challenge to gain.
And now? With a title to win? She’d prove intractable.
“Lord Ravenscross.” Selena’s voice, one he’d learned to locate in any crowd in order to avoid her, cut the room like a knife.
He turned, intending to escape, but she intercepted him with envious speed.
“It’s been too long. Two years?” She blocked his forward retreat, thrusting her amply revealed neckline in his direction. “I thought you may have forgotten about me.”
He inclined his head and averted his eyes. “I believe that would be impossible.”
“I’ve been told I make quite the impression, by you even.” Her fingers wrapped around his arm, nails pinching just a bit as if to literally make an impression. “You’ve been back two months and not once called upon me. I feared you were avoiding me.”
“I fear that may also be impossible.”
A fire lit in those dark eyes of hers. “You could just make everything easier on both of us and marry me. Clearly, your little flirtation two seasons ago failed to satisfy, and whatever you’ve been doing since hasn’t led to matrimony.” Her gaze roamed over him with shameless intent. “It must be a sign.”
