Page 6 of The Duke of Seduction
“I believe she’s Sarah’s bluestocking friend. Anthony says she’s terribly smart and likely would’ve bested him at school.”
That would perhaps explain her interest in geology. What sort of young woman left a ball to read a book? The interesting sort.
“Sarah’s a bit of a wallflower, isn’t she?” Beck asked as they left the ballroom.
“Yes, though I don’t understand why she and her friends aren’t wed,” Felix said. “They’re attractive, and they hail from good families.”
“That isn’t always enough.” Beck kept the darkness from overtaking his tone, but the statement still came out gruff. He couldn’t help it. He knew too well what young women went through and how whether they were accepted or successful could affect them. The familiar tightening of his chest stole his breath for a moment.
“To the club, then?” Felix asked.
“No, I think I’m done for the evening.” Beck’s mood had darkened, and his muse was dancing a merry tune in his head.
An hour later, he leaned back in his chair behind his desk and scrubbed his hand over his face. His cravat hung untied around his neck, and his coat lay on the floor. He unbuttoned his waistcoat as he stared down at the words he’d written. It wasn’t his typical work, but then she wasn’t his typical subject. Lady Lavinia didn’t appear to be flirting with the shelf, but what did he really know?
Not much, and he usually tried to glean as much information as he could before launching a campaign. However, Lady Lavinia was different.
For some reason, he felt bad about his encounter with her earlier. He’d kissed her and flirted with her and generally put her in an uncomfortable situation. None of the other women he’d written about had suffered his abuse. Lady Lavinia had handled the entire affair with aplomb, evidencing an ability to take care of herself. Why, then, did he want to help her?
Because she deserved notice. She was intelligent and beautiful, and she was awallflower. She ought to have her pick of gentlemen. And Beck would see that she did.
