Page 6 of The Marquess and the Maiden

He shrugged. “They needed the funds, I required their townhome. I don’t recall asking you if you thought my purchases were necessary or not. I believe I make those decisions.”

Thank the heavens he had refused to marry her six years ago. She couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to be saddled in a relationship with him. He should be pleased she didn’t have any would-be weapons within reach, or she’d likely run him through.

“Why are you smiling?” he asked.

“Thinking about all the trouble you’re going to have trying to find a bride.” She couldn’t very well tell him she’d been imagining doing him bodily harm. “If you are serious about finding a wife, you might want to heed my advice.”

“I shall keep that in mind. Good evening, Lady Harriet.” He bowed, then walked away from her.

He might be ridiculously handsome, but he was also a ridiculous fool believing such nonsense.

…

Damnation if she wasn’t still distractingly pretty. Her pale green dress fell seductively off her shoulders, revealing a creamy expanse of her lovely skin and enhancing her abundant cleavage.

Pretty or not, she obviously misunderstood the way unions in this town worked. Perhaps that was why she was still unmarried herself. Women married men all the time for nothing more than a fat purse. He shouldn’t have any problem at all finding a willing bride.

His mother had suggested he go tonight to catch a glimpse at the current Season’s debutantes and other misses who were on the market. But he’d noticed Harriet as soon as he’d entered the ballroom, and everyone else had fallen away. He’d immediately approached her. Now he was ready to retreat home, or even lose himself in a hand or two of cards at Benedict’s.

He wasn’t so daft he didn’t realize that there was much about him that women wouldn’t find desirable. His limp and subsequent cane being the primary reasons. But he also knew the wealth would more than make up for it. He knew of men twice his age with a third fewer teeth and less hair who had married debutantes. Granted, he did seem to evoke a certain amount of discomfort around younger women. Perhaps he should set his sights on an attractive widow. Damned if he didn’t want to do this. He should have made his mother arrange something and be done with it.

She had tried, once upon a time. He could have already been married, a voice reminded him. To Harriet. He allowed himself to consider that thought for a while. What would it have been like to marry her nearly six years ago when he’d been penniless and she’d been doe-eyed and eager?

Would her agreeable nature have made her pliant in his bed? Likely. Blood shifted, making his pants tighter than was comfortable. She was different now. Tonight, he’d seen something more in Lady Harriet, something he hadn’t those years before. A feistiness that he seemed to bring out in her. He was certain that would translate to pure unadulterated passion. His cock twitched at the thought.

Harriet had a sassy mouth, one he could easily imagine kissing. And a body made for fantasies, ones he knew he’d indulge in later tonight.

But that didn’t mean he should trust her advice.

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