“No.”
He was being irritatingly stubborn again. “Then put me upstairs in the nursery with the nannies.”
“No.”
“Then Mrs. Stringer’s room by the kitchen, if she chooses to leave.”
He folded his arms across his chest, looking quite indignant. “And if she stays?”
“Then I shall sleep in the barn if I must, but I am not staying with you and your guests. Are we clear on this?”
“Stubborn nuisance,” he muttered, not pleased at all. “Fine. Sort it out with Mrs. Lester later. Let me walk you home.”
She grabbed her shawl but left the gossip rags since they might need to refer to them again if more diamonds needed to be chosen. There were no guarantees the parents of these first three would accept his invitation, although there really was little doubt they would.
The viscount said nothing as they marched from the house toward the distant gates. When they reached the gates, she finally broke their silence. “Why are you so angry? Do you think I would not love to be your friend or be assigned one of those beautiful guestrooms for myself? But I would be a duck among swans. I do not even own a silk gown or silk dancing slippers.”
He groaned. “I am not angry with you, mostly with myself. I like being around you, Viola. You are easy to talk to and I feel I can be myself with you. My stubborn, boorish, demanding self. But you seem to deal with me well enough. I like that you stand up to me. You’re clever and engaging. What of these other ladies? I dread having to smile and be polite to them, or talk to them when they have nothing in common with me.”
She gave a curt laugh of disbelief. “You have everything in common with them. Your upbringing. Your aristocratic heritage. The ladies will be polished and talented, trained to rule a household and understand how to raise little viscounts.”
He groaned. “Dear heaven, that sounds horrific. I want my daughters climbing trees, something they cannot do in silk frocks. And I want my sons to be adventurous and daring, not straightlaced stiffs in silk cravats, top hats, and waistcoats who look down their noses at everyone.”
“You would be the father, so raise them exactly as you wish to form their character. Children learn from watching the behavior of their parents. You will lead by example.”
“But so will the diamond I choose. What if she teaches them to be frilly and flighty and disrespectful of others?”
“Then it seems you will have chosen poorly, doesn’t it? If these three are not to your liking, then go find another three. And then another three, until you meet the perfect one. Oh, there’s Jeremy tending your sheep.”
She waved to the boy, relieved for the distraction.
Assisting him in this search was already difficult on her heart. To be asked to help him again would be impossible. The sooner this was over and done, the better. She could then move on and try to forget him, although she was not certain a heart could ever forget so easily.
They walked on, once again in silence after greeting the cheerful lad.
Despite how much she enjoyed being in the viscount’s company, she was relieved to escape him now. He was trying to turn her into a friend, and she wished so badly to be that and more to him. It was kind of him to want to treat her as an equal by offering her one of the elegant guestrooms, but he was not seeing things clearly.
He could twist it any way he wished, but she would never be of his class. Attempting to thrust her in the midst of his family and friends would be an utter humiliation for her.
Did he not understand what they would all think?
Or was he perfectly aware of what he was doing and trying to turn her into his mistress? She dismissed the possibility as soon as it arose, for this simply was not in his character. Alexander Dayne was not a womanizing cad.
If only he were, then she might easily dismiss her growing feelings for him.
But he was quite the opposite, a man a girl could dream on. Kind. Loyal. A bit of a loner and a curmudgeon when it came to having company.
He was not the sort to love a good party.
But he was the sort to provide for and protect the woman he took as his wife.
It would never be her.
But what if she was wrong about his intentions and he wanted her as his mistress?
She would have to refuse him.
But would she regret it for the rest of her life?
