They could not have been exploring far from each other, for Thurlestone was not all that distant from her Dartmouth home. “Not foolish at all. Would you care to give me a proposal on it? The Hall of Planets seems a perfect place to start. Can you give me some ideas on making it more appealing to children?”
She eyes brightened as she nodded. “Yes, I would love to. Will you give my suggestions serious consideration?”
“Absolutely, Adela. I am eager to hear what you propose. I mean it, truly.”
“Thank you,” she said with a quiver to her voice. “I must admit, you are surprising me.”
“Because I want to hear all of your ideas? It is no indulgence on my part. I’ll explain in greater detail next time I see you. Do you know that your eyes turn to starlight whenever you speak of research and learning? It is a genuine relief to be looking into your beautiful eyes instead of enduring the vapid gazes of most of the women I encounter at thesetonaffairs.”
“Are you not being harsh on the others?”
“No, actually I am showing great restraint.” He tucked her arm in his and led her to the whist tables.
They had just taken seats across from each other and expected to be playing opposite Eloise and Phoebe, when instead, two others hurried forward to sit beside them.
Ambrose groaned inwardly, having had his fill of Lady Felicity Rose and her snide remarks at the dinner table earlier. She was beautiful, had impeccable bloodlines, and her dowry was impressive.
None of it mattered to him because she was a vain creature and her instincts were heartless. She would never stoop to help someone unless there was profit in it for herself. Of course, she would likely go on to catch some poor sod with a vaunted title and make his life a misery.
But he would never be that poor sod.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
“Good evening, Lady Felicity Rose,” he responded with a curt nod.
The wretched girl did not bother to acknowledge Adela.
So typical.
However, Adela appeared more amused by the snub than hurt over it.
The gentleman partnering Felicity Rose more than made up for any lack of attention on Adela. Lord Brynmore, a wastrel and someone never to be trusted, began fawning over her, taking hold of her hand while he referred to her as divine, a goddess, and so many over the top remarks that Ambrose was tempted to smash his fist into the man’s face to shut him up.
It did not take a great intellect to understand what this pair intended. No doubt, Lady Felicity Rose wanted his undivided attention and had connived that lackey, Brynmore, into occupying Adela while she made a play for him.
Did this girl not get the message when he ignored her earlier advances?
Women like her had been coming on to him all of his life.
The overtures were always the same, and always included a willingness to offer their bodies, as though this alone was enough to entice him into marriage. First of all, he was not so stupid as to take any of these debutantes into his bed, no matter that most were not virgins. Some were probably as adept at the sexual arts as he was.
But the end game was to get him into a compromising position by any means possible. If he lowered his guard for even a moment, that parson’s trap would be sprung on him so fast, his head would spin.
Resisting this young woman’s wiles was no hardship for him. “Are we ready to play?”
“I am always ready to play with you, Your Grace,” Felicity Rose replied in a breathy voice, slipping her hand under the table and resting it on his thigh.
He scowled at her, one of those fierce, ducal scowls designed to intimidate and convey displeasure.
She removed her hand.
Adela noticed his expression. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” He dealt the cards.
London was full of convenient places where a man might seek his physical pleasures. What he had yet to find was the woman who could offer him both the physical delights and the intelligence to match him. Not only intelligence, but she also had to have a caring nature and a quick wit.
Someone like Adela who instinctively understood his likes and dislikes, his interests and passions, and wanted to learn and grow along with him.
