“Not at all, to be truthful.” Honestly, would a hen be pleased to find a fox licking his lips while staring down at her in the henhouse? It was no different for her to be caught under the assessing gaze of this handsome fox.
“Why not? I expect every young lady here is wishing at this moment to exchange places with you.”
“Modest fellow, aren’t you?” Oh, she ought to have kept her mouth shut. He would now take insult, and Fiona would be irritated with her for offending him within minutes of his arrival. She rose, muttering something about the need to excuse herself.
He rose along with her, his eyes agleam as he caught her wrist gently and held her back. “Stay, Lady Cherish.”
“I’m afraid I cannot. Will you let me go?”
“No.” His laughter was deep and rich, as divinely husky as his voice. “Forgive me if I am too forward. You are right to rebuke me. It is easy to be full of myself when all I receive is adulation. But I am glad you are not like the others. It is refreshing to chat with someone as sensible as you.”
Cherish shook her head. “No, actually, quite the opposite is true. If I were sensible, I would have grabbed the chance for a Season or two and found myself a biddable husband.”
“Biddable?”
“Yes, someone who would have allowed me to stay with my parents to nurse them and not made a fuss about it. Someone who…” She sighed. “Well, it did not happen.”
“And now you are in a coil because your father has broken your heart by leaving everything to the new earl, including a trust fund reportedly set up for you that he controls.”
She stared at him in surprise. “How did you know? Oh, of course. Lady Shoreham wrote to you about my circumstances. How much did she tell you?”
He arched an eyebrow.
By his expression, Cherish gathered he had been told everything. “And now that I am utterly humiliated, I hope you will excuse me.”
He would not let her go. “No, I am not of a mind to excuse you. In fact, I would like you to sit with me and tell me more about yourself.”
His hold remained gentle but firm.
“Why in heaven’s name do you care? Well, I don’t suppose you really do. But if you think I am now some sad spinster who will be an easy mark for you, then think again.”
His smile was devastatingly appealing. “I was not considering that at all. How old are you? Twenty? Well, probably older than that, although you do not look it. Twenty-two? Twenty-three?”
“I turn twenty-five next month.” She was now blushing furiously and wishing he would just walk away and leave her alone.
“And your trust fund will not be released to you until you turn thirty, or is it thirty-five? Or unless you marry?”
Cherish felt completely stripped of her dignity by this man. Why was he asking her these questions? The conversation was completely inappropriate. More important, why was she fool enough to stand here and listen?
Well, she had to admit that despite his roguish reputation and impossibly good looks, there was something quite trustworthy about him. She did not know why she should thinkso. Perhaps because there was no hint of condescension in his voice.
In fact, his deep rumble was quite soothing. He also had a broad and lovely shoulder to cry on. She feared to succumb to his comforting manner.
No, she would never dare get that close to him.
“You seem to know all there is to know about me,” she said, no doubt sounding a little snappish. “Now, you really must let me go, Your Grace. I doubt we have anything more to say to each other, unless you wish to save me from my desperate straits by offering to marry me. Do you?”
She was certain that comment would chase him off.
Why was the wretch still smiling at her?
He appeared quite relaxed and certainly amused as he said, “In truth, I am almost tempted.”
She laughed at the sheer impossibility of it. “Dear heaven, you are a haughty fellow.”
His expression turned serious. “I am not going to offer to marry you, but I know someone who will. I am speaking of my nephew, Lord Reginald Burton. He is my sister’s only son and my heir. Have you met him?”
Cherish swallowed hard as she nodded. “The one who laughs like a woodpecker?”
