“At least your cause is selfless. I get fed up with all who come to me with their hands outstretched merely for their personal gain. Do you realize how many requests I receive daily? I would be impoverished if I said yes to all of them. I seem to be particularly hounded at this time of year. The takers are out in force right now. And to make matters worse, there is a betting book now on me going around theton, as though I required even more attention.”
A blush ran up Ailis’s cheeks as she realized how awful she must have sounded. “Oh, I see your point. I should have come to you offering something in return for your beneficence. It never occurred to me that a man with all your bounty would be in need of anything. And I am sincerely sorry you are now the talk of theton. I know how private a person you are and how distressing opening up your life to one and all must be. Your Grace, is there something I can provide for you? Just ask. You shall have it, if it is in my power to give it.”
A devastatingly attractive smile spread across his lips, and it was to be noted that he still had gentle hold of her hand. “Now that you mention it, in fact there is.”
She waited a moment for him to explain.
“Um,” she said when he remained silently studying her. Was she supposed to guess what was on his mind? “Your Grace? What may I give you?”
“How much are you hoping to raise at your charity ball?”
“One thousand pounds,” she replied. “This is what we project is needed to supply food and clothing for those who are worst off throughout the winter and into the spring.”
“That much?” he asked, obviously surprised.
“There are many families in dire poverty, a circumstance of the war ending and so many soldiers returning to find no work. I should think your estate manager would have reported this to you. But as I said, I am not seeking the full amount from you. There are other gentlemen of means in the area that I have yet to visit. I hope they will contribute. I am not asking for the entire sum from you.”
He released her hand and folded his arms over his chest. “Forget the others. You shall have it all from me…on one condition.”
She gasped in delight. “You would donate the entire amount?”
“Yes, but on one condition,” he repeated, taking a surprising interest in her lips as she graced him with a smile. “In exchange, I would like you to give me ten kisses.”
The smile froze on her lips. “What?”
“You heard me, Miss Temple of Virtue. You will receive one hundred pounds for every kiss. Care to start now? I shall write out the first bank draft for you this instant. It is completely up to you.”
“You are taking theton’s betting situation out on me, aren’t you? What wagers have been placed on you?”
“It is none of your business nor any of your concern.”
“I beg to differ. Why else would you make such a perverse offer to me? Ten kisses.”
“Do you want your thousand pounds or not?”
“It isn’t fair.”
“It may be so, but this is what you have walked into. You should have run away when I told Grimes I was notat hometo you. Do we have an agreement?”
Her heart fluttered. “You arebuyingmy kisses?”
“Think of it as a barter arrangement.”
The man was arrogant and a fool.
She had never kissed anyone before, as he well knew.
Was this why he set forth this demand? Did he think she would refuse him? After all, he considered her insufferably priggish and must have thought himself quite clever devising this scheme as a means to beg off donating to the church by placing the blame on her. Well, he would be shocked to learn that his Miss Temple of Virtue was going to take him up on the challenge.
Let him be mad at the world and behave like an oaf. She was getting his thousand pounds for the church coffers.
She tipped her head up and met his gaze. “I accept.”
His eyes darkened. “What?”
“I have just accepted you. Why are you so shocked?”
He cleared his throat. “Ailis, you have never been kissed before.”
