“For the love of my sister. Not for you.” She dared to look at him. “I’m surprised to hear you acknowledge it.”
“You’re a very clever young lady. You and I both know that. There’s no point in trying to pretend with you because you would see right through it, and you would be insulted by the pretense—am I right? You don’t want me to try to act as though you’re eager to be here with me when we both know you aren’t.”
“I suppose not,” Edwina admitted.
“Instead, what I’m going to do is change your mind,” he said.
“You’re not going to change my mind about anything.”
“Oh, I will,” he said. “I’m very used to getting what I want when it comes to ladies.”
“Well, I’m not like the ladies you’re used to,” she argued. “I’m very used to gentlemennotgetting what they want from me.”
“Oh, I know,” he agreed. “That makes you unique. A challenge. And I love a challenge. I intend to win you over, Lady Edwina, whether you like it or not.”
“I think that’s extremely arrogant of you.”
“Do you? It doesn’t bother me that you think that,” he said. “I’m accustomed to ladies thinking I’m arrogant. I think perhaps Iamrather arrogant. But it’s difficult not to think highly of yourself when your high opinion of yourself happens to be the truth. I’m sure you can relate to that, can’t you? Everyone thinks you’re the loveliest lady in London, and I think you must know it’s true.”
“If I am, I certainly wouldn’t go around talking about it the way you do.”
“Lady Edwina,” the Duke said, “I can see that you don’t like me. And that’s your right, of course. But I warn you that when I have my sights set on something—or someone—I don’t give up.”
He stopped where he stood and turned to face her.
His blue eyes seemed as deep as an ocean, and suddenly, to her surprise, Edwina found herself breathless. She couldn’t even remember how to think straight with him looking at her that way.
“I’m not going to give up,” he declared. “I’m going to win you over. I’m going to make you adore me.”
“Why?” she asked. Her voice was hoarse. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Why would you do this? Why are you so determined? You aren’t interested in marriage. Everyone knows the kind of man you are.”
“What kind of man am I?”
“A rake. A scoundrel. You seduce women, and then you move on. You leave a trail of broken hearts in your wake. Well, you’re not going to breakmyheart.”
“They say you have no heart.”
“Not when it comes to you.”
“Well, that’s why. Every lady has a heart, Lady Edwina, and I want to find yours. I want to be the man who won over the unattainable spinster.”
“You never will.”
“Relax,” he told her. “It’s all for a good cause, remember. We’re raising money for your sister’s charity. And all you have to do is come along on five dates.”
“Four dates. You’ve had the first.”
He laughed. “This wasn’t a date,” he told her. “We went for a walk and discussed the terms of our arrangement. It doesn’t count.”
“What are you talking about? Of course, it counts.”
“Shall we ask your sister, then?”
Edwina fumed. Of course, she didn’t want to ask Lavinia. She knew exactly what Lavinia would say. And by the smirk on the Duke’s face, he knew too.
“Very well,” she snapped. “You have five more dates—but this promenade is at an end.”
“As you say, Lady Edwina,” the Duke agreed with a nod. “But rest assured, I will win your affections before this is all over.”
