“But you heard her.She wants an education in…the bedchamber.”
To Leith’s chagrin, he could not quite manage Miss Salisbury’s turn of phrase with the same placidity.Damn her.
“Tell her what she wants to know,” Monty spat out.“Surely it is not necessary to demonstrate.”
“We all learn best by doing,” he sneered, unable to help himself.
“Don’t,” Monty glowered.“She is my cousin.”
“Your third cousin.Did you even know of her before yesterday?”
“That hardly matters.”
Leith raised his eyes to the ceiling.Really, Monty’s noble streak as of late had become quite trying.
“If it makes you feel any better, I cannot imagine a lady less to my tastes.”
“That’s ridiculous.She’s beautiful.Anyone can see that,” Olivia objected.
“I suppose she has a certain rustic charm.But my preferences have never run in that direction.”
Olivia and Monty shared a glance.
“What?”he snapped.
Once, it had been he and Monty who shared those types of glances.The kind that spoke without words.Now, it appeared that his best friend only had such an understanding with his wife.
Olivia settled her eyes upon Leith, amusement animating her features.
“Really?You’ve never favored a tall brunette with a touch-me-not air and an ample bosom?”
Leith reared back.He hadn’t thought Olivia capable of such a cold assessment of her own sex—and nor had he realized that Miss Salisbury did rather resemble his usual type.
“She may fit some general description, but truly she is not at all to my tastes.”
“Ample bosom.”Monty chuckled, looking at Olivia with his usual besotted expression.“Really, I don’t think you can say such things of other women, my dear, when your own charms—”
“Please,” Leith broke in, unable to hear what came next, for some reason he couldn’t quite define.“I was just going.”
“Stop, Leith,” Monty said, his expression soft no longer.“I am serious.Do not bed her.It wouldn’t be right.”
He sighed.“What if sheinsists, Monty?What am I to say?Your cousin will not let me?She has made clear that she doesn’t want you meddling in the affair.If you were going to be so noble, you shouldn’t have made the introduction at all.”
Monty sat back.“Damn, I hadn’t thought of that.That she might insist.”
“I did,” Olivia said, with a smile.“And I agree that would be the result if you told her that we forbade it.So, I suggest that you try something closer to the truth.”
“What is that?”
“Say that you’re only taking her as your mistress as a favor to Monty and that while she is very comely and will no doubt be very much to the tastes of many men, she isn’t to yours.And thus you’d prefer to keep her education theoretical.”
“Dear God, Olivia, I don’t want to hurt the chit’s feelings.Not attractive enough to bed!That’s hardly a gentlemanly sentiment.”
“You will have to be soft in your rejection.And that will give us time to come up with a solution to her financial problems.”
Leith could see Olivia’s point and yet he found himself uneasy at the prospect of having to say such a thing to a woman.And it was not only that—Miss Salisbury had seemed so decided in her course of action that it seemed wrong to lie to her, to not let her make her own decision in this matter, even if the intention was to protect her.Surely, there were men in the aristocracy who did treat their mistresses abominably, but there were others who were decent men and would play the part she sought well.
“As usual, my wife’s judgment is superior to my own.”
