“And you did not care for it?”
“Yes, my beautiful one. Dance for me, show me that you want the gift of Venus….”
“It made me most uncomfortable,” Portia snapped.
She looked up and thought she saw a trace of pitying amusement in Nerissa’s dark eyes. “Perhaps we should teach you to flirt, my dear,” said her cousin. “Then you would not be uncomfortable. You could even turn the tables and upsethiscomfort.”
Portia jerked so that some of her chocolate spilled. “Really, Nerissa. I want nothing further to do with the man!”
“Lud, how heated you are. I thought when he introduced you to me that he admired you. Do you not think he admires you?”
Portia felt exactly like a mouse being toyed with by a cat. How had she ever thought Nerissa charming? “No,” she said firmly, putting down her cup and mopping at the spill with a serviette.
“He took you about the park on his arm and appeared very taken by your charms.”
“It was merely a game to him.”
“But games are serious business to Bryght Malloren, and he always wins….”
Portia lost control and leaped to her feet. “Please, Nerissa, don’t tease me in this way! Lord Bryght was merely making fun of me, and I would much rather never see him again.”
“Are you really such a coward?”
“No!”
“Well, then?” purred Nerissa. “I sense he is attracted and I never mistake such matters. If you were to play your cards aright, Portia, you could have him on his knees begging for your favors. And then, you could spurn him. Would that not be the most satisfying revenge?”
Portia felt almost sick at the thought. “No.”
“Are youafraidof him? No harm will come to you under our protection. All I am suggesting is that if—when—he pays you attentions, you encourage him. Then, when he is entranced beyond reason, you show him you do not care at all.”
“No!”
They stared at each other in a battle of wills, and then Nerissa shrugged and laughed. “Alas. It seems you have not the spirit for revenge. Many do not.” In a dazzling switch she became the charmer again. “But you must come and stay with me, dearest cousin, until your brother returns. It will be such fun to introduce you to Society.”
Portia was thrown off balance. She was no longer sure she wanted to live here, but having come how could she refuse? “You are kind, Nerissa, but I will be happy to live very quietly….”
Nerissa ignored her. “Perhaps we can find you a husband.” She looked Portia over with a calculating eye, “In fact, you could do surprisingly well despite your lack of curves.”
Portia was horribly reminded of Mirabelle. “I don’t pretend to any beauty, Nerissa, and I am twenty-five years old and portionless.”
“But you have attracted Bryght Malloren.”
“I havenot!I tell you, Nerissa, it was just somegamehe played in the park. Heaven alone knows why.”
Nerissa hummed thoughtfully, her eyes stripping Portia down to her separate parts. “You look younger, being small. There is a lightness to your movements which is attractive. With a softer hairstyle and clever dressing, we need not despair.”
Portia was close to despair. “I do not want to marry.”
“Marriage is every woman’s duty,” said Nerissa piously. “Think of the benefits to your family.”
Portia supposed that was true, but even if she could attract a suitable offer she had promised to take care of Overstead. “I am resigned to spinsterdom, Nerissa.”
“Do not give up hope quite yet! If you come to stay with me, you will meet many eligible gentlemen who will see the value of a connection to Trelyn. And you will be doing me a kindness.” Suddenly, she was a gentle petitioner. “I am with child, you see, and Trelyn hovers over me so. The dear man speaks of finding me a companion, but how much better to have one like you.”
Portia was congratulating her cousin on her fertility when Nerissa rang a silver bell by her hand, and a footman appeared. “Is my lord at home?”
“Yes, milady.”
