But for that moment, she allowed the warmth of his words to wash over her.
It was as though he’d known the perfect complement to use on her. He liked her whiskey and now he liked her flower arrangement. If he’d called her beautiful, or even pretty, she would have known he was playing her false. But to compliment something that she’d created…
Even her father often resisted tasting her blends, only considering them after she’d pestered him endlessly. Her ideas weren’t practical, he’d insist. And in her mother’s eyes, she’d never been frivolous enough. As independent as she tried to be, she hated that she craved even her grandparents’ approval—which of course, she’d never have.
She blinked and turned away, catching sight of an orchestra dais. “I’m relieved that there won’t be any dancing.” She forced a smile into her voice.
“Surely, you enjoy dancing, Miss Jackson.”
She grimaced. “I do not.”
“That’s because you have never danced with me.”
“No, even you couldn’t make a difference,” she said. “I don’t know how.”
He’d turned his back to the table now, his hands along the edge so that he was partly sitting on it as he watched her. “I have a proposal for you.”
“Another one?”
“Bethany tells me that your grandparents have lined up a particularly tedious schedule of lessons for you.”
The reminder stole any anticipation she’d felt to hear what he had to say and her heart sort of just… dropped. Nonetheless, she nodded.
What scheme was he cooking up now? He might be honorable, almost to a fault, but she suspected he was not disinclined to participate in subterfuge when it benefited him in some way. And the mere fact that this made sense to her proved yet again that she needed to take everything he said with a grain of salt.
“And why would my decorum lessons concern you?”
“Am I correct in assuming you find my sisters to be pleasant company?”
“I like them, yes.”
“And also, that you find their brother to be pleasant company as well?”
The man’s confidence knew no bounds. “Tolerable.” She bit back a grin when he raised his brows in disbelief.
“I will take these lessons as an opportunity to court you.”
Oh, good lord.She laughed at his audacity but was beginning to understand. “And when I return to my grandmother’s house, the lessons will no longer be necessary.”
“Indeed. And as your betrothed, I will vouch for your newfound talents.”
“Ha!” Charley couldn’t help herself.
“You must concede it sounds more enjoyable than endless lessons in Thornton House with Lady Thornton supervising.”
He’d obviously met her grandmother.
“I’m not certain your sisters would agree. They have no need of such instructions.” Likely they’d be bored to tears.
“This will accomplish three objectives and I’ve come to realize you hold efficiency in high regard.” He dropped a slow wink but then continued right on, oblivious that he’d sent an unfamiliar tingling through her. “If my sisters are concerned with managing your instructions, Tabetha will have less opportunity to get herself into mischief and at the same time we ensure thetonisn’t injured by any of your American ways. They are delicate flowers, you must understand. Heaven forbid a lady speak with intelligence.”
Secretly delighted that he considered her intelligent, she almost laughed again before reminding herself that everything he said was perfectly calculated to win her over. And not because he was attracted to her, but because he needed to uphold his blasted honor.
Even so, he certainly was laying it on thick. “And?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
He tilted his head in question.
“You mentioned three objectives.”
