He yelled, jerked back, grabbed his tongue. Cam shoved at his chest hard with her fists. It didn’t move him. He was much stronger than Teddy Jewel.
They stood staring at each other, Pilcher still rubbing his tongue, making him look ridiculous, and the look he gave her wasn’t amorous. Cam wanted to kick him, mentally measuring how high she’d have to bring up her leg. Would her wretched petticoat let her leg go up that high?
He dropped his hand from his tongue. “Why did you bite my tongue? Do you believe I’ve moved too quickly? But you wanted me to kiss you, you’ve encouraged me, inflamed me! Listen to me, Camilla, you know what I feel about you. Seeing you here, with the flowers, looking so womanly and soft, I couldn’t help myself. You didn’t have to bite my tongue, it hurts, you could have chewed it in half.”
By the end of his speech, he sounded like a bewildered little boy and it settled her, calmed her, but wait. Was he that accomplished an actor? She said, sarcasm thick, “Really, Pilcher? Was I to allow you to shove your tongue down my throat?”
“No, no, I wouldn’t have done that, only a bit, a man likes to be inside a woman’s mouth, it’s like—no, no, never mind that. You know how I feel about you. You’ve encouraged me,given me your sloe-eyed looks. I am ready to come up to the mark. Listen, you are precious to me, you must know that—”
Since she’d practiced, she managed a credible eyebrow arch. “Really? I am so precious you felt you had to attack me?” She paused. “I guess you didn’t hear about what I did to Teddy Jewel in London.”
He flushed, stammered, “Well, yes, I heard, but I didn’t believe it. You are so gentle, so innocent. I asked you to marry me, to be my wife. I wouldn’t lie. You needn’t fear returning my physical regard, you will be my wife.”
She could but stare at him. “Pilcher, listen to me, I have not been teasing you. I have not been coy. I do not wish your regard or your wet kiss on my neck or your tongue in my mouth. Actually, I wish you would leave and I would never have to see you again.”
That drew him up short. He stared down at her, not that far down because Cam was tall. She watched his Adam’s apple stutter about in his neck. “I know you do not mean that, you are still teasing me, tempting me. You must believe I am not deceiving you, no, I am a man in love, Camilla, with you. I lost my head, admittedly, in my enthusiasm, but you should not have bitten my tongue. It wasn’t the act of a lady. You shouldn’t wear glasses either.”
“You would have preferred I fainted?”
Her sarcasm floated over his head. He said with great sincerity, “Well, yes, of course that would be expected, the appropriate thing, and I would be pleased to soothe your maidenly sensibilities, convince you of my love and my promise to wed you.”
Did he live inside the pages of a bad novel? Cam could but stare at him. “You really mean that? Honestly?”
“Of course. Any gentleman would agree with me.”
“It’s horrifying.”
“Ah, here you are jesting again. But it’s time to attend me, Camilla, it’s time to tell me you will marry me, smile at meand tell me you want to bear my children. I will provide handsomely for you, you’ll see, my father will adore you, you will be happy, content.”
Bear his children? The thought curdled her innards. Was he an idiot? She pressed her palm against his chest to keep him back. “Pilcher, listen to me. I am not jesting. I am not the lady for you. I know you adore riding to hounds. Not only am I not an ardent rider, I abhor riding to hounds. I much prefer”—what did she much prefer?—“I much prefer studying mathematics and geometry and I am even developing my own theorems, my own applications for my own theorems. I also plan to be an architect, mayhap build another Royal Crescent here in Bath.” She stopped, no place to go from here. Her brain stalled.
He stared at her, nonplussed, genuinely flummoxed. “But you’re a female. Everyone knows a female cannot begin to comprehend such matters as mathematics and science. Develop theorems? Why that’s ridiculous, a theorem is—that’s—” Pilcher stopped cold. He had no idea what a theorem was. But it didn’t matter, she didn’t either. He got on his hobby horse and rode hard. “Come now, an architect? That is far beyond a well-bred lady. Such matters are far beyond them. Come, admit such pursuits are meant only for a man’s brain, a man’s intellect.” There was clear dismissal in his voice, contempt in his eyes, a lovely infuriating broth. On the other hand, Pilcher was right. She was a lady, a female, worth little besides marrying and bearing children. The only difference between her and Cilly or a washerwoman was she had nicer clothes and didn’t have to worry about her next meal. She was unutterably depressed.
He took a step toward her and Cam took another step back. “Listen to me, my love, I do not claim to be a man of science, but of course I could be if I wished to. But I think such things should be left for men with tedious brains and nothing else. They are not men of action like I am. If therewere but a war, I would be riding my stallion into battle, my sword cutting down the enemy. But even in times of peace, I am still a man of action, a strong man, and that is what you need, Camilla, a real man to help you understand your place.
“I have courted you. I have given you all my attention. I have worn those white gloves that make my skin itch.
“You are nineteen years of age. It is time you wed, very nearly past time, time you birthed a child, my child, my heir. Now enough of your coyness. Both you and I know this is all a lady’s game to bring gentlemen up to the mark so he may have you—make you a woman in all ways.”
Cam said, “You are a terrible dancer.”
He shrugged. “Once we are wed there will be no need to waste time twirling around a room. I will keep you content without dancing. Now, no more of your teasing games.”
And he lunged.
CHAPTER 31
Cam wasn’t ready, that’s what she’d tell herself later when she tried to excuse herself from acting immediately—flattening Pilcher, sending her knee in his groin as Cilly had taught her or smack him like she had Teddy Jewel. He took her to the ground. He was heavy, lying flat on top of her, and his fists were wrapped around her braids to hold her head still.
She caught her breath and began hitting him on the back, but she had little leverage, and knew it. “Pilcher, stop it! Get off me.”
When she opened her mouth he stuck his tongue in, realized what could happen and withdrew fast.
His hot breath on her face, he whispered, “Hold still, no need to tease me, Camilla. We’ll wed, I’ve promised you that. Let me show you what a magnificent husband I’ll be, just hold still and let me—”
If only she could get her arms free, she could slap her palms against his ears, but she couldn’t budge him. She had to try reason. He was looking down at her breasts. She yelled in his face, his eyes glazed. “Look at me, Pilcher. Listen to me. I do not love you. I will not marry you in this lifetime.Do you understand me? Now let me go!” And she jerked and heaved, but he was strong, determined on his course.
“You don’t mean that, a lady never means that and besides it doesn’t matter. I will have you and then you’ll accept me, you will have to, but you will not regret it. But in any case, it will not matter.” He released one hand so he could grab her breast and squeeze. Her freed arm shot up and she slapped her palm against his ear. He yelped but he didn’t stop. She slapped his ear again, yelled right in his face, “Don’t you do that, you ass, or I’ll slap what few brains you have right out of your head!”
