“She is not my ladylove, and I’m sure you shouldn’t be speaking in such terms.”
“Why should I not? I am twenty-seven, and old enough to speak as I wish. I will not be told by you how to speak.”
“Ah, but as your fiancé surely I have some say in the matter?” Leo heard her teeth snap together so hard he winced. She’d always brought out the devil in him. She then stomped on his foot. “I’m sure that hurt you more than me, Miss Whitlow, but I shall yelp if it makes you feel better.”
“You are a cad.”
“Undoubtedly, and a great deal worse, but if you will desist in firing barbs at me for a minute, I shall explain what it is I have in mind.”
Her lips formed a line and she looked left, focusing on the other couples, which Leo guessed was his cue to speak.
“If you will allow the arrangement to stand for the remainder of the time we are here, I shall have it called off before we return to town for the next season. I will tell everyone you have broken the engagement and that I believe it is for the best, and there are no hard feelings, as we realized we would make a dismal married couple.”
“Which will go terribly easy for you, but poor, maidenly Miss Whitlow will be pitied from afar... and not so far. And what of Nick, and my aunt, what will you say to them?”
“I will explain all to Nick, and as your aunt is deaf, and spends most of her time sleeping rather than chaperoning you as she ought, I do not think she will be a problem. There is no other close family in London as I understand it, so the problems are limited. Mine are also thankfully out of town, so word will not reach them for some time.”
She tensed, and he wondered if he’d hurt her in some way with the mention of family.
“You may be Nick’s oldest friend, my lord, but I am his blood relative; he will not let this go easy on you. And I would thank you to never again speak in disparaging tones about my aunt.”
“Forgive me, I should not have spoken about her that way. On the matter of your cousin, I have incurred his wrath too many times to count. I am sure he will forgive me... eventually.”
“Which I’m sure you deserved.”
“Do you always have the last word?”
“Usually.”
“Excellent.”
“Thank you.”
Leo snorted. Damned if the woman wasn’t full of fire and backbone. He’d never taken the time to speak to her, other than that disastrous event he had relegated to the back of his mind.
“You are welcome.”
“Wonderful,” Beth added.
She looked up at him, blue eyes now limpid and adoring.
“What are you doing?” Leo had to swallow, as the look had his throat suddenly dry.
“Practicing. Because if this charade is to continue, then I had best play my part, and like anything I do, I must do it to the best of my ability.”
“You, Miss Whitlow, are a terrifying woman.”
“I’m wondering if this could actually be just the thing for me now my anger has cooled.”
“How so?” Leo looked down past her chin to the soft, pale swell of her breasts, and felt his pulse quicken. He’d never thought her anything but annoying, but suddenly he was noticing things about her, like her breasts.Decidedly odd.
“Most evenings I am forced to converse with silly people or trip over foolish men declaring themselves enamored with me. I smile until my face hurts, when the reality is most are after my dowry, and have no concern for me at all.”
“Surely not all the men who converse with you are after your dowry?”
“Three quarters at least.”
“I’m sure some are simply enamored with your beauty.”
