“Lord Ferrard, women are simply vessels for a gentleman’s pleasure, such as your widows.”
He’d had many lovers and she must remember that fact. Further she was just as certain that he knew most everything there was to know about desire and the act of procreating without the actual procreation.
Then again, he could have bastards somewhere, as some lords did, not that she’d be so rude as to ask.
“I certainly hope your future husband does not share your views, Lady Violet, as there is much pleasure to be had for the woman. On that you have my word.”
She settled back and studied him. How was he so certain? “Because they tell you.” Violet scoffed. “They are your lovers, Lord Ferrard, and must stay in your good graces. Of course they’d claim to desire you.”
Though, that would be true if his lovers were also a mistress, as they’d rely on him for protection. Ferrard didn’t keep a mistress, so perhaps he spoke the truth, of a woman also experiencing desire.
Emory wasn’tcertain if he should be insulted by her disparaging comment or humored by her innocence. His lovers did not lie to him. They would never. Besides, he knew when a woman was in need even if it wasn’t as obvious as it was for a man.
“It is not only words.” He quickly glanced about to make certain no patrons had taken a table near them. “Physical responses as well.”
Lady Violet frowned, her eyebrows drawing together as she leaned forward. “How does a gentleman know that a woman is feeling desire,” she asked quietly.
Bloody hell, she was innocent. Had any other woman asked him these questions, let alone had this discussion with him, he would have considered her quite forward in hopes of an intimate interlude. With Violet, however, he believed it was her way to learn something that she did not yet know. Every conversation that he’d had with her to date was thoughtful, intelligent, almost cool in the assessment of her opinion, as if she were of a scientific mind.
What he would like to do is kiss her senseless so that she’d stop thinking and enjoy the yearnings of desire and let passion take her. Only then would she understand what she asked.
“Lord Ferrard?” Violet intruded on his thoughts. “You did not answer my question.”
His face heated again, remembering that she’d asked the physical responses of a woman. “That, I will not tell you, ever, and most especially in a teashop.”
“Then how will I ever learn for myself.”
“If your husband is worth his salt as a man, you will. If not, then I pity your marriage.”
Again, Violet frowned. “There is no need to pity me, other than loss of my freedom that a gentleman never needs to fear.”
“Unless he’s deep in his cups,” Emory returned to the topic of how this inappropriate conversation had begun.
“Even then, it is only temporary. Marriage is not.”
She was very insistent that she’d lose everything if she married, though he couldn’t understand the concern. She had little control over her life now. She lived in her father’s home, and all funds were controlled by him. Even now, a chaperone sat not far away, all for her protection. Emory didn’t understand what she’d lose by becoming a wife, when in all actuality, she’d have more freedom.
“What freedoms do you enjoy now that you fear will be lost if you were to marry?” he asked.
“The freedom to go about as I wish, to engage in intellectual studies, and to pursue activities that I enjoy. To not be answerable to someone who has the power to order about my days and nights.”
“Your father has that control.”
“Yes, but my father lets me go about as I wish, within reason. A husband might not be as lenient, and I don’t wish to risk such before I must.”
“What studies and activities?” Every moment that he spent in Lady Violet’s company was fascinating. He had been the one embarrassed by the topic of desire, not her, which was further proof that her mind was more of a scientific one, which he could appreciate. Especially since she was not ruled by emotion.
That was it! She was the first reasonable, pragmatic, unemotional female that he’d ever met. Further, she was honest, and he had no doubt that she spoke her mind without fear of censure. Yet, she wasn’t cold, indifferent, or without emotion, as she’d been described by others. Instead, she kept her emotions in check, which meant whoever married Lady Violet would never need fear that she’d dissolve in a fit of vapors at unpleasant news or situations.
“I hope your conversation was enjoyable,” Lady Priscilla stated as she neared their table. “It was too quiet to be heard, of course, though it seemed to be serious.”
“It was rather enlightening,” Lady Violet answered.
“Well, I must get back to Forester Hall, therefore, Lady Violet, I must return you.”
When he’d agreed to the courtship of convenience, Emory knew that he would only need to spend a few hours a day in Lady Violet’s company to satisfy what was required in a courtship. Then, he’d considered it a reasonable obligation which would leave him free most of the day and every evening. However, the more he came to know her, the more he wanted to know, but there was simply not enough time to do so.
Chapter 17
