Chapter Nine
William contained the urge to whistle as he maneuvered the light, open carriage down Lady Lanora’s street. The day was fine, sky blue, sun bright. It was a day made for charming a lady in the park.
Lady Lanora was too intelligent to simply be charmed, however. He hadn’t missed the suspicion in her, in spite of the effect he knew he had. And that book. Anyone who could read that jumble of archaic Greek had quite the head on their shoulders.
He might, as a last resort, need to offer her some truths. Not all, by any means. Knowledge gave a person power, and he wasn’t ready to let anyone have that much power over him. Even Cecilia didn’t know he’d never been to Egypt. Only the marquess knew all, and often wielded the knowledge. He held William under the constant threat of defamation, and now he’d added losing the Greydrake fortune to his arsenal. William grimaced, wishing reputation and coin held less sway in his life.
Fortunately, arrival at the Solworth London home revived his spirits. Lady Lanora appeared, slipping out a narrowly open door. She pushed several terriers back inside with a slipper-clad foot, offering an enticing glimpse of a slender ankle. Her gown was pale yellow, similar to all young ladies’ gowns, save for the splendidness of her figure. Her shiny black locks were neatly arranged, her green eyes once again as cold as the gems they resembled.
“My lady,” he greeted as a footman helped her into the carriage.
“Lord William.”
Her tone was excessively cool. She didn’t look at him. Surely, she wasn’t that angry over a single waltz with her aunt and a maid in the room?
William maneuvered the carriage back into the light street traffic. By the time they reached the park, he’d become uncomfortable with her determined silence. Her smile was so tight as to appear pained. Anyone looking on them, and there were many about, would think he held a pistol to her side to make her remain in the carriage with him.
Out of respect for the woman he thought her to be, he decided to take a direct approach. “You do not seem happy to ride with me.”
Her eyes darted toward him and away. “I cannot fathom your intention in taking this drive.”
“You cannot? Is it not obvious I’m courting you?”
Her eyes widened slightly. Her jaw clenched. She cast a look about, at the numerous other occupants of the park. “You jest.”
“I do not.”
A line marred her brow. She turned to him with a frown. “Why would you court me? Have you a wager going?”
He kept an affable expression, though taken aback by her accusation. He’d known convincing her would be difficult. “There is no wager. I wish us to wed.”
She blinked several times. “You hardly know me. Did my aunt put you up to this?”
“Your aunt?” He shook his head. He’d hoped for a slightly more enthusiastic response. “Lady Edith has nothing to do with my courting you. As for knowing you, I have watched you from afar. I’m quite smitten, I assure you.”
“Smitten?” She gave him a cold smile. “I think perhaps your definition of the word differs from mine. Were I smitten with someone, I wouldn’t spend the evening with my mistress.”
This time, William couldn’t hide his surprise. He recovered quickly, knowing many eyes were on them. “You had me followed.”
She shrugged. “Of course. I wished to gauge your sincerity.”
“And you found it lacking.”
“Obviously.”
She might believe she’d put him in his place, but William was pleased. A woman with no interest would never have him followed. It said much that she’d gone to the trouble. He was glad to learn his effect on her was more than physical.
“I can explain.”
“I’m certain you can offer all manner of excuses, but I’ve no desire to hear them.”
He grinned. She could be so cold, her tone infinitely condescending. It was an art. Lady Lanora was a work of art, from her flawless features to her well-modulated voice. He wondered if she could manage other facades as readily as she didtondiamond-an- devout widow.
“You find my lack of interest entertaining, my lord?”
No. He found the banked anger in her green eyes irresistible. What would that heat be like, unleashed? He knew better than to ask. “You will not hear me out? I thought you a lady of intelligence.”
“That is an artless tactic, my lord.”
