“I would so love the freedom of being an actress.”
Thinking of Sarah’s hardships, he answered, “It is far from free.”
“But it must be better than being a wife.”
“You don’t believe being a wife would be fulfilling?” Her statement had surprised him because here was the second reference this day to a thread of dialogue in Sarah’s play—the value of being a wife—and it sparked his curiosity.
“Would you?” she pertly countered.
“I would think being a duchess would be a very good thing.”
“I think that now you have taken for a mistress the woman everyone is talking about, you might be right.”
“And why is that?”
She leaned into him so that her young breasts were almost offered up for his pleasure. “Because,” she said, drawing out the word, “if a woman with that sort of experience finds you fascinating, I can only wonder what you have to teach the rest of us?”
If only she knew.
Gavin laughed. He couldn’t help himself. The minx was bold as brass. Sarah was outspoken, yes, but she had a bit of class to her directness. “I should take you back to your parents.” He offered his arm.
She placed hers behind her back, refusing him. “You aren’t going to try and kiss me?” she asked.
“Is that why you brought me to the rose arbor?”
Miss Charnock made an impatient sound. “I didn’t take you anywhere. You are the one who requested a stroll. But now that we are here, Your Grace—” she said, taking a step closer to him “—perhaps we should take advantage of the moment. I would like your kiss. I would like it very much.”
She leaned toward him and Gavin instinctively leaned back. He had no desire to kiss her. It was Sarah’s lips he craved.
And yet, Miss Charnock could well be his duchess.
“We need to return to your parents.”
She made a small moue of disappointment but took his arm. “Does this mean you shall not call upon me?”
“Would you wish me to?”
“I pray that you will, Your Grace. In fact, my father has urged me to consider you many a time, and I, well, let us say, I now find you exciting.”
Nor was she the only woman who now found Gavin “exciting.” All the women at Countess Fizzwill’s event seemed to know. There was flirting in every flick of the fan and batting of the lash. Gavin had never experienced such favor before.
He knew women were attracted to him for the title as well as his wealth. He held no pretenses about himself. However, now they apparently saw him as a lover, and he received a completely different reception.
Here was the secret behind his brothers’ successes with women, the reason that ladies, even gentlewomen, favored the rake and the scoundrel. It had to do with the mystery of sex.
No one seemed to favor what was upright and moral. They want adventure and expected the men in their safe little lives to provide it.
The line was a direct quote from Sarah’s play.
He might need to read that play again—
A woman bumped against him. At first, he thought it was an accident until she slipped a note into his hand. Excusing himself from the conversation, he stepped off to the side and read it. What the lady was proposing shocked him. When he looked around for her, he discovered her with the female friend she suggested they share—and Gavin quickly broke eye contact.
He knew this sort of licentious behavior existed. He had heard men boast but he’d thought it was exactly that—boasting. A gentleman would not use women in this manner . . . and then he thought of Sarah trembling on the bed. Caring people did not use others.
Soberly, Gavin put the note in his pocket.
He needed to leave. He’d met Miss Charnock. Now, he had a strong desire to see Sarah. Things had not been good between them when he had left and he was anxious to learn how her day had gone. He knew Talbert would see to matters, but Gavin wished to spend time with her.
