“You are welcome.” She paused as if letting her graciousness sink in before adding, “However, I wish to discourage you from calling on my sister.”
He wasn’t expecting that. He sat up. “Discourage me?”
“Elise is beautiful in both form and spirit. However, she is not for you.”
“And why is that, Miss Lanscarr?”
“Because.”
He waited for her to say more. She didn’t. He pushed. “Becauseyousaid so? Because I’m toorespectable...?”
That drew an indignant sound out of her. “Because I’m asking you to leave Elise alone.”
“Still not a reason.”
Color rose to her cheeks, and he had to smile, thinking of Steele’s warning. If Michael could handle Parliament, he could handle her. “You act as if no one should question you when you give orders, Miss Lanscarr. That was probably true in Wicklow, but we are out in the world. And now, since we are ‘speaking plainly,’ what is it you have against me?”
Her face grew pinched as if she was offended that he would dare to challenge her—and against all reason, he found himself drawn to her.
He did not like bold women. They got on a man’s nerves over time. And Elise was the true beauty, with Gwendolyn not far behind. They had both piqued the male hunting instinct in him.
Except Dara’s clear blue eyes could never hide what she was thinking, and he’d wager she wasalwaysthinking. Hers was a busy mind. An intriguing one.
He also wondered what would happen if hewere to reach across the table and pull on one of the green ribbons tucked in her hair. Would her curls come tumbling down, a cascade the color of good whisky around her?
Michael pushed away from the table, a bit thrown off by the sudden tightness in his breeches.
Dara had no conflicted feelings about him. “We have come to London to seal our family legacy. We are related to the Duke of Marlborough, you know.”
“I did not know that.”
“Why should you? That is why I am telling you.” She didn’t wait for a response but said, “I am tired of being poor, but genteel, Irish.”
“There are many of them,” he noted. “And many are poorer than you.” He had been one of them until Lord Holsworthy had come looking for him when he had needed an heir.
“My sisters and I are in London to marry dukes,” she announced as if impressing on him how lowly he was.
He didn’t blink. “As is every young woman on the Marriage Mart.”
“True. But we could. Even better, we want to carve out ourowndirections in life. You may not understand the importance of such an ambition because you are male. No one has ever questioned your authority to govern yourself. However, for a woman of intelligence—and we areintelligent—being able to act on her own mind is the Holy Grail. Elise and Gwendolyn could easily become duchesses just as the Gunning sisters did years ago.” She leaned toward him. “I asked you to meet privately with me, Mr. Brogan, to say that I am very sorry, but you arenotacceptable as a suitor for my sister. You must take your attention elsewhere.”
He almost laughed at how serious she was being. However, that would be a bigger insult than arguing with her. So he replied, sounding as friendly as he could, “It is widely acknowledged that I am a good catch.” He did not elaborate upon his prospects as Lord Holsworthy’s heir. She claimed to know everything about him. He saw no reason to correct her. Let her find out he would someday be an earl.
“But not good enough for Elise.”
“I would prefer hearing such a statement from her... if it is true.”
A spark flashed in her eyes. Before she could lash out, Michael said, “Don’t act so offended.Youwished plain speaking, so here it is. The reason we are hiding in the Supper Room is that your sister would not agree with your warning me off, would she? She might not even share your plans for making her a duchess. These are all your ideas. Your goals,yourambitions.”
Miss Lanscarr placed her palms flat on the table and stood as if trying to lord her petite frame over him. “Youdon’t know what I’ve done to bring us here. And we are going to makethe mostof the opportunity—which is something, I suggest, any man would do. You can’t tell me the men looking for wives aren’t vying for the richest and best-connected of the lot. If you all would allow us to inherit what is rightfully ours, we would have our own money, our own homes. Unfortunately, allwe have that is ours alone is our looks, and we will proudly use them to our advantage.Or,” she said cynically, “are you going to claim that you would pursue Elise if she was plain?”
She had him. Michael liked beautiful women, shallow as it sounded. What man didn’t want a lovely wife?
Although, in truth, Holsworthy would be furious if he thought Michael was pursuing Elise Lanscarr. He had his own ideas of whom his heir should marry. Holsworthy brought up names of suitable, well-connected, and very wealthy possibilities for a wife every time Michael called upon him.
But that didn’t mean Michael was going to dance to Holsworthy’s tune, or Dara’s. The decision of whom to marry was one of the most important and personal ones in a man’s life—and Michael would make his own choice.
“It is my role, Mr. Brogan,” she continued, “tosee us successfully established as rightful members of theton. Leave Elise alone.Iwill not approve a match.”
