Bracing himself for the effect she always had on him, Sebastian did his best not to notice how very charming her emerald-green-and-black outfit was.She often wore traditional Chinese garments, though he had seen her occasionally don a more English style of dress.Today, she had opted for the former, her hair up in a complicated-looking knot with sticks pinning it in place, small charms hanging from the ends.
“Miss Hu,” he said, bowing in greeting and gesturing to one of the chairs across from his desk.“Please, have a seat.I take it your grandmother is not joining us today?”
If she heard the censure in his voice, she did not show it.Gliding forward, Miss Hu smiled at him.A small social smile, the kind she usually wore when dealing with Society.Sebastian had seen her real smile, the one she used with her friends, and this was not it.
To be disappointed that she used her social smile with him instead was ridiculous.
“Your Grace.”She curtsied before seating herself and folding her hands neatly on her lap as she studied him.Cool, calm, collected, and with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through him.Sometimes, he wondered exactly what it was she saw as an outsider looking into the intricacies and foibles of upper-crust English Society.As ever, her face was a mask, hiding her opinions.“Unfortunately, my grandmother is not feeling well today.I assure you, everything we discuss will be passed on from me to her but otherwise held in confidence.”
“Right.”Sebastian smoothed his hand over his waistcoat as he sat down.“I suppose you mean that you will not discuss my request for your grandmother’s services with my sister and the others?”He raised his eyebrow, but Miss Hu nodded serenely.
“That is exactly what I mean.Of course, if you are pleased with the match, it would be lovely if you would pass on a recommendation to others, but it is not a requirement.”
If she remembered his statements about dukes not needing matchmakers, she did not indicate it, by word or look.Whatever her thoughts about him, they were carefully tucked away in her mind.
Strangely, he believed she would not tell Tiffany or her other friends that he was acquiring her grandmother’s services.He did not have to eat crow unless he chose to.Though it hardly seemed honorable to reap a benefit without acknowledgment where acknowledgment was due.
He would cross that bridge when he came to it.
“Yes.Well.”Sebastian studied her.Facing her instead of her grandmother was making him feel rather unbalanced.
If she was at all discomfited, it did not show.
“Perhaps we should start with your requirements,” she suggested.“What attributes would you like your wife to have?”
That did seem the proper place to start, yet it felt very odd to be discussing such things with a woman.A young woman, at that, of the same age as the ladies he would be courting.Part of the appeal of using her grandmother was that the matrons of thetontended to assist their sons and grandsons with matrimonial matters.
His mother, unfortunately, could not be trusted.
Not after he’d seen the way she was with Tiffany.Not after he’d realized there was an entire side of her that he had never known existed and that she could be so awful to his sister.There was still a part of him that could not believe it, but he had seen it with his own eyes, heard her cruel words with his own ears.She’d insisted he did not understand, but he’d still exiled her to the countryside to rusticate for the rest of this Season.
Sebastian cleared his throat.Miss Hu would be passing the information along to her grandmother.Perhaps he could pretend shewasher grandmother.His gaze dropped to the desk in front of him, as looking at her did not help with the pretense.
“The ability to run my household,” he said.“So, she must be intelligent.Beautiful.Kind.Able to hold a conversation.”
“What would you like to be able to converse with her about?”Miss Hu asked.
Was there a hint of amusement in her voice?Sebastian glanced up at her.If there was, it did not show in her expression.
“Art?Music?History?Current events?Politics?”
Sebastian stared at her.Was she jesting?Most debutantes he met could scarcely talk about the first two topics.His sister was a bit of a bluestocking, and even she eschewed history and politics, and her interest in current events was focused on whatever musical talent was being featured at the opera.
“Whatever interests her,” he finally said.Which got his first response from Miss Hu as her delicate eyebrows rose for just a moment before returning to her blank expression.
“Interesting,” she said after a moment.“No preferred subjects at all?”
“Truly engaging conversation happens when at least one of the participants is enthusiastic about the topic,” he said, fighting the urge to twitch.Part of him wanted to ask if she should be writing some of this down for her grandmother, but the intense scrutiny of her gaze convinced him it was unnecessary.He only wanted to ask because her intent contemplation of him was so unnerving, and he knew it.“If it is something that she is passionate about, the conversation will be far superior.Hopefully, she will also enjoy listening to my interests, but I do not expect her to cater to them exclusively.”
There was another long moment, and he swore he felt like Miss Hu was studying him even harder.As if that were possible.
“What interests would you say you have?”she asked when the silence stretched.
Before he could answer, there was the sudden sound of a commotion down the hall—quite a commotion since anything happening in the foyer that was loud enough to be heard in his study wasveryloud.And it did not immediately quiet.There were quite a few raised voices, as well as what sounded like the banging of very heavy objects being put down on the floor.
Frowning, Sebastian got to his feet.
“Excuse me, Miss Hu,” he said.“I should see what is going on.Please wait here.”
