“Because winning all your battles is not the greatest good. The greatest good comes from breaking your enemy’s resistance with no battle. Master Sun,The Art of War.”
She’d never heard of Mr. Masterson orThe Art of War. “In your view, young women are the enemy?”
“Yes.”
“And lovemaking is war?”
He gulped. “We’re not talking about you giving me lessons in lovemaking, are we?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, the feral look from the stage coach was back. “I don’t need lessons in that. I’ll have you know I’m not a virgin.”
Oh, that’s why he gulped. Such a delicious, darling dunderhead.
“I didn’t think otherwise,” she assured him. “Of course, you’re not. I’m not, either. And I didn’t mean—”
“You’re not?”
“No, I’m not. You see, I meant—”
“You’re fallen?”
This would not stand. No matter how much she had thought him a darling moments ago. Absolutely not.
“I have a body. Which has desires just like yours. I will never marry so if I wanted to know the pleasure of sharing a bed, it had to be outside of marriage. I will not be called fallen or ruined or spoiled. I have betrayed no one. Not even God.”
He stared at her.
“I’m just like you, Kit. But with breasts. As you’ve noticed.”
He looked away from her.
“And if you want me to stay here, you’ll need to apologize to me, Your Grace.”
“Yes.”
“Now,” she snapped.
“I apologize, Franny,” he said quickly.
She took a deep breath and tried to get rid of her anger. Unfortunately, the dim duke did not know when to leave off.
“But if you’re not an innocent and you won’t be getting married, why won’t you be my mistress?”
She closed her eyes and held up her hand.Breathe, sweet girl. He doesn’t know what he’s saying. Breathe and explain it to him. Find out if he’s teachable. And if he’s not, run as fast as you can.
She opened her eyes. “I would never trade affection for money or security. And if you believe that’s what a wife does, you’re wrong and have no idea what marriage is and I will not assist you any further in finding a wife.”
He looked away and then back at her. There were all kinds of mysterious things going on behind his eyes.
“All right,” he said finally.
“And when I said lovemaking, I wasn’t speaking about coupling. I meant falling in love.”
Now the poor man looked even more uncomfortable than he had when he had thought she was talking about rutting.
“I don’t need, I mean,” he faltered. “That’s not necessary, either. I don’t need lessons in that.”
