Damnation, he was beginning to hope the fiery lady wasn’t anyone’s wife or fiancée but free to accept advances from him.
“Masters Fallon and Heron need to be out climbing trees, playing hide-and-seek,” she continued. “They should be running around cutting holly berries and mistletoe to decorate the house on Christmas Eve, and other childhood games like chasing chickens.” She paused. “But that is usually played when it’s warmer.”
Seth screwed up his face. “Chasing chickens?”
“Of course, boys enjoy doing that, and it doesn’t hurt them. The chickens that is. Or the boys.” She gave him a curious look. “Didn’t you ever do that?”
Seth decided not to admit he would have never been allowed to do something as improper as chasing fowl. How did this young lady know about these things? He sensed she was a lady of substance and not just beauty, wit, and playfulness, he couldn’t let her challenge of his authority over his wards go unanswered.
Scowling, he brushed aside his kindly thoughts of her, not needing the detour of one who was capturing his attention with so little effort when blast it, it was so bloody cold outside.
“Are you lecturing me concerning my nephews?”
“Lecturing?” She had the nerve to look affronted. “A marquis? No, not in the least. I wouldn’t go that far. Merely stating my opinion is all.”
Who was she that she had the gumption to continue to take him to task over something that was his responsibility and none of her affair in the first place? Her impertinence, courage, and determination were boundless. Maybe one of the things that made her so damn appealing was that she didn’t seem to care a whit for the acceptable manners of talking with a marquis.
“My nephews are learning how to be gentlemen, not rascals. They not only read and study the sciences, arts, and languages, they are learning how to understand the account books of their various properties.”
She gasped. “Fallon is only five.”
“I realize that. I’m not a beast.”
He stopped and gave her a hint of a smile when her brows shot up at his declaration. Continuing, he said, “The lads have time each day when they are allowed to play with their wooden soldiers, horses, and carriages. They play chess in the evening before bedtime. However, it is my responsibility to see they are safely and properly brought up until they enter Eton, and I will.”
Her expression softened again. “They almost looked like wooden toys. You didn’t see how lonely they seemed sitting on that bench in the corridor reading, and waiting for you.”
Perhaps she was a bit too honest, Seth thought as he raised his head and folded his arms across his chest, tucking his hands under his arms to warm them as he did so. It was downright frigid, but it would be a cold day in hell before he’d let her know his hands were growing numb and his ears were beginning to feel frost bitten.
“And I’m glad to know they were behaving like properly brought up gentlemen.”
A soft, annoyed huff passed her beautiful lips. “There is the problem, my lord. They are boys. Not young men, not gentlemen, and they shouldn’t be treated as such.”
Seth sensed that in the very short time she’d been with the lads, she’d already developed an affection for them, and that triggered an unexpected warmth to settle over him. And then more. She had stirred him as no other young lady ever had. An overwhelming desire to pull her velvet-covered body against his rose strong within him and tugged at his willpower. He wanted to breathe in her snow-kissed scent, taste her warm lips, and feel her soft pliant body next to his.
But first he needed to know who she was.
“Excuse me, miss or madame.” He bent his head closer to hers again. “Who are you to tell me I’m doing something wrong?”
She squared her shoulders again and pinned him with a confident, unflinching expression. “It’s miss, my lord. Miss Lillian Prim. I am a younger sister of the Duchess of Hurst and thereby a sister to the Duke of Hurst.”
That admission sobered Seth and, instinctively, he changed the direction his thoughts had been taking him. He relaxed and took a reluctant step away from her.
Now he knew why she had all the confidence of a well-schooled noblewoman. She was. Two of her sisters were married to dukes. He didn’t know anyone else in Society who could boast such a powerful family of peers. As luck would have it, one of the dukes just happened to be his childhood friend and host.
Self-restraint had never been something Seth paid much attention to. He’d never had to—until now. Any thoughts he had of dallying with the tempting miss melted away like the snow on her velvet cap.
Chapter 2
Lillian Prim stood quietly amazed looking at the gentleman before her. He was tall. He was handsome. He was commanding, and hewaswrong.
What kind of man didn’t want boys to play outside and be boys? Sunshine, rain, or snow? She’d wager no one had kept the serious-minded marquis from enjoying the adventures that could come from being outdoors when he was a youngster—be it hot or cold. Though, with him standing before her in all his masculine splendor, making her senses dance, sizzle, and pop around like water dripping onto a roaring fire, it was difficult to imagine a magnificent male like him ever being a boy.
And added to that, none of the multitude of gentlemen she’d met during the past Season had ever looked at her with the audacious intensity that this man was. As if trying to see into her mind and know her intimate thoughts. That left her feeling exposed, vulnerable, and in a strange way somehow extraordinarily special that he wanted to all at the same time.
The very idea that she had the nerve to question this impressively strong man with thick, straight brown hair that hung neatly to the top of his collar astounded her. That he was a marquis made it even more unbelievable she’d be so outspoken. Maybe it was because he had an aura of authority that she sensed was as gentle as it was hard and unyielding. No matter the reason, it was taking all the courage she could gather to remain firm with him about her disagreement with his orders. Especially considering he was right about it being none of her concern how he dealt with his nephews.
She inhaled quietly and said, “I would never tell you that you are wrong—my lord. Well, perhaps not never. Just certainly not today, or just not right now—anyway.”
