It hadn’t been his choice for his sister to be his responsibility. His parents had been killed when a ship that was taking them to Portugal sank as it sailed into the harbor. He’d just come of age, so her guardianship had fallen to him. At the time, Hawk hadn’t even learned how to take care of himself. Drinking, gambling, and women were his priorities. Not young girls. He’d solicited the help of his widowed cousin, Minerva Philbert, who’d moved into Hawksthorn to watch after Adele.
Hawk relaxed his stance and said, “No, Miss Quick, I’d say you’ve made your case very plainly.”
“Good,” she said, seeming pleased with herself.
He gave her a knowing smile. “But you must know that the more you tell me you don’t want this to happen between our families, the more I intend to see that it does.”
She moistened her lips and seemed to think on his comment before saying, “Your idea is rubbish. What does Lady Adele think of you trying to control her life by picking her husband? I don’t know her but find it difficult to believe she’s delighted with that idea.”
“My sister agrees with me and knows I only want what’s best for her. She knows I wouldn’t force her to marry your brother or anyone else if she found him detestable.”
Miss Quick huffed a soft breath. “No one could find Paxton detestable. And I would be pleased for my brother to marry whomever he wishes, whenever he wishes. What I don’t want is him falling victim to a scoundrel duke like you waving money, position, and prestige in front of him for your own selfish reasons.”
“You think I am doing this for me?” He took another step closer to Miss Quick. “My reasons are not for myself but for my sister. My only goal is to see to it she comes to no harm and makes a good match, and I make no excuses for putting her welfare above all else.”
“Nor I my brother’s.”
“So then we understand each other.”
“It appears we do. You will fight for Lady Adele and I will fight for Paxton. I didn’t save myself from an arranged marriage only to watch my brother walk blindly into one.”
“You don’t think much of your brother’s ability to take care of this himself, do you?”
“Nor you, your sister’s.”
Her defiance was commendable, but if she thought to frighten him away by her firm stand on this matter, she was mistaken. “Then the lines have been drawn and the battle has begun, Miss Quick.”
“So it seems.”
“Now, when do you expect your brother to return?”
“I really can’t say for sure,” she said with a slight lift to her chin. “Usually he’s only gone a couple of weeks, but this time it’s been longer. That’s why when you first arrived I thought you might be bringing news of him. So yes, I expect he should return in a day or two.”
“But you have no reason to think he won’t be back by the end of next week.”
Reluctantly, she answered, “No.” Then she quickly added, “He’ll be sorry to have missed you. Now, may I get you something to eat or drink? Or perhaps you’d just like to warm yourself by the fire a little longer before you take your leave.”
Hawk’s primal instinct rose. She was dismissing him. Treating him as if she had the rank of duke instead of him. And while it amazed him she had the audacity to do it, italso irritated the devil out of him. She had more mettle than any other lady he’d met. He couldn’t let her pluck stand without redress. While she might be anxious to be rid of him, he wasn’t in a hurry to depart from her.
“A glass of port, wine, or brandy would be welcomed.” He looked around the sparsely furnished room. “If you have it.”
A twitch of a smile played at the edges of her mouth, and Hawk found it downright enchanting. He hoped the faint amusement on her lips was because she knew he was delaying his departure just to irritate her. If so, good.
“Paxton always has a bottle of something available.”
She turned away, and the tug of arousal tightened Hawk’s lower body again. Waves of rich, shimmering blond hair that looked as if it could have been spun from moonlight cascaded down her back. For a moment, he envisioned her sitting astride him with all those glorious tresses falling delicately around her bare shoulders, and tickling his chest as she bent to kiss him.
Miss Quick glanced back at him and her gaze caught his, stare for stare. Hawk had little doubt Miss Quick suspected in her innocent way what he’d been thinking, but, more important, at that moment he saw that she was attracted to him, too.
“It’s brandy,” she said softly, opening one of the compartments on the secretary and pulling out a tray with glasses and a decanter on it.
“That’s fine,” he answered.
He watched her. Her movements were confident but refined as she took the top off the decanter and poured a generous splash into the glass.
Without taking her attention off him, she walked over and extended the drink to him. “There isn’t much daylight left.”
So this was to be a test of her courage and his resolve. She was still trying to get rid of him. It was admirable. And it was probably best if he did go soon, but… the rogue in him couldn’t bend to her wishes.
