Page 4 of Courting the Country Miss

She waved her hand. “Pish! You’d lose that wager.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

“Besides all the reasons I listed, it’d never work because you’d introduce me to your dissipated comrades, and I refuse to marry someone one like that.”

“Someone like me, you mean?” Did she imagine that his smile faded a little?

“You’ve always been a good friend, Tristan. Well, mostly a good friend,” she teased. “But you’d make a terrible husband.”

“I would, I really would. Which is why I’ll never marry. I wouldn’t want to break my wife’s heart. No one deserves that.” His gaze drifted over the night scene, his expression growing solemn.

She squeezed his hand. When did Tristan become so enigmatic?

Her touch seemed to bring him back to their topic. “Very well, I will not introduce you to any of my associates. Tell me what you require in a suitable husband and I will search for him.”

Taken aback, she stared. “You’re serious?”

“Absolutely. How do you define the perfect husband?”

Amused, she shook her head but decided to play along. Perhaps his search for a good husband for her would do him good. It might, at least, put him in respectable company, which may temper his wildness. “Well, to begin with, he must be capable of monogamy. Contrary to current trends, I refuse to love a man who chases light skirts or keeps a mistress.”

He nodded. “Monogamy. A worthy virtue.”

“A crucial virtue.”

“Point taken. What else?”

“He must be a man of integrity.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less for you.”

“Are you mocking me?” She folded her arms.

“No, ma’am. Agreeing. Monogamy, integrity. Please continue.”

“He must have some means of supporting me. Nothing in excess—a vicar’s salary would be sufficient so long as he can afford to buy essentials such as food and candles.”

“Won’t let you starve or sit in the dark. Sensible.” He smiled.

“Now you are making fun of me.” She unfolded her arms and stepped forward so he might feel the full force of her glare.

“Why is it when I agree with you, you assume I’m mocking you?”

“Because you do it so seldom.”

“Mock you or agree with you?” A grin played around the corners of his eyes.

“Agree with me!” Exasperated, she almost stomped her foot.

His teeth flashed in the darkness. “I vow to agree with you whenever you are right. Pray, continue. Any other virtues you require?”

Her ire faded. She thought for a moment, the silvery tinkling of a fountain breaking the garden’s stillness. “He must be both kind and gentle. No selfish bully who thinks wives should be ignored or kept under his thumb.”

He shivered. “I’d never introduce you to such a boorish brute. So your paragon is faithful, a man of integrity, has a respectable fortune, and is kind-hearted. Is that all?”

“A sense of humor and some wit. He cannot be dull or stone-faced all of the time.”

“Of course not. A lively young lady like you must have someone with whom to converse and remind her not to take herself too seriously.”