Page 47 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

She cast him an impish smile. “Because I am an intelligent woman and can hold my own against you. Or I am deluded enough to believe myself capable of it.”

“You are, Gwen. Intelligent, that is. Not at all deluded.” Except when it came to Andrew Clement, but he wasn’t going to mention that bounder and ruin an otherwise enjoyable conversation.

“Your dining room is exquisite, by the way. I love the oriental flower design of the wallpaper. It picks up the colors of the ocean quite subtly, as do the blue silk chairs.”

This was another room with tall windows to allow in light to offset the polished wood of the table. “Glad you like it.”

“I do. Very much. But I think what I like most is the joy I see in you and your boys now that we are here. This house radiates warmth and love.”

“Gwen, may I ask you a rude question in return?” He led her to the music room, where he expected they would have dancing in the evenings. It would also be where his bride prospects might show off their singing talents or accomplishments on the pianoforte on a concert night. He was sure Gwen or Fiona would insist on holding at least one musicale.

“Go ahead, it is only fair.”

“Let’s say you did not know me, but learned you were one of my bride prospects and I had invited you here with three other ladies for the week. How would you go about gaining my notice amid a summer house party, given all the competition and only having one week?”

“That isn’t a rude question at all.”

“Well, what I am most curious about is whether you would decide to seek my bed as a means to gain my notice. Is this something you would ever do if you felt you had no other options?”

She laughed. “No! How could I? I would not even know what to do. I’d make a fool of myself.”

“How would you make a fool of yourself?”

“I have never been to bed with a man. So how could I even pretend to know how to seduce you?”

Her revelation should not have caught him by surprise, because he already knew how inexperienced she was. It was altogether possible she had never gone beyond innocent kisses with her betrothed.

James had wondered whether she had done more because she felt such a strong attachment to the fellow. Why else wait a decade for his return? On the strength of a couple of kisses?

Blessed saints.

Gwen was sweet and virginal, but it did not strike him until just now that she was actually still a virgin.

But of course she was. She was clueless about most sexual innuendos.

She turned thoughtful as she gazed at him. “Is this the only thing that interests men? Do you want to be propositioned? You were clear that this would immediately dismiss these ladies from serious consideration, or so I thought.”

“It would. I was just curious how you would approach such a situation.”

“Well, now you know. I would have to rely on my charm and intelligence, which explains why I am still a spinster,” she jested.

“You would be snapped up in a heartbeat if you ever stopped pushing away potential suitors.”

“Ah, this conversation is all about Andrew.”

He raked a hand through his hair as they stood together in the empty room that had no furniture other than a pianoforte. Chairs would be brought in on a musicale night. Or card tables if they were to have a night of playing cards. “No, I was not thinking of him at all. Forget I asked. I’m sorry, Gwen. It’s just that your eyes are sparkling and you haven’t stopped smiling since arriving here. Seeing you unreservedly happy in this moment… Never mind.”

“Has it made you angry that I am tossing my life away for him?”

He frowned. “Why are you turning all of my comments into something about Andrew Clement?”

But he knew why. She was getting ready to shed him from her life.

Perhaps these were mere baby steps forward, but her actions were telling.

This pleased him, of course. However, he was not going to engage her about it. This leap forward was something she needed to take on her own.

The music room had large doors that opened onto his terrace, and he now motioned toward them. “There’s a nice walk through the garden down to the beach. Would you like to see it now? We’ll picnic on the beach later, but it makes for a pleasant walk and a nice way to end the tour, with a beautiful view.”