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“As a wet cat,” she confirmed.
His gaze made her feel edgy. Desire and laughter flickered in his eyes. “As a March hare,” she added firmly. “Better if we forget what you just said because—in case you’ve forgotten—you are betrothed to my cousin Fulvia.”
Lord Peregrine shook his head. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” she retorted.
Joe chattered at her, wanting attention, so she caressed his angular little head with one finger, all the while keeping her eyes on Lord Peregrine. She felt as if she’d walked into a fairy tale, one in which the prince goes mad and chases a woman around the kingdom waving a shoe.
Amusement shone in his eyes, which sent a stab of fury down her legs. “Do you have any idea how important Fulvia’s engagement is to my family?” she snapped. “Your betrothal is not a jest for your amusement.”
His eyes went blank. “I agree.”
“My uncle is not a provident man. We have staked everything on your proposal of marriage. Why do you think that I was fitted for a ballgown in a costume emporium, rather than by a French modiste?”
“I understand.”
“Every extra ha’penny is going toward Fulvia’s ball, which is designed to convince you that she will be an excellent consort.”
“ ‘Consort?’ I am no monarch.”
“You might as well be to a family that has lived in the country most of our lives as life in London is far too expensive to even contemplate.”
“I have made no promise to marry your cousin.” His voice rasped.
“You have, in so many words,” Ella insisted. “My aunt and uncle are depending on you.”
“Generally speaking, a bride brings a dowry to her husband,” Lord Peregrine pointed out, straightening up and taking a step toward her
“Please tell me you didn’t believe my uncle’s promise of a dowry.” Ella felt her stomach bubbling with something that might be excitement or nerves, as he came closer still. “He said that you promised to make a settlement.”
“Your uncle is a rogue, at best.”
She nodded calmly. “An unfortunate truth.”
“I want to marry you, not Fulvia.”
“Don’t be silly. I have nothing.”
Joe complained again, and she turned her head to kiss him. “Except for a squirrel.” Realizing that Starlight had woken up and was now winding her way around Lord Peregrine’s feet, she added, “And a cat.”
He glanced down at the kitty and then back at her. “As your uncle knew, I don’t need a dowry. What I do need, very unexpectedly and completely without forethought, is you.”
Lord Peregrine took a final step that put him a hair’s breadth away from her. Starlight stalked away, albeit with a three-legged tilt, disgusted by being ignored.
“Was that a proposal?” she enquired. “If so, my answer is no.”
Humor lurked in the curve of his mouth. “I see. Perhaps I can persuade you at another time. Do you think that Joe will allow me to hold him?”
Ella took a deep breath. “We’ll pretend this never happened,” she instructed him, stepping away. She lifted Joe into her cupped hand. “I’m not sure he’ll go to you. He’s only known—”
Her voice broke off. Joe had leapt straight onto Lord Peregrine’s large hand. The squirrel cocked his head and purred.
Lord Peregrine met Ella’s eyes. “He’s warning me, isn’t he?”
“How did you know that?” Ella asked. “I thought at first purring meant he was happy, but he only seems to purr when he’s warning of danger.”
“Joe reminds me of you,” his lordship said.
