granted you leave to use my given name.” The primness of her tone was at complete odds with the fiery blue sizzle of her eyes. “You should have let your presence be known.”
“Pray tell, what would have been a good time? In between ‘I adore you’ and ‘I worship you’?”
If anything, the heat in her eyes flared hotter. Indeed, Justin decided, she was being remarkably restrained. Where was the explosion he’d expected?
He continued. “Obviously, though, he is not aware of our previous association or he wouldn’t have thought you were in love with me.”
Levelly she regarded him. “You wretch,” she said evenly.
“Oh, but I do believe it’s I who should be offended. You did not speak highly of me. However, I am compelled to inform you — that bit about half a dozen mistresses is greatly exaggerated.” He shrugged. “Not that I wouldn’t have liked to, I admit. But funds precluded it, I fear.”
Her chin came up. “You have no decency whatsoever, do you? What kind of man would say such a thing to a lady?”
Justin knew full well she had a temper to match the fire of her hair. It occurred to him he was baiting her — and enjoying it immensely.
“Come, now, Arabella. You gave an admirable performance of a concerned, compassionate woman. I must commend you. Why, you should have been on the stage.”
His efforts began to see fruition. She was growing agitated.
“Do you think I enjoyed that?” she flared.
“Didn’t you?”
Her chin came up. “I am not like you,” she stated coolly. “I am sensitive to his feelings.”
“Then why don’t you marry him?” He didn’t give her the chance to answer. “Ah, yes. Because you intend to marry only for love.”
She sent him an arch look. “Is that so hard to believe?”
Justin shrugged.
“I’ve heard it said that your brother married for love,” she reminded him.
“But he didn’t intend to. He set out in search of a bride who would fit his requisites for a wife. He was simply lucky enough to find love in the process.” Again he gave her no chance to respond. “But we stray from the subject. What I find difficult to believe is that you are capable of that tender emotion.”
Her lips clamped shut. She was practically spitting, just itching to launch into a tirade.
Admittedly, he found the prospect rather intriguing.
He tipped his head to the side. “What are you thinking, Arabella?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Believe me,” she stated with forced politeness, “you do not wish to know.”
“And if I said I did?”
“Grass before dawn,” she said between her teeth. “Does that give you a hint?”
“A duel,” he drawled. “How delicious. Oh, but I should have known you’d be contemplating ways to attack.”
And indeed, he decided with wry amusement, her glare left him in no doubt she was contemplating the possibility. If she were a predator, he’d be gnawed to the bone.
“Forgive me, but did you not just claim to be a tenderhearted woman? My, but you certainly pulled the wool over Walter’s eyes, didn’t you?”
“My God,” she gritted out, “if I had a pistol, I do believe I would shoot you on the spot!”
“Ah. Clearly my charm is utterly lost on you.”
“You have no charm.”
“Arabella!” He affected shock. “What a thing to say to a gentleman!”
“You, sir, are no gentleman!”
Ye gads, but she was a hoyden! As impetuous and strong-willed as ever, he suspected. And yet their encounter last night and tonight provided him the most entertainment he’d enjoyed in quite some time. He was enjoying her wit and their sparring — never mind that foolish, careless bet with Gideon. In the back of his mind, he made note to mention it the next time he saw him…
It was odd, but he felt suddenly buoyant. Alive as he hadn’t in longer than he could remember.
“It’s a good thing you declined poor Walter,” he said smoothly. “It’s clear he’s simply not up to the rapier slice of your tongue. But I
“Pray tell, what would have been a good time? In between ‘I adore you’ and ‘I worship you’?”
If anything, the heat in her eyes flared hotter. Indeed, Justin decided, she was being remarkably restrained. Where was the explosion he’d expected?
He continued. “Obviously, though, he is not aware of our previous association or he wouldn’t have thought you were in love with me.”
Levelly she regarded him. “You wretch,” she said evenly.
“Oh, but I do believe it’s I who should be offended. You did not speak highly of me. However, I am compelled to inform you — that bit about half a dozen mistresses is greatly exaggerated.” He shrugged. “Not that I wouldn’t have liked to, I admit. But funds precluded it, I fear.”
Her chin came up. “You have no decency whatsoever, do you? What kind of man would say such a thing to a lady?”
Justin knew full well she had a temper to match the fire of her hair. It occurred to him he was baiting her — and enjoying it immensely.
“Come, now, Arabella. You gave an admirable performance of a concerned, compassionate woman. I must commend you. Why, you should have been on the stage.”
His efforts began to see fruition. She was growing agitated.
“Do you think I enjoyed that?” she flared.
“Didn’t you?”
Her chin came up. “I am not like you,” she stated coolly. “I am sensitive to his feelings.”
“Then why don’t you marry him?” He didn’t give her the chance to answer. “Ah, yes. Because you intend to marry only for love.”
She sent him an arch look. “Is that so hard to believe?”
Justin shrugged.
“I’ve heard it said that your brother married for love,” she reminded him.
“But he didn’t intend to. He set out in search of a bride who would fit his requisites for a wife. He was simply lucky enough to find love in the process.” Again he gave her no chance to respond. “But we stray from the subject. What I find difficult to believe is that you are capable of that tender emotion.”
Her lips clamped shut. She was practically spitting, just itching to launch into a tirade.
Admittedly, he found the prospect rather intriguing.
He tipped his head to the side. “What are you thinking, Arabella?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Believe me,” she stated with forced politeness, “you do not wish to know.”
“And if I said I did?”
“Grass before dawn,” she said between her teeth. “Does that give you a hint?”
“A duel,” he drawled. “How delicious. Oh, but I should have known you’d be contemplating ways to attack.”
And indeed, he decided with wry amusement, her glare left him in no doubt she was contemplating the possibility. If she were a predator, he’d be gnawed to the bone.
“Forgive me, but did you not just claim to be a tenderhearted woman? My, but you certainly pulled the wool over Walter’s eyes, didn’t you?”
“My God,” she gritted out, “if I had a pistol, I do believe I would shoot you on the spot!”
“Ah. Clearly my charm is utterly lost on you.”
“You have no charm.”
“Arabella!” He affected shock. “What a thing to say to a gentleman!”
“You, sir, are no gentleman!”
Ye gads, but she was a hoyden! As impetuous and strong-willed as ever, he suspected. And yet their encounter last night and tonight provided him the most entertainment he’d enjoyed in quite some time. He was enjoying her wit and their sparring — never mind that foolish, careless bet with Gideon. In the back of his mind, he made note to mention it the next time he saw him…
It was odd, but he felt suddenly buoyant. Alive as he hadn’t in longer than he could remember.
“It’s a good thing you declined poor Walter,” he said smoothly. “It’s clear he’s simply not up to the rapier slice of your tongue. But I
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