and show him exactly what a proper wife could do for him. Gina saw no need for tricks or subterfuge. Once he realized what she had to offer, she was confident that he would come around.
Not long after the removal of his friends, Lady Augusta fulfilled her earlier promise and contrived to bring them together.
“Oh, look, Coventry. What a delightful coincidence, meeting Lady Georgina like this.”
Coventry was hardly fooled. “Yes, what a… uh…” He paused just a hair too long, “Coincidence.”
“Yes, delightful, isn’t it?” Gina said.
Once again she was struck by his attractiveness. The immediate bodily recognition of this fact was the source of considerable annoyance. Gina knew what this man was like, yet the first thing she could think of when he approached was how incredibly handsome he was. The increased rate of her heartbeat didn’t help matters. She told herself that the more she got to know him, and when confronted with his numerous character flaws, the less effect his appearance would have on her illogical pulse. Apparently two meetings were not enough to dispel the novelty of his undeniable masculine appeal.
He wore what she was beginning to suspect was his usual evening attire of dark pants, a dark cutaway coat and plain waistcoat, though this time the pants were breeches and the fabric silk, befitting the more elegant affair. He still had that slightly disheveled, but not messy, look. One welcome difference this go-around was the absence of the strong smell of port. He didn’t appear to be foxed. Yet.
Lady Augusta renewed the introductions. “Lady Georgina, you remember my brother?”
“Of course. Another unexpected pleasure, Lord Coventry.”
“Lady Georgina.” He bowed. “Hardly unexpected. I believe I mentioned last time that I’ve agreed to escort Lady Augusta for the season.”
Gina smiled in the face of his rudeness. “I must have forgotten, as I thought an escort was supposed to arrive with the party he has agreed to escort?”
Lady Augusta smothered a giggle.
Not the least bit embarrassed, Coventry merely smiled. But the smile did not reach his eyes. He seemed to have perfected the appearance of bored indifference. But on closer inspection, Gina realized it was not simply bored indifference; there was something truly cold about Lord Coventry.
“Coventry is always late,” Lady Augusta volunteered. “No one to keep him in line, you know.”
Subtlety was obviously not Lady Augusta’s strong suit. “Is that so?” Gina asked, taking the bait. “Perhaps you could use a wife to help with your punctuality?”
He crooked a brow. “Why, Lady Georgina,” he mocked. “Are you volunteering for the position?”
Their eyes met. It was like staring into marble. The hardness sent a chill through her. She’d seen statues at the British Museum that had more emotion in them. Despite her unease she held his gaze, not backing down for an instant.
“Why, Lord Coventry,” she mimicked in the same mocking tone. “Are you asking?”
Coventry knew precisely what a leg of mutton felt like at a butcher shop. Lady Georgina Beauclerk had set her wolfish teeth in him and did not show the least inclination to let go. Apparently the silly chit had taken it into her head to rescue him from the perceived purgatory of bachelordom. Why is it that every young lady thought every bachelor naturally desired a wife?
Though he’d had his share of handling lovesick debutantes, Coventry realized that Lady Georgina would not discourage so easily. Her bold retort had even surprised him. Perhaps it was her age at work. Surely she must be approaching twenty. Marital desperation, he supposed, could cure a girl of any false modesty.
Clearly, the bored reprobate angle wasn’t working. Before this went any further, he needed to get tough. He didn’t want there to be any doubt, he was definitely not interested in succumbing to the “bliss” of the marital state ever again.
Lady Georgina turned
Not long after the removal of his friends, Lady Augusta fulfilled her earlier promise and contrived to bring them together.
“Oh, look, Coventry. What a delightful coincidence, meeting Lady Georgina like this.”
Coventry was hardly fooled. “Yes, what a… uh…” He paused just a hair too long, “Coincidence.”
“Yes, delightful, isn’t it?” Gina said.
Once again she was struck by his attractiveness. The immediate bodily recognition of this fact was the source of considerable annoyance. Gina knew what this man was like, yet the first thing she could think of when he approached was how incredibly handsome he was. The increased rate of her heartbeat didn’t help matters. She told herself that the more she got to know him, and when confronted with his numerous character flaws, the less effect his appearance would have on her illogical pulse. Apparently two meetings were not enough to dispel the novelty of his undeniable masculine appeal.
He wore what she was beginning to suspect was his usual evening attire of dark pants, a dark cutaway coat and plain waistcoat, though this time the pants were breeches and the fabric silk, befitting the more elegant affair. He still had that slightly disheveled, but not messy, look. One welcome difference this go-around was the absence of the strong smell of port. He didn’t appear to be foxed. Yet.
Lady Augusta renewed the introductions. “Lady Georgina, you remember my brother?”
“Of course. Another unexpected pleasure, Lord Coventry.”
“Lady Georgina.” He bowed. “Hardly unexpected. I believe I mentioned last time that I’ve agreed to escort Lady Augusta for the season.”
Gina smiled in the face of his rudeness. “I must have forgotten, as I thought an escort was supposed to arrive with the party he has agreed to escort?”
Lady Augusta smothered a giggle.
Not the least bit embarrassed, Coventry merely smiled. But the smile did not reach his eyes. He seemed to have perfected the appearance of bored indifference. But on closer inspection, Gina realized it was not simply bored indifference; there was something truly cold about Lord Coventry.
“Coventry is always late,” Lady Augusta volunteered. “No one to keep him in line, you know.”
Subtlety was obviously not Lady Augusta’s strong suit. “Is that so?” Gina asked, taking the bait. “Perhaps you could use a wife to help with your punctuality?”
He crooked a brow. “Why, Lady Georgina,” he mocked. “Are you volunteering for the position?”
Their eyes met. It was like staring into marble. The hardness sent a chill through her. She’d seen statues at the British Museum that had more emotion in them. Despite her unease she held his gaze, not backing down for an instant.
“Why, Lord Coventry,” she mimicked in the same mocking tone. “Are you asking?”
Coventry knew precisely what a leg of mutton felt like at a butcher shop. Lady Georgina Beauclerk had set her wolfish teeth in him and did not show the least inclination to let go. Apparently the silly chit had taken it into her head to rescue him from the perceived purgatory of bachelordom. Why is it that every young lady thought every bachelor naturally desired a wife?
Though he’d had his share of handling lovesick debutantes, Coventry realized that Lady Georgina would not discourage so easily. Her bold retort had even surprised him. Perhaps it was her age at work. Surely she must be approaching twenty. Marital desperation, he supposed, could cure a girl of any false modesty.
Clearly, the bored reprobate angle wasn’t working. Before this went any further, he needed to get tough. He didn’t want there to be any doubt, he was definitely not interested in succumbing to the “bliss” of the marital state ever again.
Lady Georgina turned
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