reminds me of the multitude of deer I observed during my time in Missouri. I must tell you it is a color that brings a glow to your lovely eyes.”
Anne stared at the road, hardly daring to let herself speak. He was teasing her again, of course, and she had no idea why he found such revolting behavior so amusing. Poor Miss Watson was wilting with shock, her pale skin ashen and her fingers visibly trembling.
“I regret to see,” he went on, “that you choose to cover your stunning hair with a straw bonnet. The lavender and crocuses with which you adorned your hat, however, are an exquisite touch. Your Majesty, you could not look more beautiful.”
She lifted her chin and fixed him with a glare. “And you could not look more like yourself.”
The marquess threw back his head and laughed loudly. “Ah, I am pleased to find your tongue has lost none of its acidity. Did you note my choice of cravat this morning? I selected a fine length of Queen Anne’s lace.”
“How witty,” she returned. “Yet the lace does not belong to you.”
“Do you brand me a thief, Miss Webster?”
Prudence let out a low moan. It was all Anne could do to keep her friend upright. They had left the enclosure of the church and were walking in the lane that led to the main road. Had they turned west, they soon would have entered Tiverton, but they set their direction toward Slocombe House to be in time for the noon meal. In a moment, they would walk onto the road and begin the two-mile journey to the house. As the marquess had left his chaise-and-four at the church, Anne knew his interview could not go on much longer. If only she could keep her wits and forestall Miss Watson’s panic.
“I merely speak the truth,” she told him. “The lace is mine, and a true gentleman would return it to its owner.”
“Unfortunately, I have never been considered a true gentleman,” the marquess replied. “I believe you yourself referred to me as a blackguard.”
“A reputation you only etch more clearly in mind with your unseemly behavior.”
“My reputation is among the least of my concerns, Miss Webster.”
“Mine, on the other hand, concerns me greatly, and if you do not return to your chaise at once, Lord Blackthorne, you may damage it irreparably. I hope you do not believe that your brother’s pursuit of me yesterday in his chamber was in any way encouraged. I have no interest in becoming a momentary fancy for either of the two sons of the Duke of Marston.”
Prudence’s groan could have been heard by anyone passing. To Anne’s dismay, she realized the road was deserted, all the household staff having hurried ahead. The marquess was showing no sign of returning to the churchyard for his transportation.
“Momentary?” he said. “My dear Miss Webster, my proposition to you yesterday was in no way meant to expire at day’s end. If truth be told, you intrigue me more than a little. Where did you come by such pleasant manners?”
“If my manners are seen as pleasant, my lord, you mistake me. I have no pleasant feelings toward you whatsoever.”
Again he chuckled and shook his head. “By George, I have not met anyone I could converse with so easily in years. Certainly never a woman. I wonder who you are, Miss Anne Webster, and how you came to be working as a housemaid at Slocombe.”
“I was engaged by your father, sir, as you very well know.”
“Yet you speak with the words of an educated woman. Your manners are acceptable if not noble, and your wit is delightfully sharp. You do not care for me in the least, and you have not the slightest awe of my rank. In short, you are so refreshing a creature, I have made up my mind to know you better.”
“Upon my word, sir!” Anne bristled. “Such a bold address appalls me.”
“I concede your evident displeasure, Miss Webster,” he told her. “I am deeply wounded, of course.”
She shot him a disparaging glance. “My apologies.”
“Your father is a schoolmaster,” he
Anne stared at the road, hardly daring to let herself speak. He was teasing her again, of course, and she had no idea why he found such revolting behavior so amusing. Poor Miss Watson was wilting with shock, her pale skin ashen and her fingers visibly trembling.
“I regret to see,” he went on, “that you choose to cover your stunning hair with a straw bonnet. The lavender and crocuses with which you adorned your hat, however, are an exquisite touch. Your Majesty, you could not look more beautiful.”
She lifted her chin and fixed him with a glare. “And you could not look more like yourself.”
The marquess threw back his head and laughed loudly. “Ah, I am pleased to find your tongue has lost none of its acidity. Did you note my choice of cravat this morning? I selected a fine length of Queen Anne’s lace.”
“How witty,” she returned. “Yet the lace does not belong to you.”
“Do you brand me a thief, Miss Webster?”
Prudence let out a low moan. It was all Anne could do to keep her friend upright. They had left the enclosure of the church and were walking in the lane that led to the main road. Had they turned west, they soon would have entered Tiverton, but they set their direction toward Slocombe House to be in time for the noon meal. In a moment, they would walk onto the road and begin the two-mile journey to the house. As the marquess had left his chaise-and-four at the church, Anne knew his interview could not go on much longer. If only she could keep her wits and forestall Miss Watson’s panic.
“I merely speak the truth,” she told him. “The lace is mine, and a true gentleman would return it to its owner.”
“Unfortunately, I have never been considered a true gentleman,” the marquess replied. “I believe you yourself referred to me as a blackguard.”
“A reputation you only etch more clearly in mind with your unseemly behavior.”
“My reputation is among the least of my concerns, Miss Webster.”
“Mine, on the other hand, concerns me greatly, and if you do not return to your chaise at once, Lord Blackthorne, you may damage it irreparably. I hope you do not believe that your brother’s pursuit of me yesterday in his chamber was in any way encouraged. I have no interest in becoming a momentary fancy for either of the two sons of the Duke of Marston.”
Prudence’s groan could have been heard by anyone passing. To Anne’s dismay, she realized the road was deserted, all the household staff having hurried ahead. The marquess was showing no sign of returning to the churchyard for his transportation.
“Momentary?” he said. “My dear Miss Webster, my proposition to you yesterday was in no way meant to expire at day’s end. If truth be told, you intrigue me more than a little. Where did you come by such pleasant manners?”
“If my manners are seen as pleasant, my lord, you mistake me. I have no pleasant feelings toward you whatsoever.”
Again he chuckled and shook his head. “By George, I have not met anyone I could converse with so easily in years. Certainly never a woman. I wonder who you are, Miss Anne Webster, and how you came to be working as a housemaid at Slocombe.”
“I was engaged by your father, sir, as you very well know.”
“Yet you speak with the words of an educated woman. Your manners are acceptable if not noble, and your wit is delightfully sharp. You do not care for me in the least, and you have not the slightest awe of my rank. In short, you are so refreshing a creature, I have made up my mind to know you better.”
“Upon my word, sir!” Anne bristled. “Such a bold address appalls me.”
“I concede your evident displeasure, Miss Webster,” he told her. “I am deeply wounded, of course.”
She shot him a disparaging glance. “My apologies.”
“Your father is a schoolmaster,” he
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