to use mine, I thought it only justifiable to call you by yours.”
She tossed her head haughtily. “Presumptuous.”
“Indeed.” He peered at her. “Would you consider me an option?”
“Consider you?”
“For marriage,” he clarified.
“No!” she said quickly.
“Why not?”
“Because you cannot consider me ! Perhaps if I found a man with a lower title I would not feel so...If you marry me, you will be marrying far below your station and you know it. You cannot ignore the fact that I am not a lady.”
“A lady is not always born a lady, Ivy. You have strength in character, the confidence to speak your mind, and an engaging spirit. You are not like other young ladies who were bred into their positions; you are different. But you are still very much a lady.” He smiled. “The Duchess would be quite pleased if we married.”
“You seem to be the only one who enjoys my dissimilarities. I am sure the Duchess feels as though I should hold my tongue and keep my temper hidden. She has shown me nothing but disdain.”
“Perhaps she is trying to teach you a lesson.”
“What do you mean, My Lord?”
“If you do not show how the Duchess’s cool reception effects you, I imagine there will be nothing in society that you cannot overcome.”
“You make a valid point,” she murmured. She had not thought about it that way.
“Do you really have no idea of your own worth? Do not let anyone make you feel inferior, even the Duchess.”
She scoffed. “I do not feel inferior, sir.”
“Cy,” he corrected. “And you do feel inferior, otherwise you would not be spouting this nonsense about not being good enough for me. Women usually see me as nothing more than an uncommonly handsome man with a lofty title—one that could better elevate them closer to the pinnacle of society. For as long as I can remember, a woman has never been concerned about what was best for me. Do you really not care for my title? Could you care for me, as a woman cares for a man?”
She stared at him in dazed amazement. “Your frankness astounds me.”
“So we have already established.” He gazed at her a moment and then asked, “Do you play cards?”
Momentarily taken aback, she replied, “Yes.”
“Good.” He opened a desk drawer and withdrew a brand new deck, and peeled off the duty wrapper. “Have you ever heard of wagering?"
Alarm bells sounded in her head. Mutely, she nodded. She had heard stories of gentlemen and their gambling clubs; full of sorry chaps who lost everything in a series of bad wagers. Desperate men were even known to wager their land.
He began to shuffle the deck. “The idea is that you wager something of importance. That is what makes it interesting…and worth playing. If you were to wager against me, what would it be?”
She thought for a moment before answering. “I want you to find a more deserving woman. A lady of class to be your countess.”
“Strong wager. If I win, you will marry me. That is pretty straight forward, is it not?”
Ivy felt like she was reasoning with a brick wall. “I am the illegitimate daughter of a duke. I was training to be a ballerina in Paris; it will surely cause a scandal when everyone learns of my past. I have nothing to offer you. Will you have that in your bloodline?” she asked, making one last attempt to convince him.
The Earl’s eyes darkened. “It matters not. There are pirates, rogues and robbers in my bloodline already.”
Despite the rather tense situation, she smiled in genuine amusement. “Under different circumstances, I would ask to hear those stories.”
“Another time, I promise.” He held out the deck to her and said, “We will each draw a card. If you get the high card, I will stop pursuing you. If I get the high card, then you will marry me. Aces high, of course, in hope of Napoleon’s future surrender.”
Ivy swallowed, completely ignoring his political witticism.
Dare she let her life hang in the balance over a deck of cards?
She tossed her head haughtily. “Presumptuous.”
“Indeed.” He peered at her. “Would you consider me an option?”
“Consider you?”
“For marriage,” he clarified.
“No!” she said quickly.
“Why not?”
“Because you cannot consider me ! Perhaps if I found a man with a lower title I would not feel so...If you marry me, you will be marrying far below your station and you know it. You cannot ignore the fact that I am not a lady.”
“A lady is not always born a lady, Ivy. You have strength in character, the confidence to speak your mind, and an engaging spirit. You are not like other young ladies who were bred into their positions; you are different. But you are still very much a lady.” He smiled. “The Duchess would be quite pleased if we married.”
“You seem to be the only one who enjoys my dissimilarities. I am sure the Duchess feels as though I should hold my tongue and keep my temper hidden. She has shown me nothing but disdain.”
“Perhaps she is trying to teach you a lesson.”
“What do you mean, My Lord?”
“If you do not show how the Duchess’s cool reception effects you, I imagine there will be nothing in society that you cannot overcome.”
“You make a valid point,” she murmured. She had not thought about it that way.
“Do you really have no idea of your own worth? Do not let anyone make you feel inferior, even the Duchess.”
She scoffed. “I do not feel inferior, sir.”
“Cy,” he corrected. “And you do feel inferior, otherwise you would not be spouting this nonsense about not being good enough for me. Women usually see me as nothing more than an uncommonly handsome man with a lofty title—one that could better elevate them closer to the pinnacle of society. For as long as I can remember, a woman has never been concerned about what was best for me. Do you really not care for my title? Could you care for me, as a woman cares for a man?”
She stared at him in dazed amazement. “Your frankness astounds me.”
“So we have already established.” He gazed at her a moment and then asked, “Do you play cards?”
Momentarily taken aback, she replied, “Yes.”
“Good.” He opened a desk drawer and withdrew a brand new deck, and peeled off the duty wrapper. “Have you ever heard of wagering?"
Alarm bells sounded in her head. Mutely, she nodded. She had heard stories of gentlemen and their gambling clubs; full of sorry chaps who lost everything in a series of bad wagers. Desperate men were even known to wager their land.
He began to shuffle the deck. “The idea is that you wager something of importance. That is what makes it interesting…and worth playing. If you were to wager against me, what would it be?”
She thought for a moment before answering. “I want you to find a more deserving woman. A lady of class to be your countess.”
“Strong wager. If I win, you will marry me. That is pretty straight forward, is it not?”
Ivy felt like she was reasoning with a brick wall. “I am the illegitimate daughter of a duke. I was training to be a ballerina in Paris; it will surely cause a scandal when everyone learns of my past. I have nothing to offer you. Will you have that in your bloodline?” she asked, making one last attempt to convince him.
The Earl’s eyes darkened. “It matters not. There are pirates, rogues and robbers in my bloodline already.”
Despite the rather tense situation, she smiled in genuine amusement. “Under different circumstances, I would ask to hear those stories.”
“Another time, I promise.” He held out the deck to her and said, “We will each draw a card. If you get the high card, I will stop pursuing you. If I get the high card, then you will marry me. Aces high, of course, in hope of Napoleon’s future surrender.”
Ivy swallowed, completely ignoring his political witticism.
Dare she let her life hang in the balance over a deck of cards?
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