Page 12 of Romanced By the Orc

“Are you inclined to marry? To marry at all, I mean.”

“No one has ever done me the courtesy of asking as much. Odd that. My family assumes I will wed. Society believes young women wish for nothing else.”

“An astute observation, but not a response.”

The earnestness in his amber eyes compelled her to continue. “In truth, I never thought I would marry. I’m not sure my temperament allows for it. Do you find that extraordinary for a lady of two and twenty?”

“Matters considered extraordinary in London are anything but in the Hidden Realm. While I enjoy the many pleasures of this city and the company of its citizens, your land lacks equality of the sexes. It is most troubling.”

“Equality?” She couldn’t recall hearing the word before in relation to affairs between gentlemen and ladies. “How so?”

“In the Hidden Realm, women partake in business and governance as men’s equals. They choose to partner or not with no shame in either decision.”

“Such talk makes me long to visit your homeland, circumstances permitting. Were it not for my sister, I would repair to parts elsewhere at once. We sometimes drive each other to our wits’ ends, but I don’t feel quite myself when we’re apart.”

“I understand the complicated relationship between siblings all too well. And my brother would venture to say that your verydesire to leave the city puts you on a higher plane than most Londoners.”

“Have you the same low opinion of the English?”

“Not in the slightest. I find it unjust to judge an entire people as one. Everyone deserves the presumption of honor until they demonstrate otherwise by word or deed.”

“How astoundingly generous,” she mused. “I must disagree. I’ve found the opposite true. I tread lightly around others until their words or deeds show me I can trust them.”

“NowthatI find astounding. And sad, if I may be so bold.”

“It is but the truth. I am happy that you have not yet discovered as much.”

“Have you no acquaintances you admire? None who you suspect you might trust under the right circumstance?”

“As in a woman’s intuition?”

“I hope intuition is not limited to women, but something along those lines, yes.”

She touched a loose strand of hair slipping from the updo she’d hastily pinned before leaving the townhouse. “I have not had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, but I own an inclination to trust the gentleman we spoke of the other night. The Benevolent Phantom.”

At that, Albion gave a sprightly laugh. “You would know him on sight? And trust him?”

“His reputation warrants trust.” She tipped her spoon in Albion’s direction. Broth from her soup dribbled on the tabletop, and she hastily dabbed at it with a serviette.

Albion tilted his enormous head winningly, a lock of tousled raven hair falling over his broad forehead. “You sound besotted with the fellow.”

“Fascinated, I’ll allow. Were I to fall in love? Well, it would be with someone like the Phantom of Chamberly.”

“Blazes!” Albion said. “Pardon my oath, but it is just as I suspected. This scoundrel romances the ladies of London from afar. He has stolen your heart.”

“I am not so foolish as to give my heart to a ghost. Still, I would consider it a great privilege to share all due approbations.”

“There you have it. We mere mortals can’t compete.”

“You have no one to blame but yourself. After writing an ode to this Phantom.”

“Right. You’ve the best of me there.”

For a few minutes, they sat in companionable silence. Diana took advantage of the pause in the conversation to make further progress with her soup while Albion focused on his tankard. The pinch between his thick eyebrows suggested he was lost in thought.

Then he leaned forward and parted his lips, emitting a barely perceptible growl. An unfamiliar warmth blossomed in Diana’s chest. Albion held her gaze and cleared his throat. His voice restored to its richest pitch, its thunder leaving her to want nothing more than the privilege of listening.

“Suppose one were to view nuptials from a strictly pragmatical perspective.”

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