Page 105 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

His head jerked back at her statement, not that she cursed—although truth be told, he hadn’t expected such language from the high-and-mighty Lady Charlotte—but it was a ridiculous reason to dislike him.

“You dislike me because I’m . . . likable?” Incredulity rang in his tone. “Why?”

Smiles and laughter vanished. When she turned and met his gaze, the pain in her eyes slashed through him. “Because you are what I am not.”

CHAPTER 28

Gah!Charlotte berated herself. Why on earth had she allowed that admission to slip out? Simon’s confession must have made her soft.

He blinked. “You’re . . . jealous of me?”

“Of course not.” She snapped her response much too quickly. “I simply don’t trust people whom everyone likes.”

His upturned lips indicated he didn’t believe a word of her lie. “You like Honoria, don’t you?”

“Of course. But that’s different.”

“How? Everyone adores her.” He met her gaze. “As they should. She’s a marvel. Drake is one lucky bas—man.”

“Because Honoria is a woman and has proven her trustworthiness.”

“And Anne Weatherby? She’s so much like me it’s frightening.” He laughed to punctuate his point.

“I tolerate Anne for Honoria’s sake. But despite her silliness, she’s not a bad person.”

His eyes widened, and he snapped the ribbons a little more aggressively. “And I am?”

Bloodwhooshedin her ears. How could he aggravate her so easily? “Stop putting words in my mouth! What I mean is, men have ulterior motives underlying theircharms.” She held onto her bonnet. “And please slow down! My tarts will be nothing but crumbs and jam the way you drive.”

“Ulterior motives such as?”

“You’re a man, you should know.”

“Plenty of women have ulterior motives. Leg-shackling a poor unsuspecting fellow being foremost among them.”

She twisted on the seat toward him. “Are you accusing me of trapping you? Because if you are?—”

“Why do you think the only reason I married you was because Ihadto?”

She huffed. “Because it’s true.”

“No.” He shook his head as if to emphasize it. “I could have sent you back with your brother and Lord Felix, which—if I need to remind you—they wanted. And you could have refused my offer.”

Reluctant to admit he had a point, she crossed her arms over her bosom.

He snapped the ribbons again. “I married you because I wanted to. Because, as strange as it sounds, it made sense. And if you would only use that sharp mind of yours, you would agree with me.”

He wanted to marry her? Certain her mouth hung open, she asked, “You think I have a sharp mind?”

He darted another glance her way. “Everything I said, andthat’swhat you homed in on?” He rolled his eyes. “Of course you have a sharp mind. Don’t fish for compliments. It’s not attractive.”

“I wasn’t fishing.” The man was insufferable! “I’m simply surprised you have any good opinion of me.”

“I don’t know why you think you’re unlovable, Charlotte.”

If anything, Charlotte was a realist. Strong-willed, opinionated, harsh, and even abrasive, she failed to meet the submissive standard for women. But traits society saw as flaws had been her protection—her armor, such as it was, keeping people who could harm her at arm’s length. Her father, and subsequently her brother Roland, had groused about the fact that she intimidated suitors, sending them scurrying for the safety of the nearest eye-fluttering miss.

They were not wrong. And she had successfully slipped from the jaws of marriage numerous times. Until Simon Beckham.

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