Page 35 of In Compromise with the Earl
“She is nothing like Claire,” Oswald said, his words coming out harsher than he had expected. Tempering the emotion in his chest, he added, “She is not one to play the convoluted games my late wife delighted in playing against me.”
“How can you be so sure?” Leo asked. “You’ve been in her company for less than a week. It takes time to fetter out someone’s character, Oswald. I know you have learned the lesson the hard way—wolves do wear sheep clothing.”
The horrible reminder sunk deeply into Oswald’s soul, but while Leo had a point, he felt that Aphrodite was the very opposite of his deceptive late wife. “I know, but I would like you and Mother to understand that I have a sense of judgment, a very cynical one now. Be assured, I have no intention of being blinded by anything anymore.”
“But why this connection with Lady Aphrodite?”
“Believe it or not,” Oswald said, “she’s been hurt too.”
* * *
“I’m honored you’ve allowed this time with me,” Jameson said as he helped Aphrodite into his monogrammed, black-lacquered carriage. “We do need an intimate conversation.”
Stepping into the vehicle, dressed in a flounced carriage dress of deep blue, which complimented her flaxen-gold curls and blue eyes, Aphrodite nodded. “I suppose you mean a private conversation, nothing intimate will happen here.”
The Duke’s face darkened. “And with the pointed discussion with our esteemed hostess, I will not be making that mistake again.”
Smoothing her skirts, Aphrodite added, “Be assured, I would not have tolerated it, even without Lord Tennesley’s interruption.”
The reminder of the Earl’s appearance made Jameson’s face sour. “I despise that man. Why does he have to come between us at every turn?” Aphrodite’s eyes sharpened. “You say as if there was something connecting us.”
He grasped her gloved hand. “If I get my way, there will be, and it will not be a pretend courtship.”
“While I do honor you stating your position there will not be a courtship between us,” Aphrodite stated. “A courtship is entered into when two people are attracted to one another,” she explained as though speaking to a child. “I have no attraction to you.”
“Why?”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you the roué they say you are?”
“No,” Jameson said earnestly.
“Liar,” Aphrodite replied. “What about Lady Tomlinson? Why did she have to suddenly disappear from half of last season’s activities after a gala at your manor, hm?”
“I cannot say,” Jameson shrugged. “Whatever mayhem she’s found herself in has nothing to do with me.”
“And Lady Eyre?” Aphrodite pressed. “She was not so tight-lipped and told another about your…acts.”
This time, the Duke smirked. “It’s not a sin to have carnal appetite, dear Aphrodite. You should take lessons from your namesake and try to enjoy the pleasures your body can give you.”
“And corrupt myself so the wholetoncan gossip to the end of my days, that I am exactly like my father?” Aphrodite tucked a brow up. “No thank you.”
“Courtships are entered into for all manner of reasons.” Jameson leaned back in his seat. “With the same end result in mind.”
Her cheeks flushed at the hint of having children and Aphrodite hated the way he devoured the look of the warmness working its way up from her cheeks to her ears. “Are you in collusion with my father?” she demanded. “What did he promise you upon winning my hand?”
“I have not said a word to your sire,” Jameson said. “I came here because the birds and bees held it that you would be here.”
“The birds and bees, eh? I don’t want to marry you.” She held his gaze. “I’m too much of a hoyden, and as I stated, I do not feel a speck of attraction toward you.”
“Don’t worry, I have enough attraction for both of us and you’re wrong on the previous statement,” he grinned. “You being a hoyden isexactlywhy I want to wed you. I’ve had my fill of prim women who turn their noses up at the mere idea of getting their hands dirty.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m a change of pace for you?”
“Some things never change. Don’t try to deny it. You may have fooled thetonwith your bookish ways and hoyden airs, but I know you. You want this relationship between you and me.”
Astonished that the Duke would assume such a thing, she replied, “No, I do not.”
“You’re just like the rest,” Jameson waved. “Playing the coy game to put me off but I know the signs. You don’t have anything to tell me. You just wanted an adventure. You wanted me to kiss you last night but you resisted because it could only be a kiss. You wanted more than that—I saw it in your eyes.”
