Page 11 of A Duchess Bound
“Regrettably, no.” Gerard paused. “Perhapsregrettablyis not the right word.”
“Oh?”
“When I asked to dance with Lady Bridget, her sister intervened and insisted that I was a notorious rake.”
“And water is wet,” Pontoun said dryly.
“Most ladies are courteous enough not to make such observations to my face,” Gerard said.
“Most ladies have too much at stake to say what they think.”
Gerard frowned and cast his friend a searching look. “What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Most young ladies are forced to marry to survive,” Pontoun said, “so they are forced to be dishonest. They must be tactful and careful with everything that they say, but Lady Dorothy’s brother is indulgent. He has not asked her to wed and has made it apparent that his sister need never marry if she does not wish to do so.”
“So he has.”
“So Lady Dorothy does not have to hold her tongue for fear of remaining a spinster. That is what shewants.”
“I suppose you are right.”
Gerard sat back in his chair, thinking. When Pontoun said it like that, Gerard realized that it was allsovery obvious. He had not really considered the reasons for Lady Dorothy’s actions.
“That does not make her any less interesting,” Gerard said.
“You keep using that word.Interesting.”
“What of it?”
“That is not usually how you refer to your companions.”
Gerard sighed. “It is the word that describes her the best. She is beautiful, of course, but most ladies are. She is quick-witted, but most ladies are. But there is…” he trailed off. “She actually slapped me.”
Pontoun laughed. “Other ladies have slapped you, too.”
“Once or twice.” Gerard downed the rest of his glass, enjoying the burn of the brandy down his throat. “But there is something about Lady Dorothy that evokes particularly strong emotions from me. I am unsure what, precisely, that is.”
Pontoun sighed in exasperation. “You have said that about every woman you have ever fancied.”
“Have I?”
“Yes,” Pontoun said. “Is your thesis that all women are unique, and you want to enjoy all their charms?”
“You say that as if it is some terrible flaw.”
“Some of us want the promises and commitment.”
“Somebeing the important word,” Gerard said. “But I do not love her. She is just interesting. Maybe it is as you said; I have never been involved with a woman who has nothing to lose.”
Pontoun nodded slowly. “I suppose I can see the allure. Did she also find you interesting?”
Gerard thought of how she had reacted when he grasped her wrist and covered her mouth. The memory of her soft body, practically melting against his own, burned like firelight inside his mind.
“I think she did. The question is if she will continue to find me interesting.”
“I do not believe anyone could find you boring,” Pontoun offered. “But I imagine that you do not merely meaninteresting.”
“I do not,” Gerard conceded.
