Page 21 of The Danger of Desire
“Ah.” He would swear the baroness believed what she was saying, which meant she didn’t know about Miss Trevor’s activities. A useful bit of information, though not a great surprise. “You must tell her I’m sorry to have missed her.”
But he meant to take full advantage of having the aunt to himself to learn whatever he could about Miss Trevor’s true situation. He began to think it was quite different from what either Miss Trevor or Clarissa had described.
“I have told Delia many a time not to overexert herself at these things, but she simply will not listen.”
“Rather like her cat,” he said.
“Precisely.”
As if it knew they were talking about it, the puss crept from under the settee and strolled over to wind itself about his trousers.
“Flossie, stop that this minute!” Lady Pensworth snapped her fingers. “I swear I will have you banished to the garden, neighbor dogs or no!”
“No need for that.” He picked up Flossie, then took a seat on the settee and began to scratch her behind the ears. She purred and nuzzled his fingers. “My mother had three tabbies and a tortoiseshell, so I don’t mind cats in the least. They generally seek me out, as a matter of fact.”
Perhaps they recognized that he was as nocturnal as they. His mother’s old tomcat had often kept him company at the estate. Thank God, because he detested nights in the country if there were no houseguests. Lindenwood Castle was too dark, too quiet. Too full of troubling memories.
“Especially the female ones, I’m sure,” she said archly. “From what I understand, females of all species generally seek you out.”
“My reputation precedes me, I see,” he said with a thin smile. Obviously he would not be leaving here with any lemon drops.
“Oh yes. Let’s just say that your mother wouldn’t have approved of your late-evening jaunts.”
“I doubt many mothers approve of their son’s ‘late-evening jaunts’ in town, but mine most certainly would not have.”
She must have noticed the strain in his voice, for she sighed. “Yes, well, she did change quite a bit after those Methodists got hold of her. It was impossible to speak to her anymore without getting an earful of religion.”
The last person he wanted to discuss was his intensely devout mother. “Indeed. You were saying, about your niece and how she does not listen to your advice...”
“May I be frank, sir?”
“I was under the impression that you already were,” he said dryly. “But go ahead and see if you can exceed your efforts so far.”
She looked as if she fought a smile. “Very well, then. I noticed how much time you spent with my niece at the breakfast. It was more than she generally allows most gentlemen. She’s rather impatient with them, I’m afraid.”
He acted on a hunch. “Because of her suitor back home, you mean.”
“What suitor?” She paled. “She has no suitors back home.”
“She mentioned a rich farmer by the name of Phineas Owenouse.”
A frown beetled her brow. “I have no idea who that is. And I’ve never heard of any Owenouses in the village. Sounds suspiciously foreign to me.”
“He’s Welsh.”
“As I said, foreign. And entirely unacceptable as a suitor to a woman with her connections and fortune.” She cocked her head. “You do know she has a small fortune, don’t you?”
That put him on his guard. “I’m not sure what that has to do with me.”
“I assume that you’re here because you’re looking for a wife. You do not, as a general rule, pay calls on eligible young ladies.” Her voice turned steely. “Unless, of course, your intentions aren’t honorable.”
He stifled an oath. “I assure you, madam, that if Iwereto pursue your niece, it would only be for the most honorable of reasons. And since we’re being frank, you should know that her fortune, small or otherwise, is immaterial to me. I have no need of it.”
“Don’t be silly. Fortunes are always useful, even to a man like you. But does this mean youareinterested in my niece?”
“I’m interested in being her friend.”
“I do hope ‘friend’ is not a salacious euphemism you bucks are using these days to mean women you hope to entice into your bed.”
