Page 40 of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
“Gina,” she interrupted, no doubt wanting to remind him that their relationship had moved beyond the formal, that they were in a courtship where things could be a bit less proper between them. Only they weren’t in a courtship. She just didn’t know it yet. Perhaps he should have waited until he’d returned her to her residence but up here everything seemed less stark.
“Gina.” Where to go from there? He was unaccustomed to struggling to find the correct words when he was with a lady. But then he’d never been dishonest before. He hated himself at that moment. “You are a lovely girl.” He should simply tell her that he was a cad. “Pretty, charming... amiable... delightful... witty... funny...”What else?
“Are you going to list every adjective in your vocabulary?”
If need be to soften the blow. “I want you to understand, to know, I find you remarkable.”
“But we do not suit.”
The air rushed out of him. She stated it as fact, without even a modicum of disappointment reflected in her tone. “You mustn’t take it personally.”
“Oh, I don’t. Not at all. I’m thrilled you’re drawn to Tillie.”
If he were standing where she was, he might have fallen over the ledge and onto the floor below. “I beg your pardon?”
With a laugh, she pointed at her face with her middle and forefinger. “I have eyes, my lord. And they work rather well. It was quite obvious that day in the park you were far more interested in Tillie than you were in me. To be quite honest, I was rather relieved as I knew when we were introduced that your courtship would lead nowhere.”
He stared at her. No woman had ever rejected him. No woman had ever failed to be attracted to him. “I don’t understand. I’m not an ogre. I’m titled. One day I’ll be a duke. My coffers overflow. I—”
“You come with some wonderful traits, my lord, but you don’t make my heart sing.” She smiled brightly. “But it is funny you’re striving to convince me now that I should want you when you’re trying to tell me you don’t want me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want you. It’s that—”
“You want Tillie.”
He cleared his throat. “I might have an interest in your sister but... what are your objections to me?”
“For one thing, you are so old. You must be at least a decade older than I.”
She had a point. Had he not possessed a similar thought when he met her? “What gave away my interest in your sister?”
“The way you look at her. The heat in your eyes. My God, on more than one occasion, I thought you might burst into flames.” She gave him a gamine smile. “I am not as ignorant or uninformed in the ways of men as Tillie would believe.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Yet you continued to accept my invitations.”
She nodded quickly. “Yes, so you could spend time in her company. That is why you asked me, isn’t it? Although I don’t quite understand why you continued to pretend to be courting me once you met her. I suppose because Society doesn’t accept her. You can still pretend to court me if you like.”
How exceedingly generous of her. Moving forward, he leaned down, folded his arms over the railing, and gazed out. “That would be unfair to you. You may have caught the eye of a few gents over the course of our time together.”
“But Tillie is so lonely, so miserable here.” She moaned softly. “I suppose my marrying is the kindest thing I can do for her.”
Then England would be rid of her. He’d be rid of her. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see the seriousness in Gina’s expression. “She wouldn’t want you to fall on your sword for her.”
He knew that. Unequivocally. She would not have others make sacrifices for her. Strange how he found himself contemplating everything he might be willing to give up for her. As though he had any hope of her returning his interest after what he’d done.
She gave a wistful sigh. “Sometimes things are so complicated. I didn’t notice people glaring at her, but I suppose some were. I suppose that’s why she sought solace away from the main salon.”
Where these two sisters were concerned, he seemed to be taking all sorts of missteps. “Actually, her bodice got torn.”
Her head gave a little bob as though the words were foreign to her. “How the devil did that happen? A hem I can understand, but a bodice?”
“Lord Evanston managed to corner her and take some liberties. I was able to stop him before things went too far.” Although they’d gone further than they should have. The man never should have touched her.
“The beast!” She slammed her fist into his shoulder. What was it with these American women smacking men about? “Why didn’t you tell me immediately?”
“She’s unharmed—”
“She’s not, and you’re a dunderhead if you think any woman would be after having her gown torn by any man at all. Take me to her at once.”
