Excerpt from To Love a Marquis
A slow smile transformed his face. She sucked in her breath. However, a touch of discomfort wedged its way into her pleasure at the sight. There was more than simple happiness in his expression. Triumph, perhaps? She didn’t like the idea of working with a man who had to be the victor of each situation, but she had no choice if she wanted to remain here.
“That was exactly what I wanted to hear.”
She nodded, ready to move past the mundane business. “I’m glad to hear that. Now, tell me why you have failed in your quest for a wife thus far.”
“Failed?” His voice rose a few degrees, and she cringed.
“Forgive me. Perhaps that wasn’t the correct word. As I’m sure Lady Constance has told you, I’m new to the business of coaching. If you would prefer someone else--”
“No,” he shot back. “I suppose this shall be a new experience for both of us. Now, the answer to your question is not a simple one. You see, I don’t know. Honestly, I can’t even say if the problem is with me.”
“I see.”
Fighting the temptation to smile proved harder than she imagined. Of course, he wouldn’t believe the problem resided with himself. He was a typical lord who expected women to fall at his feet. She took in his face, the well-tailored cut of his suit, and the outline of his muscular body within it. She could see why he thought that.
When her eyes traveled back to his face, she blushed at his knowing expression. Her inexperience with men would prove to be a problem. Apparently, they missed nothing. She cleared her throat. This opportunity with Lord Harken wouldn’t be as easy as she’d hoped, but she intended to learn everything she could from it.
“Perhaps you will be able to help me discern where the problem lies. Tell me, why does a lady refuse a perfectly good offer of marriage?”
Miranda stared at him, dumbfounded. A woman had refused his suit? She couldn’t fathom it. Realizing he must have some serious flaws, she lightly shook her head. This was proving to be more difficult as time went on.
“I have no answer for you now, my lord. However, if you are willing, I imagine the two of us can discover why. Or, at the very least, ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
He studied her for a long time, his expression unreadable. Remaining as still as possible, she silently willed him to give her this chance. Only when he nodded, did she allow her rigid posture to relax.
“Very good.” She smiled. “Now, to begin, I believe it would be helpful for me to see how you interact with other women. Flirt with me.”
“That was exactly what I wanted to hear.”
She nodded, ready to move past the mundane business. “I’m glad to hear that. Now, tell me why you have failed in your quest for a wife thus far.”
“Failed?” His voice rose a few degrees, and she cringed.
“Forgive me. Perhaps that wasn’t the correct word. As I’m sure Lady Constance has told you, I’m new to the business of coaching. If you would prefer someone else--”
“No,” he shot back. “I suppose this shall be a new experience for both of us. Now, the answer to your question is not a simple one. You see, I don’t know. Honestly, I can’t even say if the problem is with me.”
“I see.”
Fighting the temptation to smile proved harder than she imagined. Of course, he wouldn’t believe the problem resided with himself. He was a typical lord who expected women to fall at his feet. She took in his face, the well-tailored cut of his suit, and the outline of his muscular body within it. She could see why he thought that.
When her eyes traveled back to his face, she blushed at his knowing expression. Her inexperience with men would prove to be a problem. Apparently, they missed nothing. She cleared her throat. This opportunity with Lord Harken wouldn’t be as easy as she’d hoped, but she intended to learn everything she could from it.
“Perhaps you will be able to help me discern where the problem lies. Tell me, why does a lady refuse a perfectly good offer of marriage?”
Miranda stared at him, dumbfounded. A woman had refused his suit? She couldn’t fathom it. Realizing he must have some serious flaws, she lightly shook her head. This was proving to be more difficult as time went on.
“I have no answer for you now, my lord. However, if you are willing, I imagine the two of us can discover why. Or, at the very least, ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
He studied her for a long time, his expression unreadable. Remaining as still as possible, she silently willed him to give her this chance. Only when he nodded, did she allow her rigid posture to relax.
“Very good.” She smiled. “Now, to begin, I believe it would be helpful for me to see how you interact with other women. Flirt with me.”