Christian Seaton_ Duke of Danger(53)

Had never burned so deeply with lust before Lisette.

She gave a choked laugh now. ‘I have no reputation left to lose, Christian.’

‘Of course you do. When this is over—’

‘I will still be a stranger in a strange land, with no money or family, and the illegitimate daughter of a French tavern owner who is an enemy of your country.’

Christian gave a wince at this unflatteringly accurate description of Lisette’s circumstances.

‘I know I have previously spoken to the contrary, but...once Lord Maystone realises that I truly do not know anything about my—about Helene Rousseau’s plots and plans, perhaps you might consider taking me as your mistress?’ Lisette looked up at him with tear-damp eyes.

‘What?’

‘Until such time as you take a duchess, of course,’ she added hastily, no doubt at his horrified expression. ‘I should not like to intrude upon a marriage.’

If Christian had been startled by her outspokenness to Maystone earlier, he now found himself completely stunned by Lisette’s suggestion of becoming his mistress.

Women simply did not behave in this forward manner—

He already knew that Lisette was not like other women. Indeed, he had never met another like her. Innocent on the one hand, completely practical on the other.

But not so innocent that she did not know that she had only one thing that was truly her own, and practical enough to decide to whom and when she would give it.

‘Have you forgotten your claim—“I would rather sell my soul to the devil than be beholden to you for a moment longer”?’ He huskily reminded her of the insult she had hurled at him during their heated exchange at the inn yesterday.

If Lisette telling him exactly what she thought of him and his having had no choice but to listen to those thoughts could be called an exchange!

‘I have said that I do.’

‘But you have now changed your mind?’

‘Do not mock me, Christian.’ Lisette did not appreciate his levity when she had spent the past few minutes considering her future.

She had no real wish to return to France, now that she had been made aware of the full extent of Helene’s actions. Indeed, it might be dangerous for her to do so.

But if she was allowed to remain free and in England, then her lack of spoken English would limit her options of employment. Something she intended to rectify as soon as possible, but unfortunately, that would not be soon enough for her to become a companion, governess or even a maid in an English household.

But if she had no choice but to become some rich gentleman’s mistress, then she would rather make the choice of that lover for herself. She already knew that she and Christian were physically compatible. Much better, if she had to become some man’s mistress, that she at least enjoy the gentleman’s attentions.

‘Besides, I should not be beholden to you,’ she reasoned briskly. ‘You would set me up in my own small establishment, and in exchange I would make myself available to you whenever you wish it. That is the way these things are arranged, is it not?’ she added with a pragmatism she was not sure she actually felt as yet but hoped to achieve, and certainly now wished to convey to Christian.

The Duprées had been great believers in pragmatism; they had often had need to be on the farm, when the crops had failed or the cows did not provide enough milk to sell.

A pragmatism Lisette was sorely in need of when all she possessed, besides herself, were the few belongings Christian had purchased for her before leaving Paris.

‘I have no need of a mistress.’

She looked up at him sharply. ‘Is that because you already have one?’

‘No, of course I do not—’ He broke off in obvious exasperation. ‘Lisette, you cannot just offer to become a man’s mistress without his first having given indication that is what he wants too!’

Her eyebrows rose. ‘Earlier today in your carriage was not an indication of your desire for me?’

‘Well. Yes.’ He gave an impatient shake of his head. ‘Of course it was an indication that I desire you, but I— Lisette, I have never set myself up with a mistress—’

‘Why not?’

‘—and I do not intend to start now. What do you mean—why not?’ He scowled darkly.

She gave a shrug. ‘I thought all society gentlemen, most especially a duke, took a mistress?’

‘Then you thought wrong.’ He glowered. ‘Neither I nor, to my knowledge, any of my close friends have ever done so.’

‘That does not mean you could not do so now.’ It was not an ideal situation for Lisette either, nor had it been an easy decision for her to make, but she really did have so very few choices left to her. Once she had told Lord Maystone what she knew—which was very little, and most certainly did not include Helene caring for her enough to respond to blackmail on her behalf—then it was easy to surmise that neither he nor Christian would have any further use for her.