The Untamed Earl(27)
“You mentioned yesterday that you’ve been known to sneak off in the afternoons. That sounds daring and adventurous to me.”
“Oh, that—I—No. It’s neither daring nor adventurous, I assure you.”
Owen inclined his head toward her. “Very well, what can we do to calm your nerves, my lady?”
“Do you have any port wine? I always seem to enjoy it when I sneak a bit from Father’s stash.”
Owen nearly guffawed at that. “You sneak port?”
“Yes.” She nodded matter-of-factly.
She was positively adorable. “Good God. I daresay you could find something more tasty than port in your father’s house.”
Lady Alexandra wiggled her nose. “I picked it because I like the decanter it’s in the best.”
He tipped his head to the side and contemplated her. “A noble reason to be sure.”
“And it smelled the least like poison.”
“Another noble reason.” Owen grinned at her. “You say you’re not daring or adventurous, but that sounds like both to me.”
“Please don’t make fun of me,” she said softly in a voice that told Owen she was not actually displeased with him. She appeared to take things in stride, this Lady Alexandra. No doubt an effect from having to live under the same roof with her “difficult” sister. “If you have no port wine,” she continued, “I suppose I’ll have to make do and calm my nerves some other way.”
Owen bowed to her. “Perhaps you’ll be more comfortable if we begin.”
“Begin?”
“Yes, but first, what shall I call you?”
“Call me?”
“If we’re to be friends, cohorts, you might even say, I find it quite formal to continue to refer to you as Lady Alexandra. You may call me Owen.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, that’s quite informal.”
“My dear, if I’m going to teach you to behave like the most sought-after lady in London, you’ll need to get over a mere formality with a name.”
Lady Alexandra cleared her throat. “Of course,” she murmured. “You may call me Alexandra.”
“Alexandra?” He posted his hands on both hips. “That still sounds awfully formal to me. Don’t you have a nickname?”
“No, I don’t. I—Well, Thomas calls me Al.”
“Al,” Owen repeated the word and then frowned. “Too short. Not nearly so lovely as you are. How about Alex?”
A blush stained her cheeks. “Alex?”
“Alex,” he echoed, rolling the word around on his tongue. “Yes, it suits you perfectly. It has pluck. I shall call you Alex, if you have no objections.”
She pushed a dark curl behind her ear. “Very well. It seems quite improper, but then again, you’re not particularly known for being proper.”
“I’m glad you agree.” He grinned, leaning back against a large table near the wall and crossing his booted feet at the ankles. “Now, that’s settled. You’ll call me Owen and I’ll call you Alex. I’m already feeling a kindred connection to you.”
She blushed more deeply, gorgeously, and Owen had to glance away. It was not going to help things to become attracted to his business partner. Though it was a singularly unique experience for Owen to be in business with a female. Normally, the only business he conducted with the members of the opposite sex was that which was performed in bed. Alex was blinking up at him, her pretty face full of trust and innocence and—
Owen shook his head. It was time to change the subject. Perhaps they’d both feel more comfortable. “Why don’t you tell me something about Lady Lavinia and I’ll give you your first lesson in dancing properly.”
“Very well.” Alex paced in front of him, her hands folded tightly together. “As I said yesterday, to win Lavinia’s heart, you must learn to comport yourself as a gentleman. A romantic gentleman.”
“My dear girl, I don’t even know what a ‘romantic gentleman’ is.”
Alex smoothed her hands down her skirts and blinked at him. “He’s the type who writes love ballads and sings them to his ladylove.”
“His ladylove?” Owen’s voice rose sharply, as did his eyebrow. “I’m honorable. Isn’t that enough?”
Alex smiled and shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Not for Lavinia.”
He rubbed his chin. “A gentleman, eh?”
“Yes, a gentleman. A romantic one. I’m certain you have it in you.”
He laughed out loud. “I’m not certain I do. Not at all.”
Again, Alex smiled at him—a smile that was entirely disarming. “I have faith in you.”