The Untamed Earl(32)
She looked up at him with wide eyes. “‘Ravishing’ is a strong word, my lord.”
“It’s apt.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” She slapped him on the shoulder with her fan.
“Will it get you to agree to have a drink with me?” he asked, leaning down closer to her lips.
“Certainly not.” She gave him a stern stare.
“Well done,” he breathed, not wanting to pull away. “Now, let’s see how you react when a suitor is a bit too forward.”
He pulled her up against his chest and moved his face even closer to hers. His hands were at her waist. Alex’s head tipped back and her eyes were hooded and for the moment, a split second, Owen actually had the desire to … kiss her. She gazed up at him with those dark orbs. “Yes,” she breathed.
He pushed her away to arm’s length again, hoping against hope that she hadn’t felt the stark evidence of his body’s reaction to her lush form pressed against his belly.
Her face clouded with confusion. “Did I—? Was that right? Was that flirtatious?”
He cleared his throat. “You were supposed to deliver a crushing setdown.”
Even more confusion crowded her face. “A setdown?”
“Yes, a crushing one.”
She glanced up at him from beneath her dark lashes. “I suppose you’ll just have to try again, then.”
Try again? He already needed to cool off from his last attempt. But he could hardly tell her that. He was supposed to be teaching the girl a thing or two. Some tutor he made.
He gritted his teeth and pulled her into his arms again. She melted against him, her arms twining about his neck.
As he held his breath, every inch of his body longed to kiss her, to wrap his arms around her and—“Well?”
“Well what?” she breathed against his neck.
“I’m waiting for my crushing setdown.”
“Oh, oh yes. That.” She promptly pulled her arms from around his neck and took a sharp step back. “Unhand me, sir.”
He arched a brow. “That may have been a bit too dramatic.”
“It seems to me that a crushing setdown is by definition dramatic. What other sort of crushing setdown do you suggest?”
He shook his head. “When a gentleman is too forward, you must be forceful and direct.”
“Such as?”
“If, for example, I were to say, ‘Lady Alexandra, meet me in the conservatory.’ What would you reply?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“On who is doing the asking?”
He had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing aloud at that. “Let’s pretend it’s someone you don’t want to meet in the conservatory.”
“Oh, that’s simple, then. I would say no.”
“And if it were someone you did want to meet?” he asked, partially afraid of the answer.
“I might say what time.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I told you, there is a man I fancy. If he were to ask me, I cannot honestly say I wouldn’t agree.”
Owen pressed his lips together. Her honesty continued to amaze him. “You must at least pretend to be indignant. Pretend you may not be interested. Let’s try again. Pretend I’m the man you fancy.”
Alex glanced at her slippers and cleared her throat.
“Lady Alexandra,” he said, pulling her into his arms and whispering into her ear. “Will you meet me in the conservatory?”
“Perhaps,” she breathed.
He pulled away from her and gave her a condemning glare. “Perhaps?” he said in an exasperated tone.
“Too much?”
“Yes. It’s too much. At the very least, you should scold me for being too forward. And far too presumptuous.”
She nodded. “Very well. Let’s try once more.”
He pulled her into his arms again. “Meet me in the conservatory?”
She promptly slapped his shoulder with her fan. “How terribly indecent of you. I’ll do no such thing.” She glanced up at him. “How was that?”
“Better. But I must admit I’ll still worry about you.” He dropped his arms from her and stepped back. “I suppose that’s enough for today.” He scrubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “Let’s talk about Lavinia. What else can you tell me about her likes and dislikes?”
Alex frowned and tapped a finger to her jaw. “Let’s see.”
“You mentioned gifts. Should I get her some flowers?” he offered.
“Flowers are … fine … or…” Alex glanced away.
He eyed her cautiously. “Or what?”
“Well, flowers are perfectly lovely, of course, but they’re a bit … predictable, don’t you think?”