Desire (Notorious 3)
Page 10
Wycliff strolled into the room casually, as if he owned the place. Circling the couch, he stood before her a moment, measuring her. “Miss Brynn Caldwell, the genteel but impoverished daughter of a baronet. Imagine my delight to discover you weren’t an apparition after all-and my surprise to discover your true identity.”
She felt herself flush, but remained mute.
His intent masculine gaze raked over her, making her keenly aware of her femaleness. His mere presence set her pulse leaping, while that slow, heated look made her suddenly warm.
“Why the deception?” he asked.
“What deception?”
“You told me your name was Beth.”
“It is. I am Brynn Elizabeth.”
“Why did you conceal it from me?”
“Why?” she repeated warily. “Because I feared a scandal. It was bad enough that you… that I allowed myself to be caught in such a compromising position. I saw no reason to compound my indiscretion by advertising my identity.”
“So you deceived me, claiming to have a protector.”
“I do have a protector of sorts. My brother. Five brothers, in fact. They usually are quite proficient at shielding me from the unwanted advances of strange gentlemen.”
A spark of amusement glimmered in his eyes. “An inventive way of shading the truth. But as memory serves, you let me think you a governess or a domestic.”
“That was no lie, either. I regularly function in the role of governess. I tutor my youngest brother.”
A slashing dark eyebrow rose with skepticism.
“It’s true,” Brynn insisted. She held up the primer in her hand, showing him the title.
“A Latin grammar?”
“I am endeavoring to teach my brother the classics, although I’m severely disadvantaged, since my own linguistic education did not extend past Italian.”
“Why do you not simply hire a tutor?”
“My family, sadly, is not in a position to afford such luxuries,” Brynn said stiffly. “Not everyone possesses the fortune of a Midas, as you reportedly do, my lord.”
His expression took on a measure of contrition. “Forgive me. That was gauche of me.”
She thought-hoped-he might leave her alone then, but she had no such luck; he continued to study her from beneath long, wicked lashes.
“You continually surprise me. First an enchanting sea creature, now a bluestocking. You interest me profoundly.”
“I don’t intend to, I assure you. I have no desire to provoke your interest.”
“How old are you?” he asked suddenly.
Brynn gave him a blank look. “It is hardly polite to ask a lady to reveal her age, but if you must know, I am four-and-twenty.”
“And still unwed? A woman of your obvious spirit and beauty?”
“I am quite content with my spinsterhood.”
“In God’s name, why?” The question was entirely serious.
She hesitated, reluctant to bring up the curse and her fear of marriage. “Because I am responsible for raising my youngest brother. I have no intention of marrying. At le
ast not until he is safely settled.” And not even then, she added to herself.