To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

Even now her delicate scent filled his nostrils, the same fragrance that had haunted him for days after the Cyprians’ ball. And earlier this evening…seeing the evening sunlight catch her hair, caress her face, had taken his breath away.

He wasn’t just merely appreciative of her perfect beauty, though. There were other things he couldn’t forget about her. Her eyes, her lips, her breasts. Her voice-velvet, warm, honeyed. He hadn’t liked her using that soft, warmhearted tone with Haviland.

Drew shook his head abruptly. He couldn’t possibly be jealous. He never became possessive over a woman, never felt any such heated emotions. He couldn’t refute Roslyn’s allegation about his lacking a heart. He’d been raised by his haughty, aristocratic parents to be emotionally detached and had never seen any reason to change.

Oh, he’d experienced infatuation before, but he had never fallen in love. He didn’t think he was even capable of it. And while any number of women had professed to love him, he knew the attraction was as much for his immense wealth and vaunted title as himself.

His own attraction to Roslyn Loring was inexplicable, since he’d had more than his fair share of beauties. No doubt his trouble was merely physical, Drew reflected. It had been too long since he’d enjoyed the services of a mistress.

A self-mocking smile curled his mouth. And perhaps the trouble is that you’ve finally met a woman who clearly isn’t interested in you.

He had never found himself in such a novel situation. It was amusing really. He’d always earnestly avoided designing females, and Roslyn Loring was certainly a designing female of a sort. She just didn’t have designs on him. If he were a vain man, he might be insulted.

But she didn’t want him; she wanted her neighbor. She was also right on that one account. Her pursuit of Haviland was none of his own affair.

Remembering, Drew felt his smile fade. He was oddly disappointed in Roslyn. Admittedly she wasn’t quite like the usual scheming husband-hunters he’d encountered in the past. She claimed her motives were a bit purer, that she was after love, not fortune and title. Even so, she was still on the hunt for a husband-the very kind of mercenary female that made him shudder.

On the other hand, he was grudgingly impressed by her honesty. In fact, he could actually admire her initiative and her boldness, even if he couldn’t like her purpose.

Recalling her goal of finding love in marriage, Drew made a scoffing sound and abruptly turned back toward the house.

He had no desire to return to the ball, however. Instead, he meant to find Marcus’s study and indulge in a very large brandy…until he could politely take his leave and return to London, where he would try to forget that the most beautiful of the three Loring sisters even existed.

Chapter Four

I concede I may have misjudged the duke. He has more substance than I gave him credit for.

– Roslyn to Fanny

Roslyn felt tears of happiness blur her vision as the Freemantle barouche carried her away from Danvers Hall. She and Winifred were among the last to leave, since she had stayed behind to direct the household staff and spare Arabella the task, and Winifred always delighted in closing down a ball.

Two hours earlier, the sisters had said farewell privately to each other. It was a poignant moment, full of love and tears. This was the last evening they would really be together as sisters, the three of them standing against the world. Now that Arabella was married, she would have a doting husband to love and care for her.

A half hour after that, Lily had left to spend the night with Tess. It was well past midnight, however, before the enormous crowd of wedding guests took their leave and the long line of carriages thinned out.

Most of the remaining family and close friends had departed moments ago, heading for London. The Marquess of Claybourne had escorted Marcus’s lively sister Eleanor home, along with her aunt, Lady Beldon. Fanny was accompanied by one of her wealthy gentleman friends. And their mother, Victoria, had left with her French husband, since the Vachels planned to stay in the town house of Henri’s English relations for another fortnight before returning to his home in France.

As Roslyn stood in the entrance hall, saying a final good-bye to the bride and groom, she had spied the Duke of Arden behind her. But she hadn’t wanted to suffer another encounter with him, so she embraced Arabella and Marcus warmly and then hurried down the front steps to the waiting barouche to join Winifred, who had kindly agreed to drive her to Tess’s.

Settling back against the velvet squabs, Roslyn gave a sigh of weary contentment. She had promised Arabella she would oversee running the estate and the academy while the newlyweds were on their wedding trip, yet she couldn’t imagine encountering any trouble. The summer school term had already begun, so most of their pupils had gone home and classes for the rest would be minimal. And now that the wedding was over, Roslyn was looking forward to a few weeks of peace and quiet and the hope of making Lord Haviland fall madly in love with her-or at least the opportunity to nurture the intimacy of their burgeoning friendship.

Winifred heard her sigh and responded with a pleased sigh of her own. “It is good to see Arabella so happy.”

“It is indeed,” Roslyn agreed softly.

“I vow your mother is happiest of all,” Winifred expounded. “Victoria was vastly relieved to see at least one of her daughters well married. She feared the scandal she caused would destroy all your chances for decent futures.”

It very nearly had, Roslyn thought before giving a light shrug. She had never allowed herself to bemoan her fate, and she wouldn’t start now. She was glad, however, to finally have some brighter prospects for her future. “It is all over now, Winifred.”

“Not by a long chalk, my dear.” Shaking her head smugly, Winifred chuckled. “It is only beginning for you and Lily. I have high hopes that you will both be able to make good matches now.”

Trying to hide her exasperation, Roslyn returned a bland smile. “You know Lily’s feelings about marriage.”

“She will change her tune if she meets the right man.”

Roslyn remained skeptical, doubting that her high-spirited younger sister would ever alter her opinion about matrimony. After the acrimonious example their parents had set, Lily had vowed never to be subjected to the kind of battles they had waged against each other for years.

Roslyn was just as fiercely determined never to be locked in a hostile marriage of convenience, which was why she had sworn she would never marry without love. She had no desire, however, to be the target of Winifred’s meddlesome assistance, any more than Lily did.