His smile was rather smug although still charming. “Very well, love, but I won’t allow you to avoid my company altogether. I want the chance to court you properly.”
“If you mean to be proper, you will have to abandon your plan to seduce me.”
“Now, that I won’t promise. I will see you tomorrow evening.”
Crossing to her chair, he bent and placed a brief kiss on her lips, then turned and exited the library, leaving Roslyn with her pulse racing wildly.
She pressed her hands to her overheated cheeks and frowned unhappily. She fully comprehended Drew’s idea of a courtship. He meant to woo her ruthlessly, using every ounce of charm and every skill at seduction he possessed to overwhelm her senses. And she knew it would be devastatingly effective.
Or would it?
Absently, Roslyn reached up to finger the glittering jewels at her throat. She might be unable to resist Drew’s expert physical overtures, but his assault on her senses was not likely to touch her heart. Indeed, knowing the cold, calculating techniques he was employing would make it easier to protect herself from falling in love with him.
Drew Moncrief might be a splendid lover, but he knew almost nothing about real love, and love was the only thing that could convince her to wed him.
The gathering for Winifred’s dinner on Monday evening was small and intimate, with only the betrothed couple’s closest friends attending.
When Roslyn arrived with Tess and was shown into the drawing room, Winifred welcomed her with a hearty embrace while whispering in her ear, “I’m afraid Fanny could not come, Roslyn dear, since she had a prior engagement. And I did not invite Lord Haviland. I decided it would not be appropriate, considering he is the duke’s rival for your hand.”
Roslyn refrained from arguing that Haviland was no longer a possible suitor and merely smiled.
Drew was already there before her, but his greeting was surprisingly tame. He merely took her hand and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. “There, are you satisfied? I intend to
behave with consummate circumspection tonight.”
“Thank you,” Roslyn murmured wryly.
Miss Jane Caruthers, a spinster and teacher who managed the day-to-day affairs of the Freemantle Academy, greeted her next, embracing Roslyn with sincere warmth. “Your betrothal is certainly a surprise,” Jane said, “but I am very happy for you, my dear.”
Marcus’s sister, Lady Eleanor Pierce, had also been invited, along with Drew’s close friend, the Marquess of Claybourne. Lady Eleanor expressed her delight to Roslyn, while Claybourne offered felicitations. “Marcus thought you might make this old fellow an admirable duchess.”
“Did he indeed?” Roslyn responded with skepticism. “I never expected Marcus to be a champion of matrimony.”
“He wasn’t until he met your sister. He became a convert only then.”
As soon as the butler supplied Roslyn with a glass of wine, Lady Eleanor pulled her aside for a private moment. “Drew tells me the announcement of your engagement will be in all the society pages tomorrow. The ton will be astounded to learn he came up to scratch, since he has been so staunchly resistant to marriage, but I am truly delighted by your betrothal, especially for Drew’s sake. And I know Marcus will be as well.”
Roslyn glanced across the drawing room at the marquess. “How does Lord Claybourne feel about our betrothal?”
“Oh, he is exceedingly amused. Drew always said he wouldn’t marry until he had no other choice. When is the wedding to be?”
“We have not set a date yet. Perhaps sometime in the fall. There really is no hurry.”
The raven-haired charmer shook her head. “If I know Drew, he would rather get it over with. Once he makes up his mind, he doesn’t like to dally. It is his mother who is likely to throw impediments in your way.”
“Oh, do you know the duchess?” Roslyn asked curiously.
Eleanor nodded. “I fear so. She is quite the terror. She makes me quake in my slippers every time I encounter her.” When Roslyn raised a skeptical eyebrow, Eleanor laughed. “Well, perhaps I don’t actually quake, but I have never met anyone colder or haughtier in my life. I suspect she will attempt to persuade Drew to delay the nuptials.”
“Why?”
“Because she won’t fancy being relegated to dowager after she has lorded it over London social circles for so long.”
“She may continue lording as far as I am concerned,” Roslyn replied with a laugh. “I have no desire to take her place. And I admit, I am not eager to meet her.”
Eleanor gave her a shrewd look. “I suspect you will do very well against the duchess. Just stand up to her. She expects subservience, but I believe she secretly respects women who can speak their mind.” She hesitated. “Drew values that quality in women, too. Otherwise, he is nothing like his mother, thank heavens.”
“What is he like then?”