To Tame a Dangerous Lord (Courtship Wars 5)

It was absurd how his words stung when he was only trying to reassure her. And he spoke no less than the truth. She had never been beautiful and never would be.

Hiding her chagrin, Madeline responded with a careless retort, although she was not feeling at all careless. “Now who is offering false flattery?”

His reply held a note of seriousness. “I would not insult you by offering you lies. Especially knowing you would not welcome them any more than I do.”

She gave a sigh. “It is pointless to continue this discussion, Lord Haviland. I understand that the proper response is to first thank you for your kind offer, but I must refuse.”

That made him pause. “You won’t even consider it?”

“No.” She wouldn’t let herself hope, for she would only be cruelly disappointed.

“Still, I would like you to think on it. You needn’t make your decision just now. My offer will remain open for a time.”

“Until you find another candidate who entices you more than I do,” she muttered, unable to keep the bitterness from her tone.

Haviland’s gaze fixed intently on her. “I’ll have you know, you do entice me.”

“Indeed?” Her tone was not only skeptical but edged with sarcasm.

“Yes, indeed,” he said calmly. “You are overlooking one of your prime advantages.”

“What advantage?”

“You have a marvelous body.”

Suddenly her heart was jumping like mad. Involuntarily, Madeline’s gaze locked with his. “How could you know?”

“I have seen you in your nightdress, remember?”

“My nightdress is too concealing for you to have seen much.”

“Let me rephrase. I have felt you in your nightdress.”

Madeline didn’t know if she could credit the compliment, yet she couldn’t deny that Haviland seemed sincere. “I would rather be appreciated for my mind,” she finally muttered.

He smiled the beautiful, lazy smile that never failed to hold her spellbound. “I appreciate your mind also, believe me.”

She couldn’t fool herself that he wanted her, though. Deliberately, Madeline stiffened her spine, determined to resist that seductive smile.

“I see the problem, Lord Haviland,” she declared airily. “You cannot credit that I would refuse a wealthy, handsome earl. You are accustomed to having women swoon at your feet. But I am not in the habit of swooning.”

“I would be amazed if you were. And you should call me by my given name … Rayne.”

She tensed when he reached for her gloved hand. “I don’t wish to be on such intimate terms with you.”

“But I do. And I usually get my way, sweet Madeline.”

His eyes had softened with laughter and something else she couldn’t name. It looked almost like … desire.

She had to be mistaken. Or perhaps it was real and he had manufactured that look to weaken her defenses. If so, it was extremely effective.

It was even more effective when he took her gloved hand and brought it to his lips to press a kiss against her knuckles. She could feel the heat even through the fine kidskin.

“I find you to be a most singular woman,” he murmured, “and I want you very much.”

Madeline herself wanted desperately to snatch her hand away, and yet she couldn’t find the strength; he had robbed her of willpower with the slightest touch. And when he slid his other arm around her shoulders, her already racing pulse went wild.

“You do not want me, Lord Haviland,” she accused in a high, breathless voice. “You are merely trying to persuade me to accept your offer.”