"It matters if she has made you a cynical creature who does not trust women."

"I am most fond of women, Diana. I find them quite delightful, in their place."

"And what is that, pray?"

"Several places, actually. On their backs, on their sides, on their stomachs, on ---"

"Shut up! I have nothing more to say to you. Lyon, I would not marry you were you the only male on ---"

"Please don't finish that trite thought."

"Nor will I let you seduce me. That was your plan for this evening, was it not?"

He'd believed himself a bit more subtle. Ah, well. "You are many things, my girl, but not stupid. Ignorant, perhaps. Silly and stubborn, certainly. A witch, doubtless. But not stupid."

"I won't let you. Come, let us be friends. You will be free of me soon. Please do not attempt to soil my memory of you."

"Soil? What a repellent notion."

She started to snore loudly.

He laughed. "I should have also said that you are never boring, Diana. We will suit well enough, you will see."

"I will see you to the devil first."

"My dear girl, do you wish that I trot out all my sterling qualities for your inspection?"

More snores answered his query.

Lyon grinned toward her and the snores. "Well, I am most fond of animals and children. I believe during one of your eavesdropping sessions you heard me say that I would be a faithful hound to my wife. It is true. I gamble, but for amusement, that is all. I enjoy the races at Newmarket and Ascot. I am plump in the pocket, which means that you could have most any trinket that pleased you. I am not niggardly. I know that ladies want and expect to be coddled. I would be an excellent coddler."

He could tell that it was becoming more and more difficult for her to continue the loud snores. He grinned and continued.

"I am not a rake, though I have kept a mistress since I came to manhood. Nothing unusual in that. I enjoy sports and promise not to become a fat stoat. I don't believe I shall lose my hair, and my teeth are excellent. Perhaps of interest to you --- I am a good lover."

He heard her snore turn into a snort.

"All right, an excellent lover, then. It is just that I am prone to modesty."

The snores stopped suddenly. "Lyon, enough. I don't want or need a coddler. I don't want or need a good or an excellent lover. I simply want to be left alone, to live my life as I wish."

"And what do you wish, Diana?"

"I don't want your trinkets!"

"What do you wish?" he asked again, his voice gentle.

"Your so-called list of sterling qualities was an exercise in amusement. It is not fair of you to demand what it is I want out of life when you recite such drivel to me, expecting me to be somehow impressed with you."

"Ah, you wish me to pry off the lid, so to speak. Very well. I abhor injustice, and that includes the entire slavery issue, something that never really touched me before, but now it does and I'll be damned if I myself will be responsible for the continuation of such an appalling state of affairs." He paused a moment, surprised at himself. His voice had grown deeper, harsher. She was right, he realized. He'd been amusing himself, nothing more. He'd said nothing that really mattered. He could sense that she was listening to him, really listening. "I believe that England has many problems, but we are still the conscience of the world, if you will. A man has dignity in England, and that is important. As for what I want out of my life, I will tell you. I wish to live as contentedly as possible without hurting others. I wish to have children and give them all my care and attention, to make them responsible for themselves and for those who depend upon them, to instill in them a sense of dignity and loyalty and humanity." He stopped and drew a deep breath. Dear God, he'd never before spoken with such passion. Would Diana believe him a fool? An idealistic idiot?

There was a long silence. Finally, he heard her say in a very quiet voice, "I believe you will do all these things, Lyon. Indeed, I wish you well. You should have added, however, that you are exceedingly stubborn, and when you decide that something must be done, you will move heaven and earth to see that it is."

"Only when I am certain I am right, Diana."

"Right from your point of view, certainly."

"Diana, do not fight me on this. I will make you a good husband."

Tags: Catherine Coulter Magic Trilogy Romance
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