Seduction in Mind (34 page)

Well, that little scene demonstrated how useless it was to try to please a woman, Sam decided angrily, striding away from Alex's studio. He hadn't even had a drink since last he saw her—not with Eddie, not the previous night, nor had he considered seeing another woman, all in an effort to meet some damned exacting standard of some dutiful bitch who had just told him she wasn't changing her life for him.

As if he
wanted
her to change her life for him!

As if he wanted more than the pleasure of her damned hot body!

Standing at the curb, he surveyed the empty street, begrudging his stupidity in sending his carriage away. Who would think she didn't want to have sex when she'd been having sex with him for nearly a week now. Silly him. He should have known she was in a new celibate phase. If he was a fortune-teller, maybe he might have known, he fumed, turning toward the park. Well, he wished her pleasure in her cold, chaste bed. There were plenty of other women in London who were more than willing.

But he'd not walked far before he found himself wondering just how long her bed
would
remain chaste, and considering the passionate nature of their relationship the last few days, that disastrous thought refused to be dislodged from his brain. She didn't seem like the type who would go long without sex and, of course, there was always damned Harry with his soulful eyes just waiting to console her.
Merde
and damn and bloody hell. It wasn't a pleasing prospect. Especially knowing how unbelievably hot she could be. Especially after having screwed her almost constantly the past week. Dammit, he didn't like to think of her with Harry—or whomever—and for a flashing moment he considered pirating her away to some distant place where he could keep her for himself. Cooler reason almost immediately put period to such a ludicrous notion, and he instead surveyed the street ahead, looking for a pub.

He needed a drink badly.

Alex was equally distrait, but in a less predaceous way. She didn't distribute blame or wish to spirit him away for herself alone. Instead, she wished it were possible to have him without compromising her entire life. It wasn't, of course. Men like Sam were used to making demands, used to having their wishes fulfilled, familiar only with compliance. She couldn't so easily acquiesce, although she realistically understood he hadn't asked her for anything more than the pleasure of her company.

Perhaps
she
was the one who wanted more, and for a contemplative moment she considered the astonishing thought.

Did she want him for more than sex?

Did it matter if she did, she sensibly posed a second later, considering his manner of living?

The answer to that question was negative in the extreme, and setting aside any further flights of fancy, she decided what she needed was a good book, her own company, and an evening of quiet to bring her life back into balance. She glanced at the clock. Four-thirty. It was going to be a long night.

It turned out to be an equally long night for Sam. He sat alone in his study, making Owens extremely nervous because he stopped drinking before nine, refused food or visitors, even turning Eddie away, and when Owens peeked in from time to time, his master was busy writing at his desk until well past midnight.

It was enough to cause alarm.

"I told you it wouldn't work," Mahmud said for the tenth time that night, still frightened by his narrow escape. "I wish you'd stop scheming and let us go home to Egypt."

"We will just as soon as I exact a last measure of revenge, dear brother," Farida insisted, lying beside him with her arms crossed under her head. "We still have two days before we have to leave, and I want to make Ranelagh miserable. And don't say taking his money will bother him, because he'll hardly notice so small a sum. In fact, he won't notice it at all!"

"If you think my sleeping with Miss Ionides would have made him angry, I think you're mistaken. Anyway," he muttered, "they were fighting when I left."

"Of course it would have made him angry, you stupid fool. He would have been humiliated to find you in her bed."

"I wonder if you're deluding yourself. I doubt the man can be humiliated by a woman. He's indifferent to them, if you ask me."

"I would have found it a charming fillip, if nothing else—a little frosting on the cake of vengeance, but since the ruse is exposed—"

"I don't know why you thought it wouldn't be if he's been sleeping with her all week…"

"Darling"—she turned to him with a feline smile—"you simply don't understand where best to prick a man's pride. Nevertheless," she added, a new briskness to her voice, "since we can't mortify him with his newest bit of fluff, I was thinking, maybe we could take that gold Ptolemy necklace he has in his collection. I always wanted it anyway."

"Lord, Fari! Your greed is going to land you in jail."

"I think you've lost your nerve, darling," she replied, one dark brow arched in mockery.

"You didn't have him look at you the way I did. He's very, very large."

"I'll just do it myself," she said. "As usual."

"If you think to shame me," Mahmud said with a grin, "you're years too late. I wish you luck, sweet sister. And if you end up in prison, don't expect me to visit you."

"I have no intention of going to prison. Ranelagh's Egyptian collection isn't even locked up. He keeps it in his study, for heaven's sake. And the terrace doors are very convenient."

"You're mad even to consider going to his house."

"He owes me," Farida stated. "I intend to collect."

The next morning Sam emerged from his study at six, called for breakfast, handed three notes to Owens to have delivered, and went upstairs to bathe and change.

The names on the envelopes caused a deal of gossip below stairs, and various possibilities were bruted about concerning the viscount's intent. Farris arrived first, only minutes after seven, and was ushered into the breakfast room, where Sam was well into his morning repast. The servants were dismissed, and try as they could, the conversation inside was too muted to be heard through the door. But Farris was beaming when he left an hour later and, for that matter, so was the master.

Owens was instructed to see that the cook prepared an opulent tea for ten o'clock. "And I want flowers in the reception rooms," Sam added. "Something summery."

"Summery?" Owens wondered with raised brows as he related the orders to those below stairs a short time later. "Have you ever heard the master so much as mention flowers before?"

"He don't seem even to notice them," the housekeeper said. "Except that once when he accidentally knocked over the vase in the hall with his walking stick."

"Did he say who were coming to tea?" the cook asked.

"No, but Farris has already come and gone, and since the other two notes were to Mr. Ionides and the Archbishop of London, it's either one or the other or both."

"The archbishop. I hope he ain't dying," one of the footmen repeated, his concern having been expressed in their earlier conversation about Sam's letters.

"He's healthy as an ox," Owens replied, although the butler had reservations about the viscount's mental health after his unusual behavior last night. "But we haven't much time to put the reception rooms in readiness." He surveyed the servants. "His lordship said opulent, and opulent he shall have."

Pandias Ionides, accompanied by his wife, arrived at Ranelagh House precisely at ten. Although Sam's note had been addressed only to him, Euterpe had said, "I'm coming with you whether you like it or not, whether Lord Ranelagh likes it or not, and don't look at me like that, Pandias. Whatever he has to say, I want to hear."

Sam entered the drawing room, where his guests had been ushered only minutes after their arrival. He apologized for having kept them waiting, wished them good morning with a winning smile, and with considerable graciousness and charm offered the hospitality of his house.

Euterpe had had every intention of expressing her displeasure with the viscount but found herself instead captivated by his extraordinary warmth, his smile, the very personal way he immediately engaged everyone in conversation. Soon she found herself telling him about the Camden Street School as if they were friends of long acquaintance. When Owens arrived with the tea tray and Sam asked whether she would pour, she preened and said, "I'd be delighted."

It required great restraint for her husband to observe his wife's abrupt volte-face without breaking into a grin, but he managed. And when Sam declared after tea had been poured, "I've asked you here for a reason," Pandias presented an equally bland countenance.

"I rather thought you had," he replied.

"I'm afraid it's a presumptuous request, but one I've mulled over all night and feel compelled to make. You know, Alex and I have been spending time together."

As Greek consul, Pandias had spent a lifetime in diplomacy, and his aplomb was well honed, but he was hard pressed to resist choking at the viscount's bluntness. "We were aware of it," he finally said in a near-normal tone.

"And while we haven't known each other for long—scarce a week—I find myself deeply attached to her."

Euterpe set down her teacup with a clang.

"The fact is," Sam went on quickly, as though he might change his mind if he didn't forge ahead, "I'd like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."

Euterpe gasped.

Sam smiled at her. "I realize it's unexpected."

"Have you spoken to Alex about this?" Pandias asked, concealing his surprise.

"No. I wished to respect the formalities. Alex has a sense of—er—decorum that I didn't want to offend."

"While I would willingly give you my permission, my Lord Ranelagh, there's no guarantee my daughter will agree with me. As you may know, she has a mind of her own."

"I'll speak to her," Mrs. Ionides interposed sharply. "Indeed, it's about time she listened to someone." She surveyed Sam with a critical eye. "At least you're not old."

Sam smiled. "I assume that's an asset?"

Euterpe sniffed. "Indeed it is."

"Then, I have your permission to present my suit to your daughter?"

"Of course." Pandias smiled. "Although this is sudden."

"I'm thirty-three. I don't consider it sudden at all."

The unspoken implication hung in the air, all the decades of women instantly springing to mind.

"If I may inquire," Euterpe said, impelled by more significant considerations. "What do your parents think of your proposal?"

"I thought I'd speak with you first. And with all due respect, I'm well past the age when my parents have any say in my life."

Pandias frowned. "I gather they won't approve."

"I'm sorry. They may not. I hope that won't alter your opinion of me. I'm quite independent of my family. We don't get along as a rule."

"There you are, my darling boy!"

The Countess of Milburn sailed into the drawing room with Clarissa Thornton and Hedy Alworth in tow. "We were out to do a bit of shopping and decided to stop by for a moment and visit with—" Her eyes widened, she came to an abrupt stop, and stood gape-mouthed.