The Untamed Earl (15 page)

“And given her reaction to my offer of champagne, and my speech about horses, I'm beginning to wonder if everything you told me about her is correct.”

Alex paled slightly. “She's … difficult,” she repeated lamely.

Now Owen shrugged. He didn't want to talk about Lavinia. Something else was on his mind. “Did the gentleman with whom you're enamored ask you to dance tonight?” Why did Owen hope she said no?

Alex blushed beautifully and glanced away. Her gloved fingertips glanced over her collarbone.

“I didn't mean to embarrass you,” he said softly.

Surprise marked her features as she turned back to look at him. “Why, Lord Owen, I do believe you're learning a bit. I don't think the man I met a few days ago would even have known he'd embarrassed me.”

Owen chuckled at that. “You're learning as well. I don't think I've ever seen you with such a fetching smile on your face, and when you touch your neck in that particular spot, I—”

She blushed more deeply, and Owen clamped his lips together. He was certainly embarrassing her now. Blast it.

He ducked his head and cleared his throat. “Well, the man's a tosser if he can't see the good in you, Alex.”

Her head snapped up and her dark eyes met his. “Do you mean that?”

“Of course I do. I curse my father every day for picking your sister and not you.”

Alex gasped. Her hand fell away from her throat.

Damn it. He shouldn't have said such a reckless thing. What could she possibly reply to
that
?

“My apologies. I don't mean to be so boorish,” he said. “And I don't mean to seem so cavalier about it all. I know your heart belongs to someone else, but I never expected it to be this difficult to court a lady with the intention of marriage. I've never tried it before, true, but it's proved deuced difficult.”

The surprised look caused by his earlier statement slowly drained from Alex's face. “I'm sorry Lavinia is so much trouble.”

Owen shrugged again. “It's hardly your fault. You've done nothing but try to help me. I cannot fathom how two such different young ladies were born to the same parents.”

Alex laughed. “Believe me, I ask myself that same question quite regularly.”

He stepped closer and touched her hand. “Thank you, Alexandra. For helping me.”

She glanced away. Those couldn't be tears in her eyes, could they?

“What do you propose to do, about Lavinia?” she asked quietly.

He tipped up her chin with his thumb. “I propose that we meet again for another lesson. Tomorrow.”

 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The next day, Owen arrived nearly a half hour early to his appointment at Cass's house with Alex. He'd never arrived half an hour early to anything in his life. Why was he so eager to see Alex again?

He was sitting in a chair in the foyer with his hands shoved in his pockets, waiting, when his sister walked by. “Come into the drawing room with me for a moment, won't you, Owen?”

Owen groaned. Cass obviously wanted to speak to him about something specific. This couldn't be good. But he was using her house as a rendezvous point with Alex, and he couldn't very well refuse his sister's request. He hefted himself from the chair and followed her into the nearest drawing room.

“Yes?” he asked brightly once the door to the room had closed behind him.

Cass turned in a swirl of white skirts. “What exactly are you doing with Alexandra Hobbs?”

Owen paced across the floor toward the fireplace. “What do you mean?”

“Don't be coy with me, Owen. I've helped you to meet her here, so I feel somewhat responsible for her. I want to know exactly what your intentions are.”

Owen rubbed a knuckle against one temple. What was appropriate to tell? “We're in business together, you might say.”

Cass arched a brow. “Business? Are you certain, Owen?”

He turned toward his sister and frowned. “Yes, of course. What else would we be doing?”

Cass snorted. “Do I really have to tell
you
that?”

Owen glared at his sister. “You're not implying that I'm doing something illicit with Alex, are you? Her reputation is impeccable, and she has only ever conducted herself as a complete lady in my presence.”

“No. No.” Cass pressed her hand to her coiffure. “I'm implying no such thing. I merely find it interesting, that's all.”

Owen narrowed his eyes on her. “Interesting how?”

Cass flourished a hand in the air. “Interesting in that I've never heard you so vehemently defend a lady's reputation before, nor have I ever known you to call one by a nickname. Other than me, of course.”

Owen blinked. “Don't read more into it than is there, sister dear.”

“Don't be so quick to dismiss my points, Owen, darling.”

The two siblings faced each other, squared off.

“She told me that she has her sights set on someone. Some chap from the
ton
.”

“That's interesting.” Cass tapped her finger against her cheek. “And you don't know who?”

“No. I'm helping her to become popular.”

Cass's jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“Regardless of your disdain for my reputation, I'm still highly sought after at
ton
events. I am exceedingly eligible, Cass.”

“Of course you are. I just never thought you'd use your social powers for such … good.”

Owen shrugged. “She has something I want.”

Cass shook her head. “Oh, Owen, don't be crude.”

“No. Not that.” He rolled his eyes at his sister. “She's teaching me Lady Lavinia's likes and dislikes.”

Cass's tinkling laughter didn't stop for the next few moments. She finally had to pull out a handkerchief and wipe her eyes.

“I don't see what's so humorous,” Owen said grumpily.

“I've never known you to need help with a lady before.”

“Have you met Lady Lavinia?”

“You know I have.”

“Then you know why I require help. You said yourself she's difficult.”

“So I did and so she is. But just to be certain that I'm clear: Lady Alexandra is helping you to woo her sister, and in return you're helping her to become popular?”

“Yes. I've been teaching her how to dance and flirt, and she's been teaching me what Lady Lavinia finds acceptable in a mate.”

Cass shook her head again and pressed her fingertips to her smiling lips. “Oh, Owen, does Father know what he's forced you to?”

“No. But I bloody well hope he finds out. I find it as ridiculous as you do.”

Cass crossed her arms over her chest and eyed her brother carefully. “You've never had such a difficult time impressing a lady, have you?”

“You don't know the half of it. And the worst part is … Lady Lavinia still seems entirely unimpressed even after everything Alex has told me. Not to mention I only have two more weeks to get her to agree to marry me.”

Owen wiped a hand roughly across his face. Blast and damn. His sister had a point. He did feel something for Alex. Protectiveness? Yes. That was it. He was being protective. Just as one's future brother-in-law should be. Nothing out of the ordinary in that at all. And why shouldn't he have a nickname for a future member of the family? He called his sister Cass, didn't he? There was nothing improper about it. But he couldn't help but wonder whom Alex wanted to marry. And he couldn't help but wonder why he cared so much.

The door knocker in the foyer sounded just then, jolting Owen from his thoughts.

“That must be Lady Alexandra,” Cass said.

“Yes.” Owen consulted his timepiece. “She's right on time.”

Cass moved over to him. He leaned down and she kissed him on the cheek. “Best of luck, dear brother, though I must admit, I'm going to have a high time watching all this unfold.”

*   *   *

“This time we must discuss rendezvous,” Owen announced as soon as Alex joined him in the empty ballroom.

“Rendezvous? Plural?”

“Yes, specifically how you should never be on time to one. Not one arranged with a gentleman.”

“Like this?”

“Precisely like this. Always keep a man waiting. He'll wonder if you've changed your mind and he'll have to work harder next time.”

“But I thought you said I should never agree to go off alone with a man.”

“You shouldn't.” He winked at her. “But you're here with me now, aren't you? We must prepare for any possibility.”

“That's why you wanted to meet me again?” Alex asked. “To tell me to be late next time?”

“Among other things.”

“Such as? More questions about Lavinia?”

He strode over and leaned back against the table near the wall. “No, actually. My questions are about you today.”

“Me?”

“Yes, is that so shocking?”

“What do you want to know about me?”

“What you see in the bloke you're after, for one thing.”

“Wh-why does that matter?”

“I thought perhaps I might be of more assistance to you if you provided me with more details.”

“Oh, I don't think—”

“Go on, tell me.”

Alex took a deep breath and garnered some time by fumbling around in her reticule for her fan. She couldn't very well describe Owen to Owen. That would be preposterous. But what could she say?

“Well, he's tall, handsome, titled.”

“Of course,” Owen drawled, though he looked a bit disgruntled. “Go on.”

“He's blond.”

Owen nodded at that. “What color are his eyes?” he teased, batting his own eyelashes at her.

“Blue,” she ventured.

“He sounds like quite a catch,” Owen replied.

“He is. Though I daresay he doesn't realize it. He hasn't had much luck on the marriage mart to date.”

“The perfect suitor for you, then, perhaps?”

“Perhaps,” she replied, wondering if Owen had any clue. Of course he wouldn't guess.

“And he's not put off by your sister?”

“He doesn't seem to be. Not yet.” She tugged the fan from the reticule finally, flipped it open, and rapidly fanned her face.

“Does he write poetry?”

“I seriously doubt it.”

“Does he sing love ballads?”

“Not to me.”

“Does he play the mandolin?”

“I sincerely hope not.”

Owen expelled his breath. “Is there anything else you can tell me about him, to help bring him to heel, I mean?”

“Oh, Owen, if I knew that, he'd be mine by now.”

 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“There you are.”

Alex's fork nearly toppled from her fingers. She'd been in the breakfast room, eating eggs and fruit, when her sister found her. Alex glanced around the room. No. No one else was there. Lavinia must be speaking to her.

“You're looking for
me
?” Alex asked incredulously.

“Yes, you, silly,” Lavinia said with a long-suffering look on her face.

Alex laid down her fork and watched warily as her sister approached. Lavinia never ate in the breakfast room. She always had her breakfast sent up, and Mother didn't dare gainsay her. For Lavinia to be up and dressed at this hour of the morning and to make an appearance in the breakfast room … something was definitely not right.

Lavinia sailed around the edge of the gleaming wooden table and took a seat directly across from Alex. Then she folded her hands together in front of her and leaned across them.

“What … what is it?” Alex asked hesitantly, watching her sister as if she were a wildcat of some sort that might very well attack her.

“I wanted to see how your evening went last night.”

“My evening?” Alex's eyes widened. She jerked her hand and knocked the lid off the delicate china sugar bowl.

“Yes.” Lavinia settled her shoulders.

“What do you mean?” Alex replaced the lid.

Lavinia leaned back in her chair and shrugged. “I merely wondered how your dance with Lord Owen went.”

Alex took a deep breath. Ah, this was what she'd been waiting for. Lavinia couldn't stand anyone else to receive attention meant for her.

“It was a bit of a bore, to be honest,” she said, hoping her sister couldn't read the lie in her eyes.

“A bore?” Lavinia sat up straight and blinked.

“Yes.” Alex nodded rapidly.

“Why so?”

Alex affected a long dramatic sigh. “Lord Owen could only talk about you all night.”

“He did?” An unpleasant grin spread across her sister's face, but a kind of sparkle lit her eyes, too.

“Yes,” Alex continued. “And I hope to cause no offense, but it was hardly interesting for me to answer questions about
you
all evening.”

Lavinia leaned forward. “What did he want to know?”

Alex sighed again for additional dramatic effect. There was never too much dramatic effect when Lavinia was involved. “He wanted to know what you were like. Your favorite pastimes, your favorite foods, even how you take your tea.”

A catlike smile unfurled across her sister's face. “He did?”

“Yes. Of course, I didn't reveal much. I know he was only fishing for information to woo you, and you've made it clear that you're wholly uninterested, haven't you?”

Lavinia tapped her fingers along the edge of the table. “Yes. Well, perhaps, but he certainly made you the belle of the ball, now, didn't he? And the rumor on everyone's lips was that he was taken with
you.
”

Alex bit her lip. Confound it. Lavinia sounded jealous. That was no good. Alex had been worried that her sister might not take well to her gathering attention from gentlemen, but she couldn't very well tell Lavinia that she was courting attention from the one man Lavinia had the least interest in.