“She is astonishing,” Simon heard himself saying, “in everything she wears. Yer sister’s beauty starts from within, which makes it shine outward brightly to warm everyone around her.”
“Simon!” Elizabeth exclaimed as Anne walked very slowly down the stairs toward them, her head held high and her flaxen hair swept back, revealing her slender neck he had so enjoyed kissing. “I have never heard ye speak of yer admiration for a woman, let alone sound besotted by one.”
He turned his gaze for a brief moment from Anne and found both his sisters, Anne’s sister, and Harthorne staring at him. Damnation. He had set out to seduce Anne, andshewas seducinghim. Unknowingly, to be sure, but effectively nonetheless. He was beguiled, and all he wanted was Anne. Not revenge. Just Anne. Would she believe him if he told her so? How could he prove it to her?
He looked to Anne once more, and as she neared the bottom of the stairs, he saw her wince and her hand flutter to her left leg, then move immediately away when their eyes locked. He suspected her heel was still bothering her. Excitement and anticipation filled his chest as he rushed to the table where he’d left the package he brought for her and strode back to her just as she reached the small gathered group. Everyone paused as he came to stand with them.
“Miss Adair,” Simon said, allowing his gaze to roam slowly over her lovely form. “Might I have a moment alone with ye?”
“I’m not certain that’s wise,” Harthorne said, which earned him a sharp, very noticeable elbow in the side from his wife.
“We can watch them from the window if they stay just outside of the main doors in the garden,” Lady Harthorne said.
Anne frowned at her sister and brother-in-law. “I do not need a chaperone,” she snapped.
“It’s not proper—” Harthorne began to protest.
Simon quickly cut in. “I simply wish to present Miss Adair with something I made for her. If ye wish for me to do it here—”
“He might,” Anne interrupted, “but I don’t.” With those words, she motioned Simon to follow her, which he did without hesitation.
Anne rather liked not caring at all about the rules of theton, and she feared she rather liked Simon, despite knowing what she did about his intentions. She could not help but believe that a man who cared for his sisters when they were ill and who stood by his friend in loyalty was a good man. She could not reconcile the man she was coming to learn with the man Mary had said duped and used her. What if Maryhadbeen lying? Anne felt immediately guilty for the disloyal thought, but it certainly would explain the inconsistencies.
She led Simon into the garden, taking care to stay within sight of the window where Harthorne could watch them so he’d not have a fit. She turned to Simon, and her breath caught in her throat. He was such a compelling man, in presence as well as demeanor. She noted the box in his hands and the look of anticipation on his face.
“I hope you don’t mind that I brought your sisters here to borrow some gowns for the ball tomorrow night.”
“I’m grateful to ye for doing so. I promised them new wardrobes, but there has not yet been time. Perhaps ye could recommend a good seamstress for them? One who will ensure they are attired as proper young debutantes should be.”
She heated when his gaze dropped to her décolletage. Jemma loved her gowns to be dramatic and slightly scandalous. Anne usually chose a more modest gown as she knew well she was no beauty like her sister. “I don’t normally dress like this,” she blurted.
“That’s good,” Simon murmured. Anne flinched at his statement, and his eyes widened. “Ye misunderstand me, Anne. With ye in that gown, every rogue in England would beat a path to be at yer side.”
“Are you trying to seduce me with false compliments?” she asked, wishing he’d not think her such a fool, though she very well might be.
“I no longer wish to seduce ye, Anne.”
She frowned. “Whyever not? Am I that displeasing?”
“God, no!” he said on a laugh. “Ye…well, I wish to court ye. In earnest.”
Pleasure rushed through her, followed by wariness. “Is this a clever ploy? You started by boldly informing me that you wanted to seduce me and now you say that you wish to court me. Is that to confuse me so that you can seduce me?”
“No.” He chuckled again. “I can see how ye might think that, though.”
She swallowed. “Simon, I…I wish to believe you,” she admitted, “but how can I, considering what happened between you and Mary?”
A dark scowl swept his features. “I have told ye that nothing occurred. Lady Mary lied. She was to be betrothed to a much older man whom she loathed, and I believe she thought if we were to join, she could marry me instead. The only crime I’m guilty of is not handling my rejection of her throwing herself at me gently enough.”
“If I choose to believe you, then I am saying Mary is capable of horrid treachery. You must see that I could never side against her without proof. It would destroy my grandfather.”
Simon’s eyes narrowed, and she feared that her words had put an insurmountable wall between them, though in actuality, it had already been there. “Yer grandfather tried to destroy me without proof, except for his ward’s accusations.”
“He believes Mary told him the truth,” Anne murmured.
Simon gripped her fingertips, his eyes probing hers. “What do ye believe?”
In this moment, she was on a precipice. If she chose to believe Mary, she would be condemning Simon, but if she chose to believe Simon, who was an admitted rogue and who she had known such a short time, she would be going against her own grandfather. Anne swallowed. “Simon, you said you wished to seduce me… Was I correct when I presumed it was to ruin me because you thought that would somehow hurt my grandfather?”
