A Dash of Scandal(36)
His eyebrows shot up in a challenging manner. “Do you find me unattractive, Miss Blair?”
“No, you are quite aware that the opposite is true. You are a most attractive man.”
She watched as his gaze swept down her face and back up to her eyes. Something inside made her yearn to give in to his wishes and for a moment it was difficult to catch her breath.
“Thank you. Though, I wasn’t soliciting compliments. I’m trying to understand why you consider me an unacceptable suitor?”
She looked away for a moment before turning back to look into his eyes. “Unacceptable is too harsh a word.”
“Then I’m confused. Explain why you won’t agree to receive a call from me?”
Millicent had feared something like this from Lord Dunraven after this afternoon. If not for how she was helping her aunt she would be thrilled to accept a call from him, even knowing he was a rake and a scoundrel not to be trusted. It was because he was a man who flirted with a lady’s emotions that she must rebuff him.
“I’m quite busy enough, but I do thank you for your kindness in wanting to call on me.”
“You thank me for my kindness. That’s not what I wanted to hear. Are you so busy receiving calls from other gentlemen that you don’t have time for me?”
“To be perfectly honest, Lord Dunraven, we really don’t get on together very well. And I see no reason to make us suffer through an afternoon together.”
He questioned her with his eyes. “Surely that is not an honest answer, Miss Blair.”
No it wasn’t.
“A gentleman wouldn’t challenge a lady’s honesty, sir?”
“I’m not feeling the gentleman right now.”
“I noticed.” Millicent was very close to being flustered, and she never became flustered. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I really don’t see the point in carrying this conversation any further, Lord Dunraven, but, yes, I do thank you for asking to call on me.”
He stepped closer and lowered his voice so those who were standing nearby would not hear him. “It’s not as if I’m asking you to marry me.”
“I should think not.”
“You sound as if the very idea horrifies you.”
“What? You calling on me?”
“No, the idea of marrying me.”
Her eyes widened. “Sir, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Damnation, no,” he said too loudly, causing a few glances their way.
Several people stared at them, and Millicent noticed frowns on the faces of the men and shocked expressions on the faces of several ladies.
“I apologize for my manners, Miss Blair, but I’m finding you extremely frustrating at the moment.”
“In that case, return my card and pencil and we will bid our farewells.”
“Not so fast and not until I get a reasonable answer about why I shouldn’t call on you tomorrow afternoon.”
Millicent had to remain firm, no matter how she felt to the contrary. She had no doubt that an afternoon with him would be thrilling, but she couldn’t afford the attention Lord Dunraven would bring to her.
“Very well, I tried to spare you, but if you must know the truth, not only am I quite aware of your reputation among the ton, I have experienced it firsthand. I don’t feel it would be in my best interest for you to call on me.”
“So, you refuse to believe my reputation might have been exaggerated by the gossips?”
“No, I believe some of the rumors have been overstated,” she said, remembering the things Lady Lynette had said. “But the fact remains that an association with you could ruin my reputation and I’m not willing to chance that. I would like for you to return my dance card and leave me be.”
An unfamiliar wrinkle formed in his brow. “So you have no desire to get to know me better.”
Millicent hesitated for a moment but finally said, “That’s right. That is exactly what I want.”
“Not to know me better or for me not to know you better?”
She took a deep breath. “You are far more frustrating than I am, sir. Either or both will do, Lord Dunraven. Let me see how much plainer I can be on this subject. I have no wish to associate with you whatsoever. Does that make it clear enough for you?”
For a moment he looked wounded, and she hated that she was so harsh. If only he knew how much she would enjoy getting to know him better.