Lady Be Reckless (Duke's Daughters #2)(17)

“And if they do not want your help?”

The words cut uncomfortably close to what Pearl had said: These are men you are dealing with, not unfed orphans or gentlewomen who just need a bit of embroidery to brighten their day.

“I . . .” she began, only to realize she had no idea what to do if someone didn’t want her help. She did not think it had happened in the time since she had become aware of injustice, and things that needed doing. By her.

Speaking of which, she had seven shifts to make before the end of the month. And now she had to find Mr. Wolcott a bride. It shouldn’t be too difficult. Mr. Wolcott was attractive, no matter his birth.

Plus Pearl was quite good at sewing, so she would likely be able to assist.

“The situation has not come up,” she said firmly. Ignoring the image of Pearl’s raised brow in her mind.

“Of course not.” Was he laughing at her? How dare he? He was just a—well, no, she couldn’t think of him that way, not if he was to be her project. Her mission.

“But tell me,” she began, hoping she hadn’t revealed her thoughts on her face, “what are your most important attributes for a bride?”

She settled back in her chair, clasping her hands in her lap, her eyes focused on him. On that unruly hair that curled down over one eye, giving him an almost piratical look. On how, although he was seated, he looked like he was still moving, even though he was still. As though he was an arrow waiting to be shot straight into someone’s heart.

Not hers, of course. And speaking of hearts, he hadn’t answered, even though she had given him plenty of opportunity.

“Well?” she demanded, tilting her head to look at him pointedly. “You were going to say?”



Damn, but she was likely the most managing female he’d ever met. Not that he’d met that many; the women in his father’s household were servants, and he rarely interacted with them. The women he chose for more pleasurable pursuits seldom argued with what he wanted to do to them, since they seemed to enjoy it so much.

But still. He wondered if she would be just as authoritative in more intimate circumstances. He grinned to himself as he imagined it—caress my breast more slowly, Mr. Wolcott—then swiftly smoothed his expression so she wouldn’t demand to know what he was thinking of.

What had she asked, anyway?

Oh, of course. The kind of woman he wanted for a bride.

He couldn’t tell her the first thought that came into his mind—one who was of respectable enough breeding to please his father, but not so aristocratic that she would spend the rest of her life looking down on her husband.

He didn’t think such a woman existed anyway.

“The type of woman I desire,” he said, mostly to buy himself some time to think of something to say. “She should be intelligent.” Because he could not be married to someone who wasn’t, although that might further limit his choice. “And interested in a variety of things so we have conversational topics to discuss in the evenings.”

She looked at him blankly.

And spoke after a moment. “Is that all you want, Mr. Wolcott?”

Is that all you want?

Well, he wished he could announce that he didn’t want any of it, that he would have to compromise something to find a lady who would marry him. Either she would be dimwitted enough to accept the bastard son of a merchant, or she would be so desperate that she would take marriage to him, which would mean that she hadn’t received any other offers.

It did not bode well for him. He returned her gaze, crossing his arms over his chest. He wished he could just stalk away from the conversation, leave her to her managing ways, watch as she tried to lure Bennett into—No, that wouldn’t be fair. Not to his friend, even though he had no doubt that Bennett could keep himself out of this woman’s thrall.

Although Edward had to ask why his friend was so determined.

“You’re asking me what I want in a wife, Lady Olivia, when you should be asking what it would take for a lady to marry me. I suggest,” Edward said, “that you compile a list of ladies whose families are in great need of funds. Those are the only types of ladies who would even deign to consider me as a suitor.” He took a deep breath. “And if any of those ladies are also intelligent and curious, you will have exceeded my expectations.”

Even as irritated as he was with her, and her questions, he couldn’t deny that she was deliciously attractive. Her eyes sparkled with a fierce intent, and she was breathing rapidly, likely in outrage, which made her breasts push up against the bodice of her gown. A gown that was exquisitely designed for her, with tiny puffed sleeves and an alluring edging of lace at her neckline that shifted as she moved, making his eyes leap to see if anything more would reveal itself.

Sadly, she was enough of a proper young woman that nothing did, but he couldn’t keep himself from looking.

He was nothing if not optimistic.

Only he absolutely wasn’t, he had to admit—from the first time he’d noticed he was treated differently from other boys until this very moment, he was suspicious and wary of everyone. Not without cause; this lady herself had called him a bastard before realizing he was acquainted with Bennett. It was only because she was hoping to impress Bennett that she was undertaking this mission to make him respectable in the first place.

“Intelligent and curious. That is what you want in a wife.” She sounded disappointed, and he felt a surge of anger rise up.