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Authors: Adrienne Basso

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BOOK: A Little Bit Sinful
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“They were all equally enjoyable.”

Sebastian waited, an encouraging smile on his
face. Lady Bianca shyly returned the smile, yet offered nothing else. That was it? That was all she was going to say? God help him, it was like pulling teeth.

They walked for several minutes without saying anything, the topic of the weather and how she was enjoying Town life already exhausted. In Sebastian’s experience, prattling women were the norm—which he occasionally found amusing, yet more often an annoyance. It was, however, something he dealt with skillfully. Quiet was far more complicated.

“Do you enjoy riding?” he asked, casting about for a topic many country girls longed to extol upon.

“I do.” She looked at him inquiringly. “And you, my lord? Are you a keen rider?”

Finally.
Sebastian launched into a story about learning to ride when he was a youngster, embellishing parts with a self-deprecating humor that women always found irresistible. In no time at all Lady Bianca was clutching his arm reflexively as she giggled.

The viscount was very pleased.

“Your dress is lovely,” he purred in a velvety soft tone. “That particular shade of pink adds a rosy hue to your complexion.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

He turned his head to look fully at her and discovered she was already gazing at him. She bit her bottom lip nervously as their eyes met and he could not miss the genuine admiration that washed over her face. A thrilling sense of victory shot through him.

This was almost too easy. A few honeyed words of flattery, a sultry glance, a seductive kiss and the girl would follow him anywhere. She would easily be led
down the path to ruin, assuring Sebastian of his duel. And his revenge.

The conversation continued and before long Sebastian came to a realization that Lady Bianca was precisely as she appeared—a young woman barely past girlhood. At first impression one might think she was a tad frivolous and empty-headed, but he decided she was not a simpleton. She was a simple girl, unspoiled, sweet, and innocent to a fault. After their dance last night he had assumed she was a country lass merely in the need of some Town bronze, but he could now see that she was completely guileless.

A small breeze swirled through the air and he watched the way an amber-hued strand of hair teased her cheek. Yet instead of the familiar male stirring, Sebastian felt an odd sort of pang. She was so young. It somehow seemed wrong, almost depraved, to have any physical desire for her.

They stopped to greet an acquaintance of his. The rest of the women used the opportunity to join them and Sebastian made the introductions. Walter Brommer was a pleasant enough fellow, an urbane, witty sort that females took to immediately. He was also an outrageous flirt and soon had all the women smiling at his over-the-top compliments.

Sebastian glanced at the circle of females. Lady Bianca stood beside Emma and he could not help but compare the two. Lady Bianca was a year older than Emma, yet so much more unworldly.

He reasoned the difference might be attributed to the fact that Emma had older sisters. But Lady Bianca had an older sister. Or perhaps being raised in the country was the cause, yet Emma had also
grown up in a rural village, raised with her sisters by an aunt and uncle after her parents had died.

It must be Emma’s artist’s eye that gave her a maturity beyond her years. That and her wicked sense of humor. Her clever tongue could keep any situation from becoming too dull.

Sebastian continued to study Lady Bianca. Her beauty was without question, but her overt innocence was a distraction. He had never understood the appeal of an untutored, inexperienced female. The idea of trying to coax a kiss from her rosy, plump lips made him feel like a lecher of the worst kind. Yet he would have to at least kiss her in order to create the scandal.

“Might I beg a moment of your time, my lord?”

Sebastian glanced down at the gloved hand resting on his forearm, then up into the face of Lady Eleanor. Her features were void of any specific emotion, yet Sebastian sensed an undercurrent of anxiety. It made him wary, yet it would have been impossibly rude to refuse. They set themselves off to the side, away from the boisterous group.

“Are you enjoying the afternoon, Lady Eleanor? Walking in the park, breathing in the fresh, crisp air? Or is it the society that interests you more than the grass and the trees?”

Her expression grew wooden. Lady Eleanor, it appeared, was not a woman who appreciated small talk.

“I am interested in you, my lord,” she said. “Or more specifically I am interested in discovering why a man of your years, reputation, and experience is being so attentive to my sister.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not to me.”

Sebastian frowned. “You do your sister a disservice with that remark,” he said, with a tad more fervor than he intended. “Lady Bianca is a unique, remarkable young woman. A man would be a blind fool if he wasted the chance to win her heart.”

She flashed him a cool look. “Do you mean to tell me that you have conceived a genuine affection for my sister after a single dance?”

He smiled charmingly, yet avoided her eyes. “You are forgetting the walk she and I just took. That makes it two meetings.”

“I’m sure there are many who find your sarcastic wit a great delight.” She lifted her chin, her manner, remarkably, even stiffer than before. “I, however, do not.”

Well, that certainly put him in his place. Sebastian considered her quietly. He knew deception was essential to his plan, but whenever possible he hoped to avoid a direct lie. “No one can prevent a man’s heart from going where it chooses.”

She went very still. “How can a heart choose something it does not know?”

Her steady gaze made him want to twist and squirm. There was no way to answer her question without sounding like a besotted young fool. “The mysteries of the heart have confounded people through the ages,” he said solemnly. “I fear I am at a loss to explain it.”

“Well, this is all very sudden, very unexpected.” She turned her face away abruptly, taking in a sharp breath. “I want only the best for Bianca. Her
happiness is the most important thing to me and I will do all within my power to see her achieve it.”

Sebastian frowned. Lady Eleanor’s loyalty to her sister was commendable, yet her tenacity worrisome. This proper, virtuous chaperone could be a serious obstacle to his plan.

“Forgive me, Lady Eleanor, but how can you possibly know what will make your sister happy?”

“I know what will make her unhappy, Lord Benton.” She turned her face to his. “A known womanizer with no sense of propriety, faithfulness, or restraint.”

“And what does that have to do with me?” he asked softly.

She had the grace to blush, but she did not lower her gaze. “From what I have been hearing, that appears to be the essence of you, my lord.”

Her insulting remarks should have incited his anger, but he found himself unable to dispute her claim. And admiring her for having the courage to confront him.

“I’ll own that my reputation is not untarnished. I’ve hardly lived like a monk, but neither am I the villain you seem determined to make me,” Sebastian said. “‘Tis often said that a rake has no chance at redemption unless he has the love and guidance of a good woman to keep him from falling into infamy. Would you deny me that chance?”

“A man’s redemption seems a monumental task for any female and even more so for a young, impressionable lady,” she replied.

“Yet well worth the effort.”

“You will forgive me if I hold my judgment on that opinion.” She continued gazing at him, her
expression unyielding. “After all, not every man can be saved.”

“True.” Sebastian felt his lips starting to curl into a smile. “Nor should they be.”

She tilted her head, a hint of suspicion forming in the depths of her eyes. “Are you mocking me, my lord?”

“Quite the contrary, Lady Eleanor. I applaud your honesty. A trait I despair is sorely lacking in most women.”

Though he suspected she was trying to prevent it, he saw the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It scarcely made her beautiful, but the softening of her expression showed him that she was, surprisingly, an attractive woman. Not stunning like her sister, but a decent-looking female.

She was tall, possessing the womanly curves he preferred in a woman. Her features were plain, yet soft. Her hair was a rich shade of brown, her eyes a twinkling hazel, with long, dark, lush lashes.

She was the type of female who looked best in vibrant colors, deep shades in jewel tones that set off the richness of her complexion and the sparkle in her eyes. Unfortunately, she did not choose to wear the colors that would enhance her appearance, but instead elected to dress herself in dull grays and serviceable browns. He wondered why.

“If your intentions are serious, Lord Benton, then I expect you to call upon us like a proper suitor. And if they are not …”

Sebastian gave her a startled look. “Surely you are not questioning my intentions?”

“I do not know you, my lord, but I know my sister. She is a sweet and kindhearted young lady who has
led a very sheltered life. Though possessing a keen intelligence, Bianca is incapable of realizing when a man is trying to take advantage of her.” Her prim voice grew even more forceful. “After all, ‘tis a well-known fact you have an aversion to marriage.”

He raised his brow.

“A fear of marriage?” she amended.

“Indeed?” Sebastian felt his muscles draw up tight. “My reputation isn’t all that impressive, based mostly on my wild-oat-sowing youth. I daresay it makes a gentleman a more dashing, attractive catch.”

“For whom? An impressionable young girl who doesn’t understand the importance of character?”

Ouch. That stung.
‘Twas bad enough to have his motives questioned, but her unerring quest for the truth was even more disconcerting. “Is that why you have never married?” Sebastian asked, hoping to divert her attention by changing the focus of the conversation. “Was true character lacking in your beaus?”

“No.” For the first time she flushed. “He was noble in character, though not in birth, and proved his mettle by understanding the difficult choice I had to make.”

Willpower alone kept the surprise from Sebastian’s face. He had made the remark to throw her off balance, never imagining there actually had been a serious relationship in her past. How very interesting. Perhaps there was a way to use this to his advantage?

“What happened?”

She sent him a sideways glare and he expected her to tell him it was none of his business. Instead she shrugged and said quietly, “The social and
financial chasm between us was too vast to breach without taking drastic measures. Sadly, I was not free to make them.”

“Yet he was a man of good character? A man you admired?”

“Yes, very much.” For an instant Lady Eleanor’s eyes clouded with emotion. “And loved.”

“You do not think Lady Bianca could love me the same way?”

Lady Eleanor blinked her eyes rapidly, coming back to herself with admirable speed. “I do not know my sister’s heart, nor will I try to unduly influence it. But I will diligently seek to find a man for her who is eminently trustworthy and dependable. An honorable man who is steady and predictable.”

“Dull.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You left out dull.” Sebastian had to press his mouth firmly together to hold back his laughter. “Everything you said implies a dull fellow.”

“You are wrong. Stability and respectability are not dull traits.” Her brows furrowed for a moment. “Not always.”

He sighed. “I seem to be hearing a great deal about what you want in a man for Lady Bianca. What of her wishes? Are they to be taken into consideration also?”

Sebastian fixed her with a stare that others found intimidating, yet Lady Eleanor’s eyes never wavered from his.

“I have taken charge of my sister’s welfare since she was a young child. ‘Tis a natural, protective instinct, not easily dismissed.”

Sebastian pursed his lips. Lady Eleanor was proving
herself to be a royal pain in his arse, though try as he might, he could not help but respect her. Even like her a bit. It was obvious that as the elder sister she had been the dependable, steady one. Possibly even a substitute parent.

“I don’t know what I can say to ease your mind,” he finally answered.

“That’s even more troubling,” she said grimly, before straightening her spine. “I acknowledge it is not my place to order Bianca’s life, but I feel the need to protect her.”

“Understandable. You are determined to protect her from disaster. Namely, me.”

She closed her eyes briefly. He wondered whether she was embarrassed or trying to maintain her patience.

“My sister has a rather modest dowry,” Lady Eleanor said. She opened her eyes and turned them fully upon him. “If your expectations were of a vast fortune, I am afraid you will be sorely disappointed.”

Ah, so now she thought him a fortune hunter, in addition to an unscrupulous rake. No wonder she was trying to scare him off. “My estates are amazingly sound. I say amazingly since I can claim no credit for their solvency beyond hiring an honest, competent steward. That’s not to say that I have piles of money to burn, but I am far from impoverished. Does that ease your mind at all, Lady Eleanor?”

Her mouth twisted, but before she could reply they were interrupted.

“Our carriage approaches,” Gwendolyn announced in a loud voice. “Time for afternoon calls.”

Sebastian set his fingers to his temples, grateful for the interruption. His conversation with Lady Eleanor had gone in so many directions his head was fairly spinning. Additionally, her interference had taken time away from his pursuit of Lady Bianca, but worse, he feared her continued diligence was going to make it difficult to manipulate young Bianca into a compromising position.

“May we give anyone a lift?” Dorothea asked. “Mr. Brommer? Ladies?”

Brommer declined the offer. So did Lady Eleanor, explaining their carriage was also in view. After a general farewell that encompassed everyone, she took up a position beside her sister, a protective expression on her face.

BOOK: A Little Bit Sinful
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