wants a wife. Every man needs a wife.”
“That is a completely false statement.”
“Is it? I don’t think so. Perhaps you, the adventurer, didn’t need a wife. But you are an earl now, and you must have a wife—you need an heir.” She waved her hand. “It’s bound to happen sooner or later, and I’m the perfect person to select a bride for you. I know all of the available women, and I can give you the details on them.”
“I take back what I said before about your previous plan. This is the foolish plan.”
“I don’t believe it is.”
He came to his feet so that he towered over her. “Don’t think I don’t know the real reason you are doing this.”
“Because you need a wife, I told you,” Vivian said. She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked up at him.
“No, you’re doing this—” He leaned over, bracing his hands on the arms of her chair, effectively pinning her into her seat. He looked directly into her eyes. “—because you think it will keep me away from you.” His glance dropped to her mouth and he licked his lips.
Vivian wasn’t certain if her corset was too tight or if she was nearing a swoon, but it suddenly felt difficult to breathe. She watched his tongue slide across his bottom lip and she bit down on hers to keep her own mouth closed.
He leaned in close and whispered against her ear. “You think it will keep me from kissing you.”
She shivered in response and knew her breath caught.
Again he looked into her eyes. “But know this, Vivian March. Finding me a wife isn’t going to distract me from pursuing you. I’m coming after you, so you had best prepare yourself.”
Coming after her.
What did that mean? And why the devil was she currently feeling so bloody alive? She should be furious at his roguish behavior! She was certainly intent on finding him a wife. Tomorrow Clarissa and her aunt would come for a visit and together they would create a list of potential brides for him. This matchmaking was going to happen despite his efforts otherwise. Once he saw the beautiful young women eager to be on his arm, he’d forget all about this ridiculous idea of seducing her.
Vivian would be a liar, though, if she didn’t admit there was a tiny piece of her that hoped he might be successful. But she knew she’d never allow herself to be seduced again.
The following morning, Vivian closed the door to the front parlor and turned to face her aunt and her two guests. “I’m so pleased you could join me this morning. We have a most important task ahead of us, ladies, so I felt it best for all of us meet.”
Clarissa and her Aunt Maureen sat beside one another on the pale green settee. “Your note was most urgent,” Clarissa said. Then her hand went to her throat. “Oh dear, have the rumors begun?”
For the first time, the girl seemed truly concerned about the predicament in which she’d placed herself. Vivian waved her hand. “No, no, nothing of the sort. This meeting is entirely about your brother.”
Clarissa visibly relaxed. “Boorish, isn’t he?”
“Well, I—that is to say, I believe he needs a wife.” She wasn’t going to detail all that had transpired between herself and Marcus with his sister and aunt, so she used another excuse. “A feminine hand will soften his rougher edges—civilize him, so to speak.” Not to mention, she herself was so weak, she feared she’d need him married off so she wouldn’t succumb to temptation.
“Excellent plan, my dear,” Aunt Rose said. “But matchmaking, Vivian? Need I remind you about the time you attempted to convince Miss Rosewood to set her cap for Viscount Tilton?”
Vivian shook her head. “No, I’m still trying to forget.” Then she started to giggle.
“Someone had to convince her to set her cap for him?” Clarissa asked. “Oh, you simply must tell us the story.”
Vivian looked at the faces surrounding her, smiling, expectant. “He seemed lonely and she was not as yet married and it
“That is a completely false statement.”
“Is it? I don’t think so. Perhaps you, the adventurer, didn’t need a wife. But you are an earl now, and you must have a wife—you need an heir.” She waved her hand. “It’s bound to happen sooner or later, and I’m the perfect person to select a bride for you. I know all of the available women, and I can give you the details on them.”
“I take back what I said before about your previous plan. This is the foolish plan.”
“I don’t believe it is.”
He came to his feet so that he towered over her. “Don’t think I don’t know the real reason you are doing this.”
“Because you need a wife, I told you,” Vivian said. She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked up at him.
“No, you’re doing this—” He leaned over, bracing his hands on the arms of her chair, effectively pinning her into her seat. He looked directly into her eyes. “—because you think it will keep me away from you.” His glance dropped to her mouth and he licked his lips.
Vivian wasn’t certain if her corset was too tight or if she was nearing a swoon, but it suddenly felt difficult to breathe. She watched his tongue slide across his bottom lip and she bit down on hers to keep her own mouth closed.
He leaned in close and whispered against her ear. “You think it will keep me from kissing you.”
She shivered in response and knew her breath caught.
Again he looked into her eyes. “But know this, Vivian March. Finding me a wife isn’t going to distract me from pursuing you. I’m coming after you, so you had best prepare yourself.”
Coming after her.
What did that mean? And why the devil was she currently feeling so bloody alive? She should be furious at his roguish behavior! She was certainly intent on finding him a wife. Tomorrow Clarissa and her aunt would come for a visit and together they would create a list of potential brides for him. This matchmaking was going to happen despite his efforts otherwise. Once he saw the beautiful young women eager to be on his arm, he’d forget all about this ridiculous idea of seducing her.
Vivian would be a liar, though, if she didn’t admit there was a tiny piece of her that hoped he might be successful. But she knew she’d never allow herself to be seduced again.
The following morning, Vivian closed the door to the front parlor and turned to face her aunt and her two guests. “I’m so pleased you could join me this morning. We have a most important task ahead of us, ladies, so I felt it best for all of us meet.”
Clarissa and her Aunt Maureen sat beside one another on the pale green settee. “Your note was most urgent,” Clarissa said. Then her hand went to her throat. “Oh dear, have the rumors begun?”
For the first time, the girl seemed truly concerned about the predicament in which she’d placed herself. Vivian waved her hand. “No, no, nothing of the sort. This meeting is entirely about your brother.”
Clarissa visibly relaxed. “Boorish, isn’t he?”
“Well, I—that is to say, I believe he needs a wife.” She wasn’t going to detail all that had transpired between herself and Marcus with his sister and aunt, so she used another excuse. “A feminine hand will soften his rougher edges—civilize him, so to speak.” Not to mention, she herself was so weak, she feared she’d need him married off so she wouldn’t succumb to temptation.
“Excellent plan, my dear,” Aunt Rose said. “But matchmaking, Vivian? Need I remind you about the time you attempted to convince Miss Rosewood to set her cap for Viscount Tilton?”
Vivian shook her head. “No, I’m still trying to forget.” Then she started to giggle.
“Someone had to convince her to set her cap for him?” Clarissa asked. “Oh, you simply must tell us the story.”
Vivian looked at the faces surrounding her, smiling, expectant. “He seemed lonely and she was not as yet married and it
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