She didn't pretend not to understand. "Even were I inclined to serve as antidote to the sameness of his life, it wouldn't be for long, I'm sure. The transience of his connections is legend."

"You're interested in permanence? Are you looking for a third husband?"

Alex immediately waved her hand in denial. "No, no. I'm quite content alone. On the other hand, I don't wish to find myself added to the viscount's list of casual conquests."

Lillie's brows rose. "But then, there's no guarantees in amour, Miss Ionides. Who of us know how long we'll be amused? When you ended your affair with Mr. Baring, you broke his heart, he said."

A pink flush rose on Alex's cheeks. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Surely you must have known. Harold isn't a Lothario by nature."

"I'm embarrassed to say, you've made your point, Miss Langtry."

"While I didn't in the least wish to embarrass you." She patted Alex's arm. "I'm just asking you to keep an open mind about Sam. You'd enjoy him immensely."

Alex's gaze held a new directness. "Do you speak from personal experience?"

"Does it matter?"

"Perhaps."

"The answer is no. Is that better?"

Alex grinned. "It shouldn't be, but it is."

"Good. Then I wish you much pleasure."

After Miss Langtry left, Alex smiled to herself. Ranelagh had actually been faithful to his wife. A charming quality she'd not thought possible in a man of his stamp. Perhaps she'd misjudged him. Or perhaps she was simply looking for a reason to have misjudged him…


"I'm sorry."

The voice at her ear was without guile and soft with apology, and when she looked up, she saw Ranelagh as penitent, his expression so wholly innocent, she wondered for a moment if she should give him high marks for acting.

"I could send you my card tomorrow and flowers-something small and not too personal. A book perhaps… do you like Ruskin?"

"You don't look the type, Ranelagh, to observe the conventions."

"I could if you wish."

"Why?"

He shrugged infinitesimally. "Reparation-a peace offering for having offended you?"

"Are you and Miss Langtry accomplices this afternoon?"

"What did she say?"

"She extolled your virtues."

He grinned. "I didn't know I had any."

"So I told her."

"And she disagreed? Perhaps she's trying to repay me for my help in placing her winning bets. But she needn't have. I can speak for myself."

"I don't doubt you can."

"From that tone of voice I perceive you still have reservations."

"I do."

"About?"

"Your reputation for dalliance."

"You have one as well and I'm not taking offense."

"We hardly compare, Ranelagh."

"I'd be happy to discuss that matter of degree in any locale you choose."

"What if I said my parents' drawing room tomorrow morning?"

He swallowed before he spoke, but his tone was unruffled when he said, "That would be fine."

"You don't mind meeting my parents?"

"If you wish me to, I will. Don't, however, expect a reciprocal meeting with my parents. We don't get along."

Alex grinned. "Oh, dear, when I was so hoping to meet your mother."

A hint of amusement gleamed in his eye. "I can see you're going to be a great deal of trouble."

"If I allow it."

"Yes, ma'am," he agreed with such deference, she surveyed him with a measuring glance.

"Are you always so amiable?"

"Always."

And she felt a flutter where she didn't wish to feel such a flutter. "I should turn you off."

"Don't." His voice was husky and low, his dark gaze half-lidded.

She felt a mild heat begin to warm her blood, a familiar, tantalizing, insistent heat too long ignored. But her dilemma was compounded by their audience, the viscount's disquieting assurance, and her disinclination to join the large company of women discarded by the man towering above her. "Would you like to take me to the Academy exhibition?" she abruptly asked, her invitation a means of pleasing herself without plunging in completely-a compromise, as it were, between principle and irrepressible feeling.

"Now?"

"Do you have something else to do?"

Several something-elses-most having to do with beds and the naked Miss Ionides-but sensible of the delicacy of the moment, he smiled and said, "I've nothing I'd rather do. I'll make our excuses to Bertie."

"I'll come with you."

"You're sure?"

"I see you're anticipating some vulgar male response from Bertie. We're going to the exhibition, my lord, that's all. And if either you or Bertie think otherwise, I'll be there to clarify my position."

"He's not always… shall we say, well mannered."

"I know Bertie very well. And if he's not courteous with me, I'll point out his deficiency."

"How well do you know Bertie?"

"How well I know him is none of your business."

He shouldn't care, but curiously, he found he did. "You're highly provoking, Miss Ionides."

"And?" Her gaze was the most ravishing purple, and edgy.

His nostrils flared, but his smile an instant later was enchanting. "And I look forward to understanding you better."

"Understanding?" The single word was uttered softly, insinuation in every syllable.

Sam held out his arm. "Let's get the hell out of here." He was back on familiar ground.

Chapter Six

In short order, they were seated side by side in Sam's carriage while the driver navigated the crowded road from Ascot. The viscount was in superb good humor with the object of his pursuit in proximity. Alex was more conflicted, her emotions in flux, and even as she experienced intoxicating desire, she still debated whether she would act on it.

The viscount, more focused, only contemplated the logistics of time and his nearby race box. "Do you actually want to go to the exhibition?" Well bred and courteous, he could have been asking her to partner him in croquet.

She didn't answer at first, struggling against her perception of the viscount and his profligacies, wondering how many times he'd done this before, chiding herself for caring, reminding herself she was a liberated woman unconcerned with prudish propriety. Was she not capable of making a decision based on her own wishes and needs?

"If you're unsure… about-" Sam started to ask.

"Going to bed with you?"

His brows rose. "I was going to say about the exhibition hours."

"The show's open until nine."

"Ah… plenty of time, then," he said affably.

"For what, my lord?"

"Don't get prickly, darling. For whatever you wish."

"I'm not your darling. You already have dozens of those. And I don't do this as a rule and I'm uncertain if I will now, and Lord almighty, Ranelagh, I don't know what I'm doing here. I just met you yesterday."

"If it's any consolation, I told myself the same thing when I couldn't sleep last night-" Her piercing glance stopped him.

"Don't bamboozle me; I didn't keep you from anything last night."

"Au contraire, Miss Ionides. It was a matter of saving face. And I shouldn't have gone."

"Really." Leaning into the corner of the seat, she pursed her mouth and contemplated the folly of believing she'd disturbed Ranelagh's debauch. Even for a night.

Sprawling in the opposite corner, he stretched out his long legs, offered her a surly look, and said, "Really. And I'm wondering why I'm even admitting to such foolishness. I don't know you."

"It's lust, I suppose."

He shook his head. "Lust I know. This isn't precisely it. And that's the problem."

"Does it have to be a problem? Surely, we're both adults."

"So a fuck is a fuck," he said gruffly.

She smiled. "Am I supposed to be shocked?"

He smiled back. "Later maybe."

She acknowledged his remark with a faint lift of her brows. "So our problems are swept aside?"

"I can do so if you can."

"Actually, I'm not sure I'm so cavalier. I've had much less practice."

"Any woman who poses nude for the world to see is beyond cavalier, Miss Ionides. I'd say you're capable of dealing with most anything."

"Including you?"

"I certainly hope so," he answered. "Now, are we going to the exhibition first or afterward?"

"Will there be time… afterward?" Her voice was calm despite the provocation in her query.

"Not if I can help it." He smiled. "I was being tactful."

Her gaze was examining. "Are you really as good as they say?"

"If you're ready, why don't we see? You have my permission to grade me."

"I don't need your permission."

"But you need something else I have."

His grin was infuriatingly cheeky. "Damn you, yes, and I wish I didn't."

He shrugged. "I dislike the intensity of my feelings as well."

She suddenly laughed at their mutual equivocation of everything save desire. "This should be interesting at least."

"I promise to do better than interesting." His voice was exquisitely soft.

"That will be for me to decide," she said lightly.

"If we weren't almost to my race box, I'd show you right now and you could let me know."

She shook her head. "I prefer my studio."

"I don't think so."

"What if I insist?"

His smile was pure seduction. "Insist away."

"Because I'll capitulate to your allure in the end."

"Because we're almost to Fair Grange, and I'll make love to you now instead of an hour from now."

"How convincing you can be." She enjoyed the game, noting how astonishingly beautiful he was at close range.

"You look like a practical woman."

"Or one in heat."

He grinned. "I'm on my best behavior, Miss Ionides. I hope you appreciate it."

"And I hope that good behavior continues once we're in bed. I'm selfish of my pleasure."