Free A Little Bit Wicked by Robyn DeHart Page B

should have with any of the girls you will be courting. Highly improper. And Marcus, honestly, we are not wild animals. You cannot compare the two. If women went about rolling on the floor and moaning all the time with men coming along and mounting them, as you so crudely called a ball, Society would be no better than orgies I’ve heard about. We are civilized, educated people. We know better.”
    “Yes, we do. Still, it would be a vast improvement if women could speak their desires aloud rather than using some antiquated code.” He had forgotten how different Englishwomen were from women elsewhere. Vivian was very much a proper Englishwoman, so very intelligent, yet she could be somewhat naïve when it came to matters of the flesh.
    “Be that as it may, knowing these things will assist you in finding the right girl.”
    He knew the futility of arguing with her. Vivian had set her course, though he would not agree to stay on it with her, but there was no point in discussing it. Instead, he had other matters to converse about.
    “You are a most fascinating woman, Vivian March.”
    Clearly uncomfortable with his straightforward compliment, she merely smiled and patted her hair.
    “Join me for dinner tonight at Lena and Henry’s,” he said.
    The lines between her brow furrowed. “I cannot.”
    “And why is that?”
    “I am busy.” She waved her hand in front of her. “I am behind on our books. And I really must go through our mail.”
    He eyed the small stack of letters on the writing desk behind her. Crossing his arms over his chest, he raised his eyebrows. “Give me a specific reason and I shall leave you alone.” His words carried an open challenge. “I thought you enjoyed my cousin’s company.”
    “Yes, of course, I enjoy your cousin quite a bit.”
    “I would hate for her feelings to be wounded if you did not attend.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Did she invite me?”
    “Most assuredly she did. She told me quite specifically to not forget to invite you,” he said. It wasn’t true, but had Lena known he was going to see Vivian today, she most certainly would have said those very words.
    She was quiet for several moments, then a slow smile spread across her mouth. “I am rather fond of your cousin. I haven’t seen Lena in a while, and I didn’t get to visit with her much the other night. I suppose I could accompany you.”
    That was far easier than he had anticipated. Vivian had a plan, ulterior motives, he would wager. He suspected she intended to persuade his cousin to her plan of marrying him off, but he said nothing of the matter. It would be far more entertaining to watch how it played out, see what kinds of schemes she planned.
    She came to her feet and moved toward the door, ready to see him out. He followed her over and stood too close to her. Her breath caught at his nearness. He suspected she wondered if he would kiss her again.
    “I shall send a carriage for you,” he said.
    “Marcus, I’m not so certain it’s a great idea for us to spend time alone with one another.”
    He leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss on her cheek. “You have my word that I will not touch you. I shall be a perfect gentleman. Tonight.” He would not make promises for any other evening. He still wanted her. This afternoon had already been an exercise in restraint. Her lessons in flirting had him longing for a time when she would ask him, just once, to kiss her. Even if she did have to do it with a bloody fan.

    “Vivian, dear, the carriage is here!” Aunt Rose called.
    Vivian rounded the corner of the stairs into the main foyer. She walked directly to her aunt and held her wrist out. “Fasten this, please.” Rose busied herself with the bracelet encircling Vivian’s wrist.
    “He said he’d wait outside,” Rose said.
    He had promised to be the gentleman, she reminded herself, trying to calm her nerves. She didn’t know if she was more concerned about him kissing her or not kissing her. “He is right