Free Seduction In Silk: A Novel of the Malloren World (Malloran) by Jo Beverley Page B

but I can’t wait for the tale.”
    Perry went upstairs. He liked Genova’s cozy paneled room and it seemed a good place to savor victory.
    As they both sat, he said, “Miss Mallow has brothers.”
    “Who are large and strong and will defend her from vile imposition?”
    “Who are eleven years old and likely to have a hard road without money and patronage.”
    “Oh, by the stars. She’ll sacrifice herself for them?”
    He was surprised by her outrage. “Her duty, surely.”
    “Why? Is the family so impoverished that they lack education?”
    “Not that I know, but the bare bones of an education are not the same as what I could offer.”
    “The bare bones will do, however, if they have brains and resolution. Then there’s always the navy. They could go now as cabin boys. Many have risen from there to admiral.”
    “Even there they’ll rise more easily with patronage; don’t deny it.”
    Her lips tightened, which was an admission, but Perry had been surprised by her reaction. Of course she wasn’t cast from a common mold. He’d heard that she’d shot and killed a Barbary pirate who’d tried to capture her to sell to a harem.
    “If you’d had a younger brother, would you have felt the same?” he asked.
    “The situation would never have arisen.”
    “Imagine it. By some disaster you were left orphaned and with little money, with a young brother hardly out of childhood for whom you care. A gentleman offers marriage which will provide comfort and security for you and a bright future for your brother. Would you reject it so absolutely?”
    She frowned. “Annoying man. Probably not. Unless the marriage was abhorrent to me.”
    “There is no reason for this marriage to be abhorrent to Miss Mallow.”
    “That is for her to judge.”
    “Unreasonable woman! There’s no reason for this marriage to be abhorrent to her, because I’ve promised that after the vows are said I will leave her completely to her own devices.”
    Genova cocked her head. “That does remove many objections. However, before the law you would still be her master.”
    “As Ashart is yours.”
    “A factor that weighed with me, I assure you. Love is the very devil.”
    Perry laughed. “Not something that will trouble Miss Mallow and me. And thus, we will both be perfectly comfortable.”
    She still looked dissatisfied, but she didn’t press her point.
    “I was reminded of the boys by the grandmother, so I have an ally there. Grannie Mallow is no rural witch but a lady of some stature. I’ll discover more when I have time. She said she fled her marriage, and someone in the inn said she was of noble birth. She’s certainly ill suited to Lavender Cottage.”
    “Then she probably seeks improvement for herself, even at her granddaughter’s expense. And thus you are triumphant.”
    “You sound as if you’d prefer that I fail.”
    “I would.”
    “Why?”
    “Because your path always seems so smooth.”
    “Dear lady, only because I take care to smooth it before I step forward. Giles Perriam pushed me onto a rough track lined with brambles, but now all is straight again.”
    Perhaps she growled. “Oh, I do hope she says no.”
    “And I hope you’re wrong. Tomorrow, I put it to the test.”
    Ashart came in then, and Perry told the tale again. Ashart found it amusing but said, “If you’re going to be a landowner, you might want to accompany me on some business after dinner.”
    “I intend that my wife manage the estate.”
    “But you’ll want to supervise.”
    Perry wouldn’t, but he didn’t argue the point. Riding around the Cheynings estate would be no penance. However, Genova’s reaction jangled in his mind. She still hoped for resistance, and he wanted the matter settled.
    *  *  *
    That evening, as they took coffee in the drawing room, Perry turned to Genova and said, “You mentioned wooing Miss Mallow.”
    “And you rejected the very idea,” Genova pointed out.
    “I’m reassessing.”
    “Not so certain that Miss