How the Marquess Was Won Read Online Free PDF Page B

them. And if much is expected of them.”
    “Ah. Quite the philosophy. A straw into gold sort of thing?” He sounded ironic again. And doubtful. And weary.
    Which made her wonder about the girl he was proposing to install here.
    “If you wish. May I inquire for whom you are investigating our premises?” She did have a duty to the young lady who might soon be joining their numbers here.
    She was impressed with herself so far. She was very, very polite. She was very, very prim. No nun would ever be so sedate, so proper, so disinterested.
    It would all be so much easier, of course, if he didn’t smell so wonderful.
    Starch and very good tobacco, maybe a bit of . . . horse? But she liked the smell of horse. A hint of sea breeze, as if he’d actually walked for a bit out in the hills. He smelled manly. He smelled like wealth.
    She wouldn’t have minded in the least licking him, and she’d never had a thought like that in her entire life.
    Unkissable, she reminded herself.
    “My niece was caught smoking a cheroot. Twice. Among other things. She’s twelve years old and her father is on his third wife in six years, and the latest one cannot tolerate her. I’m given to understand that the feeling is mutual. I’m here on business for my brother, who is away in Northumberland at present. Since I’d planned to be in Sussex I offered to do . . . reconnaissance.”
    “Her third mother? Good heavens. The poor thing. I suppose you should be grateful she hasn’t taken to drink.”
    He turned his head toward her sharply. She sensed he was uncertain whether to smile or frown, and was tempted to do the former, but was uncertain of her .
    Perhaps it had been a bit too impulsively said. And she’d gotten such excellent control over her impulses over the years.
    “Do the girls emerge quite ruined for marriage after you stuff them full of knowledge?”
    And now she suspected he was sending out a subtle foray to test her wit . . . or marital status. And again, here was that suspicion that he was so bored with the proceedings that he’d decided to do anything at all to divert himself, and that included goading her.
    Perhaps he was attempting to charm her in order to make her more kissable .
    “I should imagine most of our girls emerge less tolerant of fools, if that’s what you mean.” She added, “Ha-ha!” unconvincingly when he looked genuinely startled.
    “You’ve naught to fear, Lord Dryden,” she placated hurriedly, remembering that regardless of where she wound up living in the world, she liked Miss Endicott and the academy could use the marquess’s money. “We’re proud of the diversity of skills imparted to the young ladies here. They will leave prepared to raise families, run large households, play the pianoforte, embroider, and pore over their husband’s books to ensure their Men of Affairs aren’t stealing from them. In short, we prepare them to manage nearly any circumstance.”
    “Or nearly any man.”
    That was so quickly said she didn’t have time to bite back a surprised laugh.
    He smiled then. No baring of white teeth, mind you, just a curve of the lips, a show of dimple, a crease at the corner of his eyes. But suddenly he reached out and drew a casual finger along the fine moulding lining the hallway. Like a boy might do. Almost as though he was enjoying himself. Relaxing into her company.
    He wouldn’t find any dust, of that she was certain. The school employed a battery of maids.
    Unkissable, she reminded herself.
    She wondered again if the party he was attending was hosted by the Redmonds.
    “And languages,” she added pointedly. “We try to make certain our girls can speak at least one other language fluently. Such as Italian. For instance. Which I speak. Fluently.”
    “Do you?” he said absently. “Languages are useful. Tell me, since you speak so many languages . . . do you know what . . .” he tipped his head back in thought and recited carefully, as if from memory ‘ ¡Esto