How to Woo a Widow Read Online Free PDF Page B

had conjured him, Portia felt a presence behind her and she knew it was Tony.
    “Goor morning, Mrs. Daventry,” he said, as she maneuvered Buttons to face him. Tipping his hat to her in a manner that seemed utterly mundane when compared with the heat emanating from his eyes he continued. “I had no idea you were an early riser.”
    “How on earth do you manage to make such a bland statement sound so scandalous?” she wondered, hoping that the blush she felt rising would be interpreted as high color from her gallop rather than the stomach-flipping excitement the sight of him sent surging through her blood.
    “It is a gift,” Tony said lightly. Contrary to what he’d just said, he had hoped to find her here. Remembering her habit of riding out early from the days when he was a frequent guest at the Bascombe estate, he had sought her out here.
    Silence descended upon them as Tony drank in the sight of her.
    He could not remember the last time, if ever, he’d been this drawn to a woman. Certainly he had never felt this way about anyone remotely suited to be his wife. And yet, he felt no anxiety about the idea of her in the role. None of the panic he thought every man felt when the demise of his bachelorhood was in sight. Instead he felt a sense of peace. Like nothing he had ever known.
    “You are looking well this morning, Portia,” he said, noting the way the fabric of her habit accentuated all those lovely curves. “Trysts at Almack’s agree with you it would seem.”
    He watched in appreciation as her bosom heaved with her sharp intake of breath.
    “A gentleman would not speak of that unfortunate incident between us last night.”
    “Unfortunate?” he asked idly, drawing his gelding closer to her mare. “I had rather thought you were enjoying yourself before the arguing. But, no matter. I will endeavor to improve upon my technique. We will, naturally need quite a bit of practice.”
    “Don’t be absurd, Tony!” He smiled inwardly at her discomfiture. So, the lady was not so indifferent as she would have him believe.
    “You know what I mean,” she continued. “What happened between us last night, while…” she paused as if searching for just the right word. “…pleasant, was something that cannot, and will not be repeated. I thought I’d made myself clear. I will not be the subject of gossip.”
    “Let them talk,” he waved off her concern. “We are consenting adults, my dear. And aside from that it is not as if we are entering into some sort of libidinous affair. My intentions are entirely honorable.”
    That gave her pause. Her eyes narrowed for a moment as if she were trying to understand what he’d actually said.
    “Well, of course it would be an affair,” she said finally. “You cannot be serious about marrying me after all. I am a widow of little means. Your intentions would be suspect to any person of sense. And I have always counted myself as that at least.”
    “What if I were truly thinking of marriage, Portia? What then?”
    “That is beside the point. You are not thinking marriage so why should we continue discussing absurd hypothetical situations?”
    What the devil? He felt something inside him snap at her dismissal.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    “It is not hypothetical!” Tony snapped.
    “Of course it is,” Portia said heatedly. “I’m old enough to be your—”
    “Sister?” he asked brusquely. “Cousin? Don’t be absurd Portia. There are only six years between us. And unless you were the most precocious child in history there is no way you could possibly be my mother. Which is what you were about to say, is it not?”
    She had the good grace to color. And dammit it made her even lovelier.
    “Perhaps, I was going to say mother,” she conceded. “But Tony, you must know how people would talk if we two were to make a match of it.”
    “Let them talk. I gave up on trying to make the ton see reason years ago. There is nothing so very scandalous about a lady and a gentleman