Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (224 page)

Scott

Beldon coughed and the vicar looked nonplussed.

There was more she'd liked to have said to the sputtering Danforth, but Valerian's hand pressed heavily on her thigh beneath the damask cloth in warning.

She fought back a smile. Was he remembering her infamous temper?

Valerian smoothly intervened with the honed skill of a diplomat. 'For myself, Mr Danforth, I am looking for different qualities in a wife. I prefer a more mature woman, a woman who can speak for herself, who can hold her own in
an
argument. In short, a woman of independence.'

Danforth bristled. 'Yes, I've heard that about you.' His beady gaze met Valerian's directly in a surprising show of spine.

Everyone at the table stopped eating.

wondered how Valerian would confront his 'repu-tation', as it were. Would he deny it? Part of her wished he would.

Valerian smiled. It was not a friendly smile, but a wolfish one that suggested he was not, nor ever would be, the prey. 'Then you will have also heard that I am not afraid of a woman's opinions, that I am not a man who will cower behind old-fashioned thought and conventions when it comes to the suppression of the fairer sex. Much would be missed in our world if we neglected half the population. Take, for example, the excellent champagne our host is serving from his excellent cellar tomorrow night.'

Valerian

to Canton. 'Pendennys mentioned

you'd be offering a Veuve Clicquot, an outstanding champagne thanks to the revolutionary efforts of

38

The Viscount Claims
His
Bride
Clicquot's widow. Did you know, Danforth, that she is responsible for inventing the

process? We

have a woman to thank for clear champagne.

Without her efforts, we'd have nothing more than a cloudy, fizzy novelty.' Valerian raised his glass.

'Here's to Madame Clicquo

In a few short sentences Valerian had eloquently smoothed over Danforth's uncomfortable claims and moved the conversation into the safer realm of wine. Danforth did not venture out to play with verbal fire again.

Dinner went smoothly after that if

did

not count the unnerving sensation of

body

in such close proximity to her own. In all the numerous dinner parties she'd attended, she had not ever noticed the intimate closeness she was now exceedingly aware of with Valerian next to her. His knee touched hers; she dropped her napkin and his hand brushed her

as he bent to retrieve it,

beating the footman to the task.

By the time dessert was served, Philippa's nerves were jangled beyond reason. She stood as soon as it was politely possible. 'Gentlemen, excuse me. I'll leave you to your port and cigars.'

Lucien rose and protested. 'Please stay, my dear.

You are welcome to stay.' He directed the comment at her, but his hazel stare was directed at Valerian.

The look in his gaze was sharp and penetrating, meant to send a message.

So he had noticed Valerian's casual touches, thought, and he'd found them as unsettling

Scott

as she did, but for altogether different reasons. She could feel

eyes read every message,

spoken or not. She had no desire to stay in the dining room and become a prize to be fought over. 'Really, I would prefer to retire and give you gentlemen some privacy,' she insisted, not waiting for permission to leave the room.

collected a shawl from her bedroom and then made good her escape to a quiet veranda where she could let the cold air do its work. She needed a
clear head. Valerian was back and he would have to
be contended with. His presumptuous behaviour at dinner suggested he wasn't the least bit penitent about breaking her young girl's heart, nor was he dis-inclined to live down the

regarding his prof-

ligate behaviour abroad.

Certainly, she didn't want to be petty. What had happened between them had occurred years ago.

They were both adults now. She should put the past behind her. He obviously had if his behaviour at dinner was any indication. He apparently thought she might welcome his advances. But he would have to take her for a fool if he thought she would disregard his well-taught lessons after one flirtatious encounter.

Would she disregard his harsh lesson in love? The thought that she might re-think her position on Valerian was startling. In her mind, she'd often played out an imaginary encounter. In that encounter, she'd been an aloof lady with grand manners, icily polite to a fault and he would know that his attentions had come too late.

40

The Viscount Claims His Bride

Funny how in her imaginings she always assumed he'd care what had become of her. Maybe that was because she could not fathom how he'd gone from a dedicated suitor with words of undying devotion on his lips to that of a cold jilt in the span of a day. Un-disputably, he'd broken her heart, but she'd never quite convinced herself it was for the reasons he'd cited.

None the less, in the end, the results had been the same.

Valerian would drive her mad! Perhaps it was time to think more seriously about Lucien Canton's offer. There had been no

proposal, but much

was implied in their long-standing relationship. She did expect a proposal soon. Perhaps Valerian was the impetus she needed for getting on with her life.