The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,34

be generous, I can at least take care of the children.”

“What the hell has that to do with me? As you so succinctly pointed out, I haven’t a feather to fly with.”

“If you would only listen and stop interrupting, I shall tell you, my lord,” Livvy replied with a tut of impatience.

The earl gave a snort. “I’m all ears, but for heaven’s sake call me King, everyone else does, and this conversation is so damned inappropriate already I don’t see what harm it can do.”

“Very well, King. My aunt holds a lavish New Year’s Eve house party every year. The event runs for several days, and it is my intention to go there to find a man who will marry me. I will set my sights on someone less likely to be besieged with marriage-minded young women. An older man, perhaps, or one most ladies would find disagreeable for some aesthetic reason, or someone in trade. I’m really not the least bit picky, providing he is kind, and willing and able to help my nieces and nephews. I understand my aunt invites all sorts to her parties, so I hope there will be a few options. I won’t have long, however, for if my brother realises where I am, he will come after me.”

The earl said nothing, indeed he barely blinked, so Livvy ploughed on. “I must make some suitable man so besotted with me, in a short amount of time, that he will propose. I flatter myself that I am not such a dreadful prospect, even if I have no dowry. Please do not think me entirely foolish. I do realise it is a ridiculous plan and likely doomed to failure. I am desperate, though, and this is my only chance. I must take it. I must at least try.”

King stared at her. He looked appalled. She waited, giving him time to gather himself and give her an answer.

“Well?” she demanded.

“Well, what? I still don’t have the faintest notion what you want from me.”

“Oh,” Livvy replied, realising she hadn’t exactly spelled it out. “Forgive me, I thought it obvious.”

“I haven’t the least idea why!”

Livvy huffed at his indignant tone. “Well, look at me,” she said, holding her arms out as the wind made her skirts billow about her. “I’m hardly suited to seduction, am I? I need help, King. I need your help. Teach me how to be, how to talk and flirt, how to make a man want me. I don’t need him to love me, only to want me enough to offer for me. I know there must be a knack to it, and you must have seen it in action countless times. Not every successful courtesan is a great beauty, are they? So teach me, teach me how to make a man wild with passion, for I haven’t the least idea how to begin. I’ve never even been kissed. Not once! I must remedy this if I’m to have a chance.”

For a moment he just gaped at her.

“Well? Say something,” she pleaded.

“You’re stark staring mad.”

“Why?”

He gave a bark of laughter and strode away from her, shaking his head, before apparently thinking better of it and stalking back again. “You can’t possibly think that I… that I would….”

He didn’t seem to be able to put it into words and walked off again.

Livvy waited. He couldn’t get off the beach in that direction, so he’d have to come back again. He did.

“Miss Penrose,” he said, his tone suggesting she had tried his patience to its limits. “I am a guest in your brother’s house. He was kind enough to take me in, and we both know he quite likely saved my sorry carcass. If you think me so utterly morally bankrupt as to seduce his sister whilst under his roof in such circumstances, then I… I….”

He threw up his hands, apparently lost for words.

“But you aren’t seducing me,” Livvy cried. “That’s the whole point. You are helping me, teaching me. To seduce someone you need to persuade someone to do something they wish for but know is wrong. I don’t wish for this, I need it. I must have it! I need you. Please!”

Somehow, during her impassioned little speech, she had moved closer and clutched at his lapels. Now he put his hands to her wrists and tugged her hands free, taking a step backwards.

“No.”

Livvy stared at him. Something about her words had made his eyes grow dark, and instinct told her that was a good sign. She