reached down and picked up her dance card and pencil.
Cupping both in his gloved hand he returned to Millicent and said, “How have you been, Miss Blair?”
She was surprised and apprehensive when he didn’t immediately return the card to her. However, she couldn’t let him know how desperate she was to get those notes back in her hands.
Politely she brushed her hands down the sides of her dress and answered, “Very well, sir. And you?”
“Same, thank you. I’ve been to three parties this evening looking for you.”
“Well, it seems you finally ran right into me.”
His smile was more than a bit roguish as he answered, “Yes. I apologize again for such a brutish greeting.”
“No need. Thank you for finding my dance card and pencil.”
She held out her gloved hand palm up, but again he made no offer to give them to her, and she was forced to lower her arm because some guests continued to stare at them. It was clear he was going to hold her things hostage until he was ready to return them.
“I should like to call on you tomorrow afternoon, Miss Blair. Would that be acceptable?”
His question was so unexpected she just looked at him for a moment, but regained her wits and said, “No, I don’t think I should like that, sir.”
His eyebrows shot up in a challenging manner. “Do you find me unattractive, Miss Blair?”
“No, you are quite aware that the opposite is true. You are a most attractive man.”
She watched as his gaze swept down her face and back up to her eyes. Something inside made her yearn to give in to his wishes and for a moment it was difficult to catch her breath.
“Thank you. Though, I wasn’t soliciting compliments. I’m trying to understand why you consider me an unacceptable suitor?”
She looked away for a moment before turning back to look into his eyes. “Unacceptable is too harsh a word.”
“Then I’m confused. Explain why you won’t agree to receive a call from me?”
Millicent had feared something like this from Lord Dunraven after this afternoon. If not for how she was helping her aunt she would be thrilled to accept a call from him, even knowing he was a rake and a scoundrel not to be trusted. It was because he was a man who flirted with a lady’s emotions that she must rebuff him.
“I’m quite busy enough, but I do thank you for your kindness in wanting to call on me.”
“You thank me for my kindness. That’s not what I wanted to hear. Are you so busy receiving calls from other gentlemen that you don’t have time for me?”
“To be perfectly honest, Lord Dunraven, we really don’t get on together very well. And I see no reason to make us suffer through an afternoon together.”
He questioned her with his eyes. “Surely that is not an honest answer, Miss Blair.”
No it wasn’t.
“A gentleman wouldn’t challenge a lady’s honesty, sir?”
“I’m not feeling the gentleman right now.”
“I noticed.” Millicent was very close to being flustered, and she never became flustered. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I really don’t see the point in carrying this conversation any further, Lord Dunraven, but, yes, I do thank you for asking to call on me.”
He stepped closer and lowered his voice so those who were standing nearby would not hear him. “It’s not as if I’m asking you to marry me.”
“I should think not.”
“You sound as if the very idea horrifies you.”
“What? You calling on me?”
“No, the idea of marrying me.”
Her eyes widened. “Sir, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Damnation, no,” he said too loudly, causing a few glances their way.
Several people stared at them, and Millicent noticed frowns on the faces of the men and shocked expressions on the faces of several ladies.
“I apologize for my manners, Miss Blair, but I’m finding you extremely frustrating at the moment.”
“In that case, return my card and pencil and we will bid our farewells.”
“Not so fast and not until I get a reasonable answer about why I shouldn’t call on you tomorrow afternoon.”
Millicent had to remain firm, no matter how she felt to the contrary. She had no doubt that an afternoon with him would be thrilling, but she couldn’t afford the attention Lord Dunraven would bring to her.
“Very well, I tried to spare you, but if you must know the truth, not only am I quite aware of your reputation among the ton, I have experienced it firsthand. I don’t feel it would be in my best interest