to have a man who would not be true to her. Of course, she can stand to be choosy since she is an heiress having no need to be financially provided for. But I did hope to see her safely wed before I left this earthly plane.”
Angus shared more of his frustrating tale. “Your predecessor, Ronald, pursued her for naught. He courted her most singularly. They seemed to have shared a friendship but no more. Angeline refused to accept him as husband.” Angus shook his head as he smiled at Geoffrey. “But, enough of my woes. Have you brought a wife with you, my lord? Will we meet her soon?”
“I have no wife, Angus. I have traveled a great deal in my five and thirty years, leaving no time for marriage or family. Nor had I a desire for any. Now that I must settle down, I need to consider taking to wife. But it shall be no easy challenge. I have spent enough Seasons in London to know I care not a whit for the flighty, featherbrained females who are introduced each year as debutantes. Nor do I wish a cross, crotchety, dried-up old maid. I have my work cut out for me if I am to gain an heir.” Geoffrey took a sip of his wine as he enjoyed the company of his host.
“Well, at least you have that much in common with my daughter. Maybe you should have a set to. She’s not unattractive but she has a strong, stubborn will about her. She will not come easily to marriage nor to the demands of a husband. She should be home soon. She has been out picking wildflowers, a favorite pastime of hers this time of year.”
“Wildflowers . . .” the marquess remarked as a warm smile spanned his face and heat rose once again in his groin. “She has an interest in nature?”
“The girl—well, she really is a woman at two past a score and ten—loves flowers. She spends a great deal of her time in the gardens throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months. Then she pines for the return of the blooms all winter long. You would think she was a flower fairy,” commented the earl with warm affection in his voice.
“Yes, you certainly would,” agreed Geoffrey, as his mind visualized the attractive derrière that had enticed him that very day. His shaft hardened with just the thought of her firm backside against his cock. Could she possibly be as fair of face?
As if in answer to his thoughts, a ruckus was heard in the hall, then the library doors slid open. Angus rose to his feet and turned to greet his daughter.
“Papa, it is such a lovely day. I wish you had come with me for my walk,” Angeline declared. Her mind was still quite distracted from the infraction she had experienced. If only her father had joined her on her excursion as she had requested, no such occurrence would be in her past.
“I am sorry, my child, but I was expecting a guest. Please, let me introduce him to you. Lord Colburn, this is my daughter, Lady Angeline Hartley.”
Geoffrey rose as he turned to meet the object of his physical desire. His gaze slid over her red-gold hair pulled back from her face to accentuate large, seafoam green eyes that looked upon him with curiosity. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from her flower-gathering exertions or, just possibly, the embarrassment of his earlier attentions. Her nose was small and turned up slightly at its tip. Soft, full lips were held together tightly as if she refrained from saying what was truly on her mind. Ignoring her look of irritation, he let his gaze drop over the full breasts he had recently held in his hands, past the slim waist, and the voluptuous hips. She was a beautiful and tidy package, surely unwed purely out of her own contrary attitude.
“Very pleased, I am sure, Lady Angeline.” He smiled at her with a knowing, provocative look.
Geoffrey reached for her hand and took it to his lips. His gaze fixed on hers, he saw her recognition of the deep scratches on the back of his hand. Scratches she had put there only a short time before.
Lady Angeline blanched, then fire flared in her eyes. She
Angus shared more of his frustrating tale. “Your predecessor, Ronald, pursued her for naught. He courted her most singularly. They seemed to have shared a friendship but no more. Angeline refused to accept him as husband.” Angus shook his head as he smiled at Geoffrey. “But, enough of my woes. Have you brought a wife with you, my lord? Will we meet her soon?”
“I have no wife, Angus. I have traveled a great deal in my five and thirty years, leaving no time for marriage or family. Nor had I a desire for any. Now that I must settle down, I need to consider taking to wife. But it shall be no easy challenge. I have spent enough Seasons in London to know I care not a whit for the flighty, featherbrained females who are introduced each year as debutantes. Nor do I wish a cross, crotchety, dried-up old maid. I have my work cut out for me if I am to gain an heir.” Geoffrey took a sip of his wine as he enjoyed the company of his host.
“Well, at least you have that much in common with my daughter. Maybe you should have a set to. She’s not unattractive but she has a strong, stubborn will about her. She will not come easily to marriage nor to the demands of a husband. She should be home soon. She has been out picking wildflowers, a favorite pastime of hers this time of year.”
“Wildflowers . . .” the marquess remarked as a warm smile spanned his face and heat rose once again in his groin. “She has an interest in nature?”
“The girl—well, she really is a woman at two past a score and ten—loves flowers. She spends a great deal of her time in the gardens throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months. Then she pines for the return of the blooms all winter long. You would think she was a flower fairy,” commented the earl with warm affection in his voice.
“Yes, you certainly would,” agreed Geoffrey, as his mind visualized the attractive derrière that had enticed him that very day. His shaft hardened with just the thought of her firm backside against his cock. Could she possibly be as fair of face?
As if in answer to his thoughts, a ruckus was heard in the hall, then the library doors slid open. Angus rose to his feet and turned to greet his daughter.
“Papa, it is such a lovely day. I wish you had come with me for my walk,” Angeline declared. Her mind was still quite distracted from the infraction she had experienced. If only her father had joined her on her excursion as she had requested, no such occurrence would be in her past.
“I am sorry, my child, but I was expecting a guest. Please, let me introduce him to you. Lord Colburn, this is my daughter, Lady Angeline Hartley.”
Geoffrey rose as he turned to meet the object of his physical desire. His gaze slid over her red-gold hair pulled back from her face to accentuate large, seafoam green eyes that looked upon him with curiosity. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from her flower-gathering exertions or, just possibly, the embarrassment of his earlier attentions. Her nose was small and turned up slightly at its tip. Soft, full lips were held together tightly as if she refrained from saying what was truly on her mind. Ignoring her look of irritation, he let his gaze drop over the full breasts he had recently held in his hands, past the slim waist, and the voluptuous hips. She was a beautiful and tidy package, surely unwed purely out of her own contrary attitude.
“Very pleased, I am sure, Lady Angeline.” He smiled at her with a knowing, provocative look.
Geoffrey reached for her hand and took it to his lips. His gaze fixed on hers, he saw her recognition of the deep scratches on the back of his hand. Scratches she had put there only a short time before.
Lady Angeline blanched, then fire flared in her eyes. She