An Introduction to Pleasure Read Free Page B

intelligence. There was no wonder she was so sought after by the men in his circles.
    Hell, a decade ago, he had lusted over her himself. But not now. Now she did nothing for him, not even a quickening of his blood.
    Even if she had, any desire would have been squashed when she smiled at him and the pity she felt toward him was as clear and obvious as her hair or eye color.
    How tiresome it was to always see that damned expression.
    He forced himself to return the smile, though it was just as false.
    “Good afternoon, my lord,” she said as she closed the door behind herself and crossed to him, hands outstretched.
    “Good afternoon, Vivien.” He took them, and she pressed a kiss to each cheek before she stepped back and looked him up and down.
    “I have not seen you in so long; I’m so pleased to have you here,” she said, motioning to the two chairs before the fire. “Please, sit. May I get you tea or other refreshment? You were always a fan of bourbon, were you not?”
    Andrew tilted his head. Damn, but she was good.
    “A bit too early for bourbon for me, I am afraid.”
    She laughed. “I suppose so. I am simply pleased you are here at all. I must admit, I was a little surprised when you answered my missive, let alone so quickly. I half expected you to ignore me. Or at least refuse my request for a call.”
    Andrew arched a brow. Vivien had always been direct, that was certain.
    “Who could refuse you?” he asked.
    Her smile grew more wry. “I hear told that you refuse many, if not all, of your old friends nowadays.”
    Andrew pursed his lips. He knew what those in his former circles said about him. He had received at least two accusatory letters from old friends who called him all manner of names because he had turned them away again and again. But he didn’t want to get into a long discussion about those facts with Vivien. In the end, he hardly knew the woman and he refused to discuss his personal life with his own family; why would he drag it out for her to see?
    He shrugged. “Perhaps I simply like you more.”
    She tilted her head. “If that is true, than I am flattered.”
    “ But ,” he stressed, “my time today is short. There must be some reason you called me here beyond wishing to press me about why I no longer see our mutual friends.”
    Vivien nodded as she got to her feet. “There is. Would you follow me out onto my terrace and I will clarify my reasons?”
    Andrew wrinkled his brow. The terrace? What an odd request. Odd and somewhat intriguing. He got to his feet and followed her to the double doors that led out onto a sunny terrace. There was a table and chairs there, but Vivien passed those by and moved to the terrace wall. She leaned there and looked out over her gardens.
    Slowly, Andrew joined her. He had no idea what this was all about, but it felt just a little like an ambush to him. Though what Vivien could hope to ensnare him into, he couldn’t say. Entrapment had never been her personality; in fact it was just the opposite: Vivien caught with honey, not vinegar.
    “What is this all about?” he asked, perhaps a bit more peevishly than he had intended to sound.
    She didn’t react to his sharper tone.
    “How much do you hear about your old circles now that you have divorced yourself from the life you once led?”
    Andrew faltered. The woman was shrewd and had just summed up exactly what he’d done. “Not much,” he finally admitted softly.
    “Then perhaps you do not know that I am no longer the mistress to any man in Society.” She smiled and he saw a flicker of relief to her expression that he had not expected. Vivien had always seemed contented in her role in the world. “But I continue to keep myself in that world. I have recently begun matching young women with protectors.”
    Andrew nodded. “Er, yes, I believe I might have heard such a thing in passing.”
    For the life of him, he couldn’t remember who had said that, but he did not think it was new