Seduction in Mind Read Free

meant—
    Good God—she was carrying on like an infatuated adolescent.
    Perhaps she should spend a few hours with young Harry and assuage her sexual urges, she tersely thought; he was always so grateful for her company. But boyish gratitude didn't hold much appeal when Ranelagh's virile maleness was in the forefront of her brain. Nor did young Harry's sweetness prevail over the unabashed impatience in Ranelagh's eyes.
    "No!" she exclaimed, the sound of her voice shocking in the confined space of her carriage, as was the flagrant extent of her desire.
    She really,
really
needed to talk to Rosalind. Her friend was always the voice of reason… or at least one of caution to her rash impulses.
     
    Lady Ormand was entertaining at tea and Alex had to sit through a long, tedious hour before the last guest finally departed. "How do you stand it?" Alex exclaimed as the footman closed the door on the Viscountess Compton. "The conversation was solely of frocks and gowns. Do those women have a life beyond visiting their modiste?"
    "Gwendolyn brought Emily and May today since they're in town, and you know how—"
    "Shallow they are?"
    Her friend smiled. "Indeed. But consider, you learned how to get Brussels lace for half price from Honitons."
    "If I'd been listening after the first five minutes, I might have."
    "I commend you for your courtesy, then. I doubt they noticed. So tell me, darling, what brought you here at such a dangerous time of day? I know how you dislike teatime."
    "I needed your counsel or advice"—Alex paused—"or perhaps only a sympathetic ear." And she went on to explain the tale of her introduction to Ranelagh.
    "You have to admit, he's the most heavenly man in London." Rosalind shrugged her dainty shoulders. "Or England, or the world, for that matter."
    Alex offered her friend a sardonic glance. "Thank you for the discouragement."
    "Forgive me, dear, but he
is
lovely."
    "And he knows it and I don't wish to become an afternoon of amusement for him."
    "Would you like it better if it were more than an afternoon?"
    "No. I would prefer not thinking of him at all. He's arrogant and brazenly self-assured and no doubt has never been turned down by a woman in his life."
    "So you're the first."
    "I meant it facetiously."
    "And you've come here to have me bolster your good judgment and caution you to reason."
    "Exactly."
    "And will that wise counsel suffice?"
    Alex exhaled softly. "Perhaps if you're with me day and night," she muttered.
    Rosalind's pale brows rose. "He's said to have that effect on women. In fact, Allison still trembles at the mention of his name, and her stories of his prowess are quite—unbelievable."
    "And it annoys me immeasurably that I'm feeling as beguiled as all the mindless Allisons he amuses himself with—and don't look at me like that… you know Allison prides herself on
never
having read a book."
    "While in contrast to Ranelagh's host of houris, you wish your intellect to be in control of your desires."
    "I insist on it."
    "Is it working?"
    Alex shoved her teaspoon around on the embroidered linen cloth for a lengthy time before she looked up. "No."
    "So the question becomes—what are you going to do?"
    "I absolutely refuse to fall into his arms." She glared at her friend. "Do you understand? I won't."
    "Fine. Are there matters of degree, then?"
    "About what?"
    "About falling into his arms. Would you fall, say, after a certain duration, or never in a million years?"
    Alex shifted uncomfortably, tapped her fingers on the gilded chair arm, inhaled, exhaled, was silent for several moments more. "I'm not sure about the million years," she said finally.
    "Ah." Rosalind scrutinized her friend with a benevolent gaze. "Then some measure of compromise will be required."
    "How do you possibly compromise with a man like that? Women have been flinging themselves at him his entire life."
    "But you haven't."
    "Not yet."
    Rosalind leaned back on the settee, her expression amused. "That would be a first,