The Earl's Wallflower Bride (16 page)

“Really?”

She couldn’t be sure, but he seemed
impressed. “You’d be surprised how many gentlemen think ladies
don’t have the capacity to understand what they’re talking
about.”

His expression softened. “You’re right. We
have a tendency to think ladies ignore what we’re discussing.”

“I’m curious. What do you gentlemen think
ladies are thinking about while you talk business?”

“Fashion, balls, the latest gossip. All
senseless pursuits.”

“They are senseless pursuits, which is why I
don’t bother wasting my time on them. I’d much rather partake in
the conversations gentlemen have.”

He chuckled. “Not all gentlemen have
meaningful conversations. Some enjoy worrying over nonsense like
gambling and gossip.”

“I haven’t come across those
conversations.”

“Given who your father is, I’m not surprised.
Your father has the sense to avoid gentlemen like that. I didn’t
realize he invited you to listen to investment proposals,
though.”

“One thing I admire about my father is his
ability to be subtle about things,” she said. “He has a way of
doing things so others aren’t aware it’s happening.”

“That’s a good trait. I think he’s able to do
it because he’s good with people. I wish I could be so
skilled.”

“I do, too. I might be his daughter, but I
don’t have his gift. I spend most of my time listening to people.
It’s safer that way. You don’t risk doing or saying the wrong
things if you’re quiet. My father manages to find the right things
to say, regardless of the situation.”

“You know,” Warren slowly began as he placed
the coin in her gloved palm, “we might not be so different after
all. I’m not good with people. Except, unlike you, I don’t know
when to keep quiet. As soon as a thought comes to mind, I speak it.
So I actually do say the wrong thing. I think most people tolerate
me because of my money.”

“Most people tolerate me because of my
father.”

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Iris. I
was too full of my own conceit to see what I was doing. I meant it
when I said I want to be better to you. In the little time we’ve
talked, I realize you do have a lot of your father in you. If I
enjoy my conversations with him, it only makes sense that I’ll
enjoy spending time with you. I’d like to start over.”

It was hard not to give in when he was
looking at her in a way that made her knees weak. Her gaze went to
the coin in her hand, finding it safer to focus on that instead of
him. “I’m afraid of being hurt again,” she admitted.

“I know, and I’m to blame for that.”

She clasped the coin in her hand and ventured
another glance in his direction. He seemed sincere. Everything he’d
done and said today seemed sincere. She only hoped she wasn’t
letting months of unrequited love get in her way of making a sound
decision.

“All right,” she said. “We can start
over.”

She noted the relief that flickered across
his face. “Thank you.”

Not knowing what else to say, she offered him
a nod then went back to her valise so she could put the coin back
into the leather pouch.

“So, how did that investment with the jeweler
go?” he asked.

Glad for the change in topic, she said,
“Better than my father expected. My father gave the jeweler my
money to put into the business, and the jewelry became the talk of
the Ton. As soon as Lady Cadwalader and her friends started wearing
it, business took off. I made thirty percent profit. I took the
profit and bought the old Sovereign.” She tightened the strings of
the pouch and slipped it back into the secret pocket of her valise.
“My father still can’t believe that investment paid off so
well.”

Warren grinned. “I can’t, either. I always
thought money was better invested in ships going to Africa to get
the jewels.”

“My father thought so, too.” She took off her
glove and accepted the handkerchief and other glove he held out to
her. She slipped them back into the valise. “I’ve listened enough
to my mother to know ladies can have some influence in London. Even
if gentlemen don’t often listen to their opinion, they spend lots
of money. And jewelry is my mother’s favorite item to buy.”

“I never would have thought to consider what
ladies are buying in choosing what to invest in. I suppose it
wouldn’t do me much good anyway. I don’t make it a habit of talking
to ladies. I talk to gentlemen, and as you pointed out, they don’t
often listen to what ladies think. Like I said, we think you’re
only discussing things like fashion, balls, and gossip.”

Noting the teasing tone in his voice, she
looked up from her valise so she could see his expression. He
seemed much more relaxed now. She had no idea he had a sense of
humor. She’d thought he was serious all the time.

“Well,” she began, not hiding her own smile,
“there’s something to be gleaned from those things. Jewelry is just
one example.”

“Given your ability to afford something like
an old Sovereign, I have no doubt that’s true. But be honest. Can
you see me sitting with a bunch of ladies?”

“No, I can’t. You strike me as a gentleman
who doesn’t spend his time in the company of ladies.”

And that had been one of the things she’d
liked about him early on. He didn’t have the reputation for
mistresses or other indiscretions. More than that, he chose to
surround himself with gentlemen who didn’t, either. She’d taken
that as a promising sign he might be one of the few gentlemen who
wouldn’t take a mistress after marriage.

“I have a hard enough time knowing what to
say to gentlemen, and I share things in common with some of them,”
Warren admitted. “I can’t even begin to imagine what I’d have to
say that ladies would find of interest.”

“All it takes is an inquiry into the latest
fashion or to see if a certain item of gossip is true.”

“I’m sure that would work. It’s just…”

Curious, she turned to him. “Just what?”

“Well, I hate to say this, especially since
you are a lady, but such talk might put me to sleep.”

She burst out laughing. “It bores me, too. I
have to make sure I drink something that helps me stay awake.”

“I could use something to help me stay awake
when I have to be around certain gentlemen.”

“I have yet to come across gentlemen who
aren’t interesting to listen to, but then, my father only
entertains those who share his love of money and politics.”

“So you do enjoy those topics?”

She nodded. “I’m not like other ladies. It’s
why I didn’t fit in.”

“Did you get lonely because of that?”

“From time to time, I did. But as my father
said, it’s better to have one or two good friends I can trust than
a room full of friends I can’t.”

“I take it Bethany’s such a friend.”

“She is. She accepts me, faults and all. Do
you have friends like that?”

“I think so. I’d like to believe I do.”

Surprised by the admission since he seemed to
get along with several gentlemen, she said, “I thought Lords
Worsley and Durrant enjoyed your company the other evening.”
Granted, she hadn’t had a good evening, but it seemed as if he
had.

“I don’t know if they enjoyed my company. We
do business with the same merchant. It seemed logical to get to
know them. I assume they think the same thing. In business, it
behooves gentlemen to find the right partners. Sometimes friendship
comes from it. Sometimes not. But the important thing is we all
walk away from it with a profit.”

“I know what you mean. My father and those he
associates with want to benefit financially from all
discussions.”

A silence fell between them for a few moments
before he asked, “Is there anything you’d like to do?”

She glanced around the room, not sure what he
was getting at. She didn’t think they would consummate the marriage
until that evening, but maybe sometimes couple did it well before
sunset.

“We could go for a walk,” he said. “Also, I
have horses if you prefer going for a ride at Hyde Park. Or, if you
don’t feel like going out, we could go to the drawing room or
den.”

Oh, so that was what he was getting at. She
should have known he hadn’t meant they consummate the marriage. He
had no interest in her that way. Yes, he was making an effort to
get to know her, but that didn’t mean he desired her as she’d
longed to be.

Warren cleared his throat. “Since you have an
interest in investments and business, I thought you might like to
see some of the books in my den. Your father has a couple of the
same ones, but I don’t think he has a few of the ones I do.”

Despite her disappointment, her interest
piqued at the thought he owned some books her father didn’t have.
“Do you have the one by William McGregor on investment
strategies?”

“That’s his latest book, and yes, I do have
it. Have you read it?”

“No. Not yet.”

“You can read it now if you want. I finished
it last week. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.”

“You would?”

He smiled. “Of course. Now that I know how
well you manage with investments, I’m intrigued to learn what your
thoughts are on McGregor’s principles.”

She had enjoyed such discussions with her
father. Up to now, he’d been the only gentleman who would have such
conversations with her. As much as she still wasn’t sure about
Warren, it would be nice to be able to talk about her favorite
topic.

“I would like to see the book,” she
admitted.

His smile widened. “I can’t wait to hear your
thoughts on it. Someone who can make a handsome profit off a
jeweler’s work is bound to have some good insights.”

“Let’s see if you think I have anything
worthwhile to say before you pay me such compliments.”

“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way,
but you are the Duke of Hartwell’s daughter. I’d be surprised if I
didn’t find what you have to say interesting.”

“All right, but only on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“You continue being honest with me. I don’t
want you to tell me you like my ideas if you don’t. I want a real
conversation, one in which we can argue about a particular point. I
want the kind of discussion I can have with my father. We treat
each other fairly, but we don’t always agree.”

“I think we’ve been doing a good job of being
honest ever since we learned we were to be married. I see no reason
things should change now.”

“Good. If there’s one thing I don’t like,
it’s being made to feel like a fool.”

“I don’t think anyone likes feeling that
way.”

Then, before she could blink, he leaned
forward and kissed her cheek. The action was so sudden that she
barely had time to register that it was happening.

“While we’re telling the truth,” he began, “I
wanted you to know you’re nice to look at.”

She couldn’t be sure, but she thought a
slight blush graced his cheeks.

“Anyway,” he cleared his throat, “we should
probably get out of our wedding attire so we can be more
comfortable. I’ll meet you in the entryway and show you the
den.”

She wanted to reply, but her voice wouldn’t
cooperate. All she could do was watch as he left the room. He’d
said she was nice to look at. More than that, he’d kissed her. Her
skin still tingled from where his lips had brushed her cheek. She
wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Her gaze went to the mirror above the vanity,
and she studied her reflection. Her mother had been so insistent
that she be as beautiful as possible for her wedding day. Was it
possible the ploy worked? Did decorating one’s hair and putting on
accessories like necklaces make so much of a difference? She
couldn’t think of anything else that had changed.

“You should put forth more effort into how
you look,” her mother had often told her. “You could be a pretty
lady if you’d only take the time to care about your looks.”

“But that’s all superficial,” Iris had
replied each time.

“It might be superficial, but it’s what
gentlemen will appreciate.”

“The right gentleman will be interested in
my mind.”

“Yes, but he won’t get a chance to know your
mind if he’s not lured in by your good looks first.”

At the time, Iris had thought her mother was
ridiculous. But maybe there was something to it. Maybe her mother
had been right. If she had taken the time to pretty herself up
sooner, would Warren have ignored her?

That question was speculation, of course. It
would never be answered. Perhaps it was better that way. She didn’t
need to dwell on the past. Nothing could be done about it. However,
it might not be a bad idea to make an effort in the future.

Pondering how she might follow her mother’s
suggestion in the future, she pulled the cord to summon her lady’s
maid.

Chapter Fourteen

A
fter dinner, Warren was reclining in his chair while Iris sat
on the Grecian Couch, reading through the book aloud. They had
started this before dinner but had both agreed they were enjoying
the book enough to continue after they ate. And so, they went to
his den to pick up where they had left off.