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He didn’t like hearing it come out of her mouth. It sounded brutal and cruel on her lips. “You are no plain.”
    She shook her head. “I’m not beautiful.”
    “You tempt me.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    Releasing her face, he began walking again, pulling her beside him. “’Tis no difficult to understand. You are tempted as well. ’Tis another way we will deal well together.”
    “I am not tempted. You should not say such a thing.” He did not reply. If she wanted to hide from the truth, he would let her. For now.
    “What of your other requirements? Why do you want a woman of modest means?
    What could be wrong with getting a substantial dowry with your wife?” Her questions came out in a rush.
    He felt on firmer ground with this answer. He couldn’t possibly provoke her. She was plainly not a lady of great means. In the two weeks he had been in Town, he had never seen Annabelle wear expensive jewels or ornate gowns. “A woman with a large dowry naturally comes from a wealthy home. She is accustomed to every desire being met. I have an estate full of tenants with many needs. I dinna want to indulge a wife who would have new ball gowns while her tenants starve.”
    “Surely you do not think that all ladies of means would be so cold-hearted.” Annabelle frowned.

    What had he said now? “Perhaps not, but a modest dowry still recommends a wife to my way of thinking.”
    Her hands clenched at his coat. “Being an heiress certainly would not indicate that a lady was spoiled, or willing to see her tenants starve while she bought more new gowns.
    Your attitude is ignorant in the extreme.”
    Retreat seemed the wisest course of action. “Perhaps.” She harrumphed. “Might I ask why you prefer a woman of advanced years such as myself to the more congenial and, I am told, more easily molded young debutantes?”
    “There are two reasons for that, lass. I found the young ladies just out, in Edinburgh, to be mindless widgeons.”
    “And the second reason?”
    He may as well be honest, but Ian expected an eruption after his words. “I thought an older lady would be easier to persuade to marry quickly as her prospects were dwindling.”
    Her glare was hot enough to singe him.
    “In essence then, you want a wife who will not tempt your neighbors, requires no consideration on your part and is willing to live without luxury in order to see your estates prosper?” Annabelle’s voice began in a deadly quiet but rose with every word until she was almost shouting.
    “’Tis no exactly that.” Although she was close enough to the truth that he did not contradict her.
    “My lord, you are insufferable.” She stopped walking, forcing him to stop as well.
    “Do you not realize that no lady, however desperate and advanced in years, would wish to marry a gentleman so unwilling to expend any effort to see her happy?” Why could she not understand? He was looking for a mate, not a spoiled beauty whose every whim must be catered to. His experience with Jenna had shown him that no amount of physical beauty was worth the consternation it brought. However, he did want a content wife. What man did not?
    “’Tis no that I dinna want a happy wife, ’tis simply that I dinna want to spend all of my time making her that way.”
    “I know of no lady, no matter how old, ugly and poor, who would not desire some regard from her husband.”

    “I dinna wish to marry a woman for whom I have no regard. I want to marry you and I hold you in great esteem.”
    Annabelle laughed mirthlessly. “How very kind of you. You have known me but two short weeks. All that you esteem is my supposed desperation to marry, which I promise is not the case.”
    “I ken you well, lass.”
    “What exactly do you think you know, besides the erroneous conclusion that I am desperate to marry?” She met his stare with unflinching regard.
    He said, “You are an intelligent and practical lady of good humor, with a compassionate nature and fine