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naughtily perched to one side didn’t help matters. A seductive mouth like that belonged on a very different face, not one so otherwise frank and intelligent.
    He’d thought her beautiful from afar, but Coventry hadn’t expected to actually be attracted to the chit. He knew better. He saved his attraction for whores and married ladies—not that the two groups were mutually exclusive. Deflowering debutantes wasn’t usually in his repertoire.
    Of course, he wasn’t a man adverse to breaking rules—even self-imposed ones.
    No, something told him to avoid this one, willing or not.
    Her golden brown hair fell in tiny little ringlets around her face, sultry green eyes fringed with thick, long lashes dominated her face. She had a tiny upturned nose that, if not for the mouth, might be considered haughty. Though slight of form, she was well curved. He’d taken the time to admire two impressive curves in particular. When she’d stood under him, her sweet scent assaulted his senses, immediately conjuring up images of a big bed, billowing curtains and juicy, succulent fruit. Peaches, perhaps, like her silken complexion.
    She made him think of hot, sultry sex. Or maybe he’d been too long from the lush and lusty Simone. That particular ailment would be remedied soon.
    Five offers? What was wrong with her? He shook his head, wondering why Lady Georgina hadn’t accepted any of them. He was mildly surprised that there hadn’t been more, especially if she looked at other men the way she’d looked at him tonight.
    But for some reason he didn’t think so. She was no Lady Alice. Lady Georgina wasn’t coy or aggressive; rather she appeared to be challenging him. To what, he didn’t know. But he had a vague, uneasy feeling that he’d be finding out.
    He’d felt an odd rush as he’d sparred with her. It surprised him how exhilarating conversation could be. And perhaps that was the strangest part of all, for a man who didn’t think anything could surprise him, a girl a couple of years on the bad side of her come out had.
    He frowned. A fluke that he would attribute to too much port and not enough time spent plowing between the sweet thighs of his mistress.
    Still, the conversation had not gone at all as he’d intended. He hoped to hell he’d misunderstood her. After the debacle with Lady Alice, he wasn’t in the mood to be dodging any more society misses, especially one that was the daughter of one of the few men in town that he actually respected. A man he nearly plowed into in his haste to leave.
    “I hope my daughter didn’t say anything too shocking,” the Duke of St. Albans grabbed Coventry’s shoulders to keep him from knocking into him.
    If you only knew .
    “She has a tendency toward bluntness,” the duke continued.
    I’d say . “I’m hardly one to be easily shocked. But no, I found the Lady Georgina to be quite charming,” Coventry lied.
    The duke brightened considerably. His chest puffed out a bit. “Yes, she is, isn’t she?” He didn’t expect an answer, but continued on. “She was a great help to me after her mother died.”
    Coventry didn’t want to know anymore about Lady Georgina, but he couldn’t think of a way to excuse himself.
    “But with the new duchess, I think she’s feeling a little left out,” the duke finished.
    He looked so distressed Coventry had to say something. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I’m sure she’ll marry soon and that will all work itself out.”
    The duke didn’t look convinced. “She’s shown a remarkable stubborn streak in that regard, I’m afraid.”
    Despite his better judgment, Coventry found himself asking, “She doesn’t want to marry?”
    St. Albans looked puzzled. “No, nothing unnatural like that. What girl doesn’t want to marry? No, she’s just particular.” He shook his head. “But why am I telling you this? You’re the last person I’d find knocking on my door.” He laughed good-naturedly, but there was a hard glint in his eye.