Page 12 of The Earl and the Reluctant Lady
She nodded. “I am not naive enough to think that people do not carry on and have affairs, but I must say that the sheer number of your”—she paused as if searching for the right term—“conquests is appalling. If the rumors are to be believed.”
“You are listening to rumors about me?” He smiled down at her. “Bluebell, I’m touched.”
She rolled her eyes. “Your behavior is unbecoming of a gentleman of your rank.”
“You know as well as I do that my title is nothing more than a courtesy at this point.”
“Yes, but it won’t always be that way. And you have your brother to consider. You are being a wretched example for a gentleman of his young age.”
He snorted. “Jefferson has spent his life watching me and our grandfather, while our worthless father hides himself in the country. He is neither a cruel bastard, like our grandfather, nor a legendary lover, like me.” The words “legendary lover” sent disgust spiraling through him. While other men were known for building empires or defending their country, known for their cunning and their bravery, he was known merely for his skill in the bedroom.
Which seemed a small enough thing to him.
How hard was it to pay attention to the pleasure of a woman? Not difficult at all. And vastly pleasurable. Except hardly the sort of thing a man wanted to be his legacy.
“On the contrary, my brother is so firmly on the straight and narrow he doesn’t even realize there are other roads to be taken. If anything, my behavior has encouraged Jefferson to be the uptight principled soul he is. So, you needn’t worry there.”
She opened her mouth, then shut it. Her frown deepened.
He waited to see if she’d considered anything else. This entire subject matter surprised him. Not merely because she was a genteel lady and such a topic was scandalous, but because she’d clearly spent enough time on formulating an argument meant just for him. She’d thought about him and his behavior, even if she didn’t approve of it. He was a bastard for finding some measure of pleasure in that notion.
“Then certainly you must consider the women.”
His smile tipped up. “That is all I consider, my dear Agnes.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, her eyes widening as she realized the meaning behind his words. Her features set in a frown. “You are leaving a trail of broken hearts behind you.”
“Didn’t you tell me once that you don’t believe in love?”
“And I maintain my belief, but I am more pragmatic than most women.”
“Pragmatism won’t keep you warm at night or bring your body pleasure.”
“I require neither.” She nodded as if to reassure herself of that fact. “Let us get back to you as we’re not talking about me. You must recognize that some of these women will never be the same. You can’t be so cruel that you do not care about harm you cause.”
“Cruelty has nothing to do with it,” he said, his tone harsher than he’d intended. “These women don’t come to me with their hearts in their hands. They want seduction, passion. And I provide that and only that. It is a mutual agreement. There are no broken hearts, no hurt feelings. Just two satisfied partners.”
She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. Physical affection was meant to be rooted in emotional affection. There is no way possible that you don’t care about the women and likewise that they don’t care about you.”
“It’s the truth.” She was the only woman he’d ever cared about, but he couldn’t tell her that.
“Then the pleasure must not be that great.”
“You have no notion of how much I want to drag you into a darkened room and show you precisely how much passion and pleasure I could bring you.”
Thankfully, he only interacted with Agnes on a limited basis, so he felt comfortable about the words he was about to whisper into her ear. He’d shock her delicate sensibilities and then she’d scurry off and leave him be. He’d find some willing widow and then lose himself in the pleasures that he knew so well.
“Did you know there is a specific part of a woman’s body that has the sole purpose of pleasure? That is all it does. It’s a sweet bundle of nerves that does nothing but produce earth-shattering orgasms. That is proof enough that our Creator designed our bodies as vessels of pleasure. I’m rather partial to sucking that little nub into my mouth. As long as a man is inclined to bring his lovers pleasure, there is no need for emotional affection.”
She sucked in a breath and said nothing.
“Do you want me to tell you where it is, Agnes? I can show you how you can bring yourself pleasure.”
“No,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “This is precisely what I’m talking about, Fletcher,” she continued. “You are too brazen, far too lustful. Do you not fear for your soul?”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid my soul is already damned.”
“That doesn’t seem to be a laughing matter.”
