“I avoided you that particular night as well, since I had been warned about you.” When his eyebrow lifted, she expounded. “Our families have been locked in a blood feud for three generations, remember?”
“Ah, yes, the feud,” Jack said. His great-uncle had killed her great-grandfather in a duel over a woman, and then fled to the American Colonies with the prize.
“I always regretted that prohibition,” Miss Fortin said wistfully. “I would have enjoyed knowing Lady Katharine and Lady Skye, but I was forbidden to associate with them.”
His mouth curved. “Do you always do as you are bid?”
She sidestepped the question. “Do you never do as you are bid? No, you needn’t answer. From all reports, you live to break rules.”
“What reports have you been heeding?”
“Oh, the gossip about you is universal. You are said to be an outrageously irreverent rakehell who can charm the birds from the trees—at least female birds. If only half the stories are true, I should fear for my virtue.” As if suddenly becoming aware of the impropriety of the situation, she smoothed her skirts down over her knees. “I should not even be speaking to you now.”
“So do you mean to run away screaming?”
Her luminous eyes sparked with an appealing levity. “No. I have been a dutiful daughter all evening. And I am curious to know why you are speaking to me. Why are you here at my aunt’s ball, my lord? What do you want?”
I want you, lovely lady, came the unbidden thought.
His fierce attraction boded ill for his plan to dislike her, Jack acknowledged, laughing inwardly at the irony, but all his possessive male instincts were now keenly awake.
Deciding the truth was his best defense, he fixed his gaze on her luscious mouth. “I am here because I promised my cousin I would kiss you.”
Several heartbeats passed before she blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Did you not hear me?”
“Oh, I heard you. I just could not believe you were serious.” Her head tilted to one side. “Why would you promise such a thing? Was it a dare?”
“No.”
“Then are you trying to win a wager? Did you bet that you could seduce me?”
If he’d had some thought of discomposing her with his bald declaration, it wasn’t working, Jack noted. Sophie Fortin wasn’t at all intimidated by him. “My promise has nothing to do with any wager.”
“I confess skepticism,” she remarked, still amused. “You are said to wager on almost anything.”
Wanting to regain the upper hand in their conversation, Jack parried her comment. “Should I be flattered that you know so much about me?”
“Probably not, since much of my knowledge is not good. You are nearly thirty years old but still act the reckless young buck half the time. You scandalize the ton monthly, if not more often.”
He gave a mock wince. “It pains me to agree.”
“Which of your cousins secured your promise to try and kiss me?”
“Skye, but Katharine had a part in it also.”
“Indeed? Why ever would they wish you to attempt it?”
Jack’s lips twitched at her inquisitiveness. “They are both bent on matchmaking.”
Her blue eyes widened at that. “Do tell.”
“It is a long story.”
Miss Fortin glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantel. “I fear I don’t have time for a long story. Perhaps you could just summarize the plot for me?”
“Do you mind if I get off my knees?” Without waiting for her permission, Jack rose and settled on the sofa beside her, then reluctantly offered his explanation. “Kate has a theory about the Wilde cousins needing to imitate the world’s greatest lovers in order to find our one true mates. You are supposed to be Juliet to my Romeo.”