Page 23 of The Trouble with Tweed

To anyone else, perhaps the words would have sounded aloof, but Michael knew Claire better than that. He saw the flash of vulnerability play across her features.

“You’re far too interesting,” he said. “And witty. Not to mention beautiful. They’ll be intimidated.”

“Are you mocking me?” she asked, a glint of suspicion in her eye.

He grinned. “Good heavens, of course not. I’m telling the truth. And you’d better get used to taking a compliment if you’re going to have a successful Season.”

“I can take a compliment,” she grumbled.

“Are you sure? Because when someone says something nice to you, the proper response is ‘thank you,’ not an accusation that they’re secretly mocking you to your face.”

“Very well.” She flicked her hand in the air as if she wished to change the subject. “Besides Lord Lawrence, who might be a good match?”

“That’s another problem,” he said, pointedly ignoring her question. “How are you going to ensure that the Tweeds are the only men who come calling?”

She narrowed her eyes as if she suspected he might be joking again.

“I’m serious, Claire. You’re a beautiful young woman, and like it or not, there’s a hint of mystery surrounding your family, not to mention that your dowry is enormous. There will be numerous gentlemen interested in getting to know you better, and you had better prepare for it.”

Claire frowned as if that thought had never occurred to her.

“Are you simply going to tell the other men to go away?” he pressed.

“I hardly think that will be my largest concern. It certainly wasn’t during my first Season.” She swallowed and averted her eyes.

He canted his voice low. “Forgive me for saying so, but during your first Season, your brother already owed half the gentlemen in the ton. Your fortunes are very different now.”

“I wish someone had told me what the matter was back then,” she grumbled.

“I actually considered it before—” He let the silence hang between them. “Claire, why did you stop speaking to me?”

She shook her head, staring at her plate.

“Did I do something? Or fail to do something?” Michael watched her features closely.

In truth, he’d had high hopes Claire’s first Season. His mother always claimed that the best marriages were made between the best of friends.

Though he’d scoffed at her when he was younger, he now understood. For there was nothing he wished for more than to be with Claire every possible moment. He rubbed at his sternum, where the renewed hope of it tormented him.

“We grew apart.” Her tone was clear—she’d speak of it no further, at least not today.

Michael conceded the subject and leaned back. “Your first Season was a terrible anomaly. Very few men in the ton would attach themselves to a family that was fiscally sinking. Noblemen are honor-bound to provide for their relatives, after all. It would take a man deeply in love to consider such a thing, as you have seven sisters.”

Michael didn’t mention that he’d done the calculations himself. Though the seven additional ladies to provide for would have been burdensome to say the least, he’d been ready to do that for Claire. Of course, that was before everything had changed between them.

“By all means, don’t spare my feelings.” Despite her words, her tone was light, bordering on amused.

“I don’t say it to be cruel. I only mention it to point out that this Season, there’s no such familial baggage holding you back. You might find yourself with more options than you realize.”

Claire appeared to ponder that possibility for several moments, then sat a bit straighter. “It hardly matters. I’m only looking for a Tweed.”

Michael smiled. Though she claimed otherwise, he knew Claire well enough to see that the thought of other suitors intrigued her despite her best efforts. Intrigued was but a half-step away from truly considering something.

Michael could work with intrigued.

CHAPTER 7- CLAIRE

For most of society, the first ball was the overture of the Season, the ringing of the starting bell at Ascot, the beginning. For so many young ladies, it was just as important as their official presentation.