“What?”
“You do like odd ducks, don’t you? Your sisters, every one of them, is unusual in her own unique way. I gather it is only your step-mother and mother who were traditional society women.”
He nodded slowly, though she could tell he didn’t want to agree.
“Lilah told me once that parents have dreams for their children. They imagine all sorts of futures, but often become especially fond of the future they’d wanted for themselves. Mama had all sorts of requirements for the man I was to marry, and not a one of her requirements meant anything to me. Similarly, I’d guess that your father had dreams for your wife as well. A future countess to carry on the title and bear him grandchildren worthy of your name.”
Jackson gave her a diffident nod that was half shrug. “Whenever he comes to London, he makes sure to introduce me to entirely suitable, very dull women.”
“Not at all to your tastes.”
He gave a mock shudder. “Average looks, average fortune, and average intelligence. There was nothing wrong with them—”
“Except they did not spark your interest.”
He shook his head.
“Instead, you became involved with Aunt Isabelle.”
“I worked for her,” he stressed. “It was only in the beginning that there was anything more.”
“And she is not the usual choice for a young, titled man about town.”
“Definitely not.”
“And in all that time, did someone not tell you how strange your preferences were?”
“Of course not. It would be damned impertinent if they did.”
“And yet, they say that to odd women all the time.”
“Stop saying that! I hate it when you do not see your own worth.”
“But I do see my own worth in my own way. And thanks to you, I see much more of it than I ever did. But now, I think, you begin to see the cost of spending time with an odd woman. Even your own father thinks you are daft for it.”
“My father can go to the devil, then. I find you everything that is appropriate.” So saying he abruptly cupped her face and kissed her. A few days before, she might have stiffened at his touch. He had moved quickly without her seeing it coming. The press of his lips, the invasion of his tongue, were forceful and dominant. And yet, she softened, though it took a conscious decision on her part. And before long, he relaxed his fervor which in turn allowed her to melt into his arms.
All in all, it took three seconds to go from stiff to completely at home. And now, when he lifted his mouth from hers, she smiled at him.
“You are not odd,” he said.
“Yes, I am. And so are you, so I think we match in that.” She smiled. “It is only because you are a man that people have not been saying so to your face.”
“Even so, my father had no right to say what he did.”
She shrugged. What did she care about his father? It was the pain in his eyes that tore at her. “What will you do now?”
“Exactly what I was going to do before. I am going to show the world your beauty. And in so doing, I’m going to sell a lot of daffodils.”
“Excellent—”
“And when that is done, I’m going to come to you with my fortune and ask for your hand in marriage.”
“And when you have made your fortune, you will have your pick of women. The odd ones or the heiresses who are intelligent and acceptable. They do exist, you know.”
He nodded gravely. “Remember that, will you?”
“What?”