“So you’ve come to see me as if I’m some sort of exhibit at the zoo?”
“Something like that.”
I couldn’t decide if I respected him for his honesty or despised him. Not that it mattered. I had no intention of marrying Edward DeWarn. Did I really have to choose someone from the list of unimpressive and downright disappointing men who had visited over the last few days?
“Now that you’ve seen me, you can be on your way.” And I could escape to the gardens and trim the laurels. Cutting something sounded rather appealing right now.
Instead of leaving, he settled his ankle across his knee and reached for one of the tea cakes from the tiered tray on the coffee table. “Why is your father so anxious to marry you off?”
“I am nearly twenty-one. It is time for me to marry.” I plucked the cake from his hand, my patience wearing dangerously thin. “My apologies, these are for suitors only.”
He stole it back and took a massive bite. “I’m intrigued. What sort of trouble would your husband be acquiring?” he asked, his mouth full of cake.
“No trouble at all. I would be the perfect wife. Placid and complacent and completely happy.”To be sold to the highest bidder.
The rest of the tea cake disappeared into his mouth.
His tongue darted out, catching the icing glistening on his lips. My body swayed toward him, my mouth desperate to meet his.
In a blink, the urge vanished. I pressed a hand to my chest, confused when I found my heart racing. It had been a long day. I was understandably exhausted. I didnotwant to kiss a complete stranger.
“Contrary,” he muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re contrary, I see.” He collected a serviette to dab at his pinched lips. “And stubborn, no doubt. Are there any other shortcomings in your character that I should know about?”
Shortcomings in my character? He couldn’t be serious. Any bit of remaining goodwill evaporated. I shot to my feet and threw a hand at the door. “Thank you for calling, but I’m afraid I must retire.”
“Rigid too.”
Robert had called me rigid when I’d refused his advances. I had been too naïve and too nervous to speak my mind back then, afraid he would tell my father that I had agreed to meet him in the garden that night.
Now I didn’t have the same reservations.
I glanced toward the open doorway. The footman acting as our chaperone wasn’t paying us any attention. “Arrogant,” I hissed, lifting a finger. “Vain.” Another finger. “Irritating.”
Edward’s dark eyebrows flicked up toward his curls.
“Are there any other shortcomings inyourcharacter Ishould know about?”
He would leave now. No man would stand for a mere woman attacking his pride and character. And the moment he walked out, I would flee to my bedroom and lock myself inside for the next week. Suitors be damned.
The ambassador lifted both his hands and began counting on his own fingers. “Apathetic. Callous. Cynical. Devious. Hypocritical. Impatient. Possessive. There are quite a few more,” he said with a careless wave, “but those are the ones I hear most often.”
I didn’t know what to make of this man. He made no sense. “At least you’re honest.”
“That’s debatable.” Blue eyes met mine. “But enough about me. Have you come up with that wish?”
My heart stuttered. It couldn’t be . . . could it? “Rían?”
Hewinked. “I’d prefer if you called me ambassador for the time being. Makes it less confusing for any eavesdroppers who may be listening at the door.” Tapping his ear, he nodded his chin toward the entrance.
Bloody hell. Itwashim. I ran my fingers along his smooth chin, square where it should have been pointed. It wasn’t an illusion. He had turned himself into a different man. “How are you able to change your form?”
“I have my father Midir to thank for that.”
Midir. The name sounded so familiar, yet I couldn’t place where I’d heard it before.