"In other words, you see me as a brood mare."

Saddle leather creaked as Ravenwood studied her in ominous silence for a long moment. "I fear your grandfather was right," he finally said. "Your reading habits have instilled a certain lack of delicacy in your manner, Miss Dorring."

"Oh, I can be far more indelicate than that, my lord. For instance, I understand you keep a mistress in London."

"Where the devil did you hear that? Not from Lord Dorring, I'll wager."

"It is common talk here in the countryside."

"And you listen to the tales told by villagers who have never been more than a few miles from their homes?" he scoffed.

"Are the tales told by city folk any different?"

"I begin to believe you are being deliberately insulting, Miss Dorring."

"No, my lord. Merely very cautious."

"Obstinate, not cautious. Use what little wit you have to pay attention. If there was anything truly objectionable about me or my behavior do you think your grandparents would have approved my offer of marriage?"

"If the marriage settlement you are proposing is large enough, yes."

Ravenwood smiled faintly at that. "You may be correct."

Sophy hesitated. "Are you telling me the tales I have heard are all false?"

Ravenwood eyed her thoughtfully. "What else have you heard?"

Sophy had not expected this odd conversation to get so specific. "You mean besides the fact that you keep a mistress?"

"If the rest of the gossip is as silly as that bit, you should be ashamed of yourself, Miss Dorring."

"Alas, I fear I do not possess such a refined sense of shame, my lord. A regrettable failing, to be sure and one you should probably take into consideration. Gossip can be vastly entertaining, and I confess I am not above listening to it on occasion."

The Earl's mouth tightened. "A regrettable failing, indeed. What else have you heard?" he repeated.

"Well, in addition to the tidbit about your mistress, it is said you fought a duel once."

"You cannot expect me to confirm such nonsense."

"I have also heard that you banished your last wife to the country because she failed to give you an heir," Sophy continued rashly.

"I do not discuss my first wife with anyone." Ravenwood's expression was suddenly forbidding. "If we are to get on together, Miss Dorring, you would be well advised never to mention her again."

Sophy flushed. "I apologize, my lord. It is not her I am trying to discuss, rather your habit of leaving your wives in the country."

"What the devil are you talking about?"

It took more courage than Sophy had anticipated to continue on in the face of that awful tone. "I think I should make it perfectly clear that I do not intend to be left behind here at Ravenwood or one of your other estates while you spend your time in London, my lord."

He frowned. "I was under the impression you were happy here."

"It is true I enjoy rural living and in general am quite content here, but I do not want to be restricted to Ravenwood Abbey. I have spent most of my life in the country, my lord. I wish to see London again."

"Again? I was given to understand that you did not enjoy yourself during your one season in town, Miss Dorring."

Her embarrassed eyes slid away from his for a moment. "I am sure you are well aware that I was a spectacular failure when I was brought out. I did not attract a single offer that season."

"I begin to see why you failed so miserably, Miss Dorring," Ravenwood said heartlessly. "If you were as blunt with all of your admirers then as you are today with me, you undoubtedly terrified them."

"Am I succeeding in terrifying you, my lord?"

"I assure you, I am beginning to shiver in my boots."

Sophy almost smiled in spite of herself. "You hide your fear well, my lord." She saw a momentary gleam in Ravenwood's eyes and quickly squelched her wayward sense of humor.

"Let us continue this forthright conversation, Miss Dorring. I am to understand that you do not wish to spend all your time here at Ravenwood. Is there anything else on your list of demands?"

Sophy held her breath. This was the dangerous part. "I do have some other demands, my lord."

He sighed. "Let me hear them."

"You have made it clear your chief interest in this marriage is securing an heir."

"This may come as a surprise to you, Miss Dorring, but that is considered a legitimate and acceptable reason for a man to desire marriage."

"I understand," she said. "Rut I am not ready to be rushed into childbed, my lord."

"Not ready? I have been told you are twenty-three years old. As far as society is concerned, my dear, you are more than ready."

"I am aware that I am considered to be on the shelf, my lord. You need not point the fact out to me. But oddly enough, I do not consider myself in my dotage. And neither do you or you would not be asking me to become your wife."

Ravenwood smiled fleetingly, showing a glimpse of strong, white teeth. "I will admit that when one is thirty-four, twenty-three does not seem so very old. But you appear quite fit and healthy, Miss Dorring. I think you will withstand the rigors of childbirth very well."

"I had no idea you were such an expert."

"We stray from the subject again. Just what is it you are trying to say, Miss Dorring?"

She gathered herself. "I am saying that I will not agree to marriage with you unless you give me your word you will not force yourself upon me until I give you my permission."

She felt the heat flow into her cheeks under Ravenwood's startled gaze. Her hands trembled on Dancers reins and the old horse moved restlessly. Another gust of wind whipped the tree branches and sliced through the fabric of Sophy's riding habit.

A cold rage leaped to life in Julian's green eyes. "I give you my word of honor, Miss Dorring, that I have never forced myself upon a woman in my life. But we are speaking of marriage and I cannot believe you are unaware that matrimony implies certain duties and obligations on the part of both husband and wife."

Sophy nodded quickly and her small hat tipped precariously over her eye. This time she ignored the plume. "I am also aware, my lord, that most men would not consider it wrong to insist on their rights, whether or not the women were willing. Are you one of those men?"

"You cannot expect me to enter into marriage knowing my wife was not prepared to grant me my rights as a husband," Ravenwood said between clenched teeth.

"I did not say I would never be prepared to grant you your rights. I am merely asking that I be given ample time to get to know you and to adjust to the situation."

"You are not asking, Miss Dorring, you are demanding. Is this a result of your reprehensible reading habits?"

"My grandfather warned you about those, I see."

"He did. I can guarantee that I will personally assume the responsibility of overseeing your choice of reading material after we are wed, Miss Dorring."

"That, of course, brings me to my third demand. I must be allowed to buy and read whatever books and tracts I wish."

The black tossed his head as Ravenwood swore under his breath. The stallion steadied as his master exerted expert pressure on the reins. "Let me be quite certain I have got your demands clear," Ravenwood said in a voice that was heavily laced with sarcasm. "You will not be banished to the country, you will not share my bed until it pleases you, and you will read whatever you wish to read in spite of my advice or recommendations to the contrary."

Sophy drew a breath. "I believe that sums up my list of demands, my lord."

"You expect me to agree to such an outrageous list?"

"Highly doubtful, my lord, which is precisely why I asked my grandfather to refuse your offer this afternoon. I thought it would save us all a great deal of time."