The bourbon slid down the wrong pipe and Kit choked, bending over and coughing as he struggled for air. Droplets rolled down his chin, so he wiped his face. “You what?”

She swallowed, her delicate throat working. “I’d like you to teach me how to seduce a man.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to seduce and marry one.”

Her tone indicated that the explanation was simple, like he was an idiot for not understanding. He held up a hand. “Wait a moment. We should back up and begin again.” He put the heavy glass on the side table. “First things first. What is your name?”

Oh, God. He didn’t even know her name.

Here she was, blathering on for almost ten minutes, and Mr. Ward hadn’t a clue as to who she was. It was utterly mortifying.

Skin aflame, Alice forced out, “Miss Alice Lusk.”

“Were we introduced earlier?”

“No. I was . . .” Watching you from afar. That sounded bizarre and off-putting, so she said, “Conversing with the other guests.”

“Ah,” he said, his dark eyes glittering. “Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lusk. I am Mr. Christopher Ward, but friends call me Kit.”

She knew all this, but politeness dictated that she smile and nod. “A pleasure to meet you, as well, Mr. Ward.”

“You may call me Kit, as we are past formality, I think.” He indicated the bedchamber and Alice’s internal body temperature rose even further. “Now, what is this about seducing a man?”

“I need to learn how it’s done.”

“Why?”

Wasn’t it obvious? Seduction, man, wedding. “So that I may marry him.”

The side of his mouth kicked up, making him appear even more roguish. “Lure him into a compromising position where you’re both discovered and—gasp!—you’re forced to marry. Is that it?”

“No!” Goodness, that sounded Machiavellian. Her plan wasn’t as crafty as all that. “I don’t wish to trap a man into marrying me.” That was worse than being married solely for her dowry. The last thing Alice wanted was a husband resentful of being duped for the next fifty-odd years.

“Then what is your plan?”

She bit her lip and stared at her lap. The plan occurred to her tonight during dinner. With her second season now behind her, it was apparent that the right man was not going to come along and sweep Alice off her feet. The right men were not interested in a girl like her. They flocked to the pretty, outgoing debutantes. The only men who paid Alice any attention were the desperate fortune hunters and the older widowers looking for a young biddable bride. Certainly no man who would ever love her for herself. Mama said this was expected, that Alice’s dowry was her only redeeming quality.

The men won’t mind your plain face when they hear the size of your dowry.