Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels, #1)

by Lisa Kleypas

He stood before her in his shirtsleeves, with no necktie or collar in sight. The hems of his trousers were muddy. His hair needed combing, and there was a bit of hay caught in it, but somehow in his disarray, he was even more handsome than before. She approached him with abashed tentativeness, and he held very still as she reached up to pull the little wisp of hay from his hair. The dark locks were invitingly disheveled, a cowlick on the right side, and she was almost tempted to smooth it. “How long is the mourning period?” he surprised her by asking abruptly. Kathleen blinked, disconcerted. “For a widow? There are four mourning periods.” “Four?” “The first one lasts a year, the second for six months, the third for three months, and then half mourning lasts for the rest of one’s life.” “And if the widow wishes to marry again?” “She may do so after a year and a day, although it is frowned upon to marry so quickly unless she has children, or lacks income.” “Frowned upon but not forbidden?” “Yes. Why do you ask?” Devon shrugged casually. “I’m merely curious. Men are required to mourn only for six months—probably because we wouldn’t tolerate anything longer than that.” She shrugged. “A man’s heart is different from a woman’s.” His gaze turned quizzical. “Women love more,” she explained. Seeing his expression, she asked, “You think I’m wrong?” “I think you know little of men,” he said gently. “I’ve been married: I know all I wish to.” She went to the threshold and paused to loo...