Page 82 of The Moonstone Pirate
It was just across the street, and he was eager to be rid of her, for the woman was all over him. The faster he got her to the dressmaker’s, the faster he could escape her clutches. “Of course.”
But they had no sooner stepped out of the inn when Draco spotted Deandra and Imogen walking toward the jeweler’s shop, Harrow & Sons, which happened to be next door to the inn. They spotted him at the same moment. Parrot barked and immediately ran to greet Imogen. She knelt to pet him, but as she looked up, she noticed Lady Dowling and how she was poured all over him.
Since Imogen hid nothing of her feelings, he saw the sting of hurt in her eyes.
His heart tugged. She looked like a wounded bird…no, a wounded butterfly.
Hisbutterfly.
“Lady Imogen, how was your morning at the hospital?” he asked, unwinding himself from Lady Dowling’s grip to kneel beside her as she petted Parrot.
She refused to meet his gaze. “Fine.”
“The soldiers must have appreciated your time with them. Did you draw any portraits?”
“Yes.”
“Ah…” He should have just nodded to them and walked on. This was not going well at all. Imogen was staring at Parrot and would not look at him. Well, he would seek her out later and explain that he had not invited Lady Dowling to dine, nor had he made any amorous overtures to her.
Again, he did not really owe anyone explanations. But he could not bear to see Imogen so disappointed and wanted to clear the air. “Were you about to stop in at the jeweler’s?”
“No, I have decided it isn’t necessary.”
He frowned. “Imogen…”
She rose abruptly. “Good day, Lord Woodley. Deandra, I find I am suddenly quite thirsty. Let’s go to the tea shop.”
Deandra grabbed her hand. “No, the jeweler’s first.”
Imogen still looked pained. “I don’t think so.”
“We must.” Deandra turned to Draco and cast him an insolent smile. “We intend to shop for outrageouslyexpensivejewelry. You didinsistwe put all our purchases on your account, did you not? There’s a lovely diamond necklace Imogen has been eyeing. I’m sure it is the most expensive item in the shop. I’ll encourage her to buy two.”
Draco shot his cousin a warning glance. “Lady Imogen knows I will take delight in anything she chooses.”
“You are so very kind to these children,” Lady Dowling commented, and tugged him along.
“I’ll be right back, Deandra. Both of you wait here for me.” He was about to whistle for Parrot to follow him, but his own dog had no intention of following him while he escortedthatwoman who was not Imogen.
“You should not indulge those girls,” Lady Dowling remarked as they crossed the street.
“Really? What should I have done?” His tone ought to have warned her not to say another disparaging word, but Lady Dowling was of a mind to cause mischief and ignored him.
Her cat claws now came out. “She isn’t right for you.”
“Are you referring to Lady Imogen?”
“Yes, who else could I be referring to? She is a priggish do-gooder who will pass moral judgment on you at every turn. Is this really the sort of wife you want?”
He frowned. “You really enjoy this, don’t you? Hurting others, especially those as sweet as her. That do-gooder is one of the finest women I have ever met. Any man would consider himself fortunate to have her as his wife. Now that you have put me onto the idea, perhaps I will do just that.”
He left Lady Dowling in front of the dressmaker’s shop with her mouth agape, and hurried back to Deandra and Imogen. However, only Parrot had remained waiting for him. “Bollocks,” Draco muttered. “Parrot, where did they go?”
The dog trotted off to Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop.
“Fine, wait for me there. I’ll be along in a moment,” he said, as though Parrot was even listening to him.
He strode into the jeweler’s shop. “Good afternoon, Miss Harrow.”
