Page 10 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
Here the once mildly terrifying Earl did the unthinkable—he smiled in a way that might be called bashful. “I found myself looking for an excuse to see you, Jane. And, well…here we are.”
Jane beamed up at him. “I’m happy to see you.” She craned her neck to look at Albright. “And you, my lord.”
He dipped his head with that easy smile of his. But his gaze was firmly fixed on Felicity.
Felicity who could not hide her triumphant smile if she’d tried.
So she didn’t try.
She’d known he’d come.I knew you’d come!Oh, how she wanted to sing it. The young baron might be charming and chivalrous, and all those many splendid things. But he was also curious, and that emotion she understood all too well.
“Miss McGovern,” Albright said. He’d already exchanged perfectly pleasant greetings with Meg and Jane, but his tone altered as he met her gaze.
It wasn’t irritation she heard there, it was…a challenge.
Felicity took her time getting to her feet, excitement zinging through her veins. “Lord Albright,” she said when she stood.
“May I have a word?” His words were polite. His tone too.
So very proper.
Felicity had to press her lips together to suppress a grin. But she wanted to say something outrageous just to see if she could make him drop that charming smile.
But she gave an equally polite nod, and murmured an excuse to her friends. She gave her chaperone a sweet smile and made sure that she and Albright remained well within sight while out of hearing.
See? She could be proper too.
“You wished to speak to me, Lord Albright?” Her tone was as light and innocent as she could manage.
“Yes. I’d like to continue our conversation from the other night.” He said, equally light and amiable.
She blinked, feigning ignorance. “Which part?”
His smile never faltered. “The part in which you were going to tell me what Mr. Everson was doing at your uncle’s home.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “That part.”
“Indeed.”
She waited.
He waited.
She did her best to hide the smile from her lips and her eyes, but truly…this was too much fun.
He drew in a deep breath. “Well?”
She blinked a few times and smiled sweetly. “Yes?”
He moved in closer, and…there. Finally. His nonchalant facade disappeared and his voice dipped low. “This is not a game, Miss McGovern.”
“Then why do you insist on playing, Lord Albright? You have a question, so ask it.”
“Fine. What did you overhear?”
She smiled. “Nothing.”
His nostrils flared and his gaze grew even darker. “So you’re just teasing me now, is that it? Or were you lying the other day?”
