Page 13 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
“She arrived with Lord Marlin, Jane, and Mr. Everson,” Meg said.
Meg was arching her neck trying to find Felicity so she did not see the way Albright froze, and then frowned. “She arrived with Mr. Everson?”
“Yes.” Meg met his gaze, and her eyes widened in surprise at whatever she saw there. “Well, in their party.”
Carver studied him. “Is everything all right?”
He nodded, but... No. It wasn’t. What was she up to?
Not for the first time he questioned his logic in not telling Marlin outright that he suspected his friend. But, in Albright’s defense, he hadn’t known Marlin well enough to say for certain if he could be trusted. It had seemed safer to keep his suspicions to himself.
Of late, he was beginning to think he should have trusted him. And right here and now he cursed himself for not warningall of his friends that they may very well have a snake in their midst.
“Where did they go?” he asked.
“Mmm,” Meg sort of hummed with indecision, her brows knitting with worry. “She was just here a moment ago, I’m sure of it.”
“Perhaps they stepped outside for some fresh air,” Carver offered. “It is rather crowded in here.”
Albright headed toward the veranda, ignoring everyone in his path, tension building within him with each step, until he finally burst out onto the veranda to find…
Nothing amiss.
He had to stop and take in a breath as he took in the perfectly ordinary scene before him. Several couples mingled, and among them was Felicity…and Mr. Everson.
She was gazing up at him, and her dimples flashed when she smiled.
Albright’s gut twisted for a reason he could not name, and rather than be relieved that she was unharmed, he found himself irrationally angry with her.
What was she thinking coming out here by herself? And with Everson, of all people? Yes, fine, there were others around, and it wasn’t exactly indecent, except…
Well, it wasn’t exactlydecenteither, now was it? Not when she knew full well that Mr. Everson was under suspicion.
His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he moved toward her, all the while reluctantly admitting to himself that she’d made a valid point the other day. Mr. Everson would likely take an interest in her—what man wouldn’t? And keeping her in the dark would not help to protect her from that.
He may have refused to tell her anything about his suspicions regarding Mr. Everson. But even so, she knew. She was no fool,and he had no doubt that whatever she was up to out here tonight, it was part of her plan.
He moved swiftly to her side, and stopped just short of touching her, resisting the urge to press a hand to her lower back. For protection, he told himself.
But even as he thought it, he felt the untruth. Protection, yes, but also…possession.
He met Mr. Everson’s smiling gaze and his hand flexed at his side. He itched to make a claim on Felicity, and that was…not alright.
Even if it was just to keep her safe, it was this compulsion that startled him. The fact that such a primal feeling was winning out over reason.
“Lord Albright,” Everson said. His tone was congenial as ever, but Albright couldn’t match his smile.
“Everson,” he bit out.
Blast. What was wrong with him? He’d spent more than a fortnight being perfectly cordial to this man while conducting his investigations and now here, tonight…
He couldn’t so much as unclench his jaw at the sight of the man.
No, the sight of him…with Felicity.
They were standing far too close together and they were both still smiling brightly. As if Albright’s foul mood amused them.
“Lord Albright, are you well?” Felicity’s tone was filled with laughter.
