Page 15 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
His huff was meant to be one of disdain, and yet…blast it all! Why was he laughing? She was not amusing; she was a meddlesome little minx. “Would you please stop talking like that?”
“Like what?”
“In the third person, as though I am not even here.”
“Oh, but you are most assuredly here. Why, I am certain everyone is talking about your arrival…” She arched a brow again and the simple gesture said far too much. “Andyour manners just now.”
He glanced around them, and yes. They were being watched. His jaw worked as he understood her meaning. Carver and Marlin had been curious as to his sudden need to see Felicity the other day. And now he’d come crashing through the party, hunting her down and chasing away another man…
He muttered a curse.
“Precisely,” she said.
He narrowed his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re enjoying yourself?”
“Because I am.” Her smile held no malice, only laughter. “Come, Albright. You can smile. A little gossip will not harm you. And as for me, it can only help my prospects if word spreads that the great and mighty Lord Albright has a special interest in an odd little thing like me.”
The way she said ‘odd little thing’ had him fighting a laugh. It was the perfect imitation of the gossiping matrons who most likely did call her that.
He held back his mirth but she didn’t hold back with a loud, tinkling laugh. Then she leaned forward to tap his shoulder with her fan. “Now, did you really mean to apologize?”
He rocked back on his heels, considering. “Yes. Until I realized you were up to no good.” He arched his brows. “Again.”
“Mmm. I do tend to make a habit of that, don’t I?”
“You don’t have to sound so pleased,” he said.
“And you don’t have to sound so much like my chaperone.”
His brows drew down. “I do not.”
“You do. All that’s missing are the click clack of knitting needles.”
He frowned. “Well, that is…not good news for me, now is it?”
She sputtered a bit as she tried to swallow a laugh. “Lord Albright, do you know what I think we need to do?”
“I can hardly wait to hear.”
His dry tone earned him a dimpled smile. “I believe we ought to start over.”
He blinked.
“Pretend we’ve only just met,” she clarified.
“I see. Very well.” He gave a short bow. “Lord Albright, at your service.”
Her curtsy was surprisingly elegant and neat. “Miss Felicity McGovern.”
Her smile was so sweet and beguiling, he found himself returning it, a little stunned, really. For a moment it was…nice. Rather like they trulyhadjust met.
He felt like he was seeing her for the first time.
Had she always had such blue eyes? And had her cheekbones always been so high, her brows so delicately arched?
Her hair certainly had never looked so soft and touchable.
It was while he was lost in these foolish thoughts that she said, “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, would you like to know where Everson’s conducting his business?”
