Page 16 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
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Lord Albright was ever so much fun to tease.
Felicity adored the way his eyes widened, the way his nostrils flared…
But the best part was the way that muscle in his jaw ticked when he was annoyed. “Felicity, I thought I told you to steer clear of this.”
She sighed. “Just because you don’t believe I can be useful?—”
“Of course you’re useful!”
They both went silent. He wasn’t sure which of them was more shocked by his loud tone.
As if of one mind, they took a moment to smile reassuringly at the other guests surrounding them on this veranda. Then he turned back to her with a hushed tone, “That was what I meant to apologize for. Well, one of the things I—” He cut himself off with an irritated grunt and did the unthinkable—he raked a hand through his hair, mussing his perfectly styled hair.
Oh, but it was delightful watching the always calm Lord Albright come undone.
She supposed that thought made her wicked. But really, it made her itch to watch anyone so well-mannered andcontrolled. It made her want to act even more impulsively and throw her head back to scream and?—
“Felicity, listen to me and listen good,” Albright said suddenly.
His low gruff tone had her brows arching up.
“I’ve never doubted that you could be useful. Anyone who doubts your clever mind or your determined nature is a blasted fool.”
She felt a smile tugging her lips even as her lungs faltered. Did he know he was being kind? Absurdly so? No one ever said such nice things to her.
And yet, his tone made it sound like he was scolding her.
“But…” She shifted, trying to appear confident even though her voice quivered a bit. “You made it clear you don’t think I can help you?—”
“I don’twantyou to help. That’s not the same as thinking you are incapable of helping.”
Again, he was snapping at her in a way that was so unlike Lord Albright. And that was oddly…lovely.
She didn’t know if this bubbling sensation in her chest would lead to laughter or tears so she swallowed hard. “Then will you now accept my assistance in this matter?”
His eyes flashed with a heat that made her heart falter. “You are so verystubborn.”
“Yes,” she agreed. She couldn’t say more because her heart was still racing from that show of emotion.
After a moment of silence, she said, “So? Will you accept?”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do I have a choice?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. But before he could get irritated again, she threw out a peace offering, or the closest she had to one. “I’m not trying to interfere with your investigation, you know.”
He gave her an askance look.
She bit back a smile. “Oh all right, I will admit it’s entertaining to irritate you.”
His sigh was soft and not entirely convincing.
She grew serious, something inside her aching with this desire to be understood…just once. “Lord Albright, I’m not trying to make a mess of your plans or hinder your investigation, I swear it.”
“But you will not step aside and let me handle this on my own,” he finished for her.
“I…I cannot.” She shook her head. “I cannot know that something dangerous is occurring in my midst and not try to help. Something is happening. Something is actually happening, and I could do something that matters—” Even she could hear how desperate she sounded. How pathetic. She exhaled sharply. “I must sound silly to you.”
