Page 4 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
“Pardon me.” He dropped his hand quickly. “My apologies. I…” He cleared his throat and darted a glance toward the open window. “This is not a fit conversation for a lady, and certainly not here.”
Right. By that she understood—it was not safe to speak here. And judging by the fact that those inside were likely just as capable of hearing what went on outside the window…
She supposed he had a point. But the change in him was remarkable. The affable, easygoing young baron she’d come to know had been replaced by another man she’d never met. This one was far more serious, and almost…
Well, not dangerous. She wasn’t scared of him by any means. But he definitely had an air of danger about him, and that was just plain thrilling.
No one in Felicity’s acquaintance ever had so much as a whiff of intrigue about them. Except for Jane’s run-in with those smugglers, of course, but both Jane and her fiancé the Earl of Marlin had seemed all too pleased to hand the matter over to Albright and pretend it never happened.
She’d known in a sort of theoretical way that he’d continued investigating the matter. But it wasn’t until just now that she truly believed it. Her heart picked up its pace and questions filled her mind.
Oh, she had so many questions.
But she studied Albright, watching the way his jaw hardened and his dark eyes glinted with resolve…
She knew enough about stubbornness to know that as far as he was concerned, the conversation had just ended.
“I must ask that you do not mention my presence here today.” His tone was so stiff it took everything in her not to laugh. She pressed her lips together but nodded as solemnly as she could.
He gave a short jerk of his chin. “I assure you, I mean your uncle no harm.”
Oh, how she wanted to laugh. “I believe you.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. Possibly because she was so gamely going along with him.
But that just meant he did not know her.
If he did, he’d know that Felicity McGovern did not give up so easily, and was never deterred. Not when there was intrigue underfoot and an adventure to be had.
She smiled sweetly as he made excuses and watched his back as he slipped through the front gate.
Only then did she give in to the urge to grin, a laugh slipping out as she fetched the apple she’d dropped and headed toward the house.
Did he actually think she’d let this drop simply because he’d asked her to? Because it ‘wasn’t fit for a lady’? She laughed as she tossed the half eaten apple in the air and caught it. “Oh, poor Albright. He really doesn’t know me at all.”
2
Alexander Albright couldn’t say he was heartbroken as he watched shy, sweet Miss Ann Truesdale join his friend the Marquess of Kalvin on the dance floor. In doing so, it was clear she’d made her choice.
He felt a pang of regret, but that wasn’t the same. It wasn’t even close to what he’d felt after losing his wife, though he’d known her for roughly the same amount of time he’d known Ann. Still…
He’d known heartache, and this was not that.
In fact, he was happy for Ann, and delighted for Kal. Truly. Ann had chosen love over the safe, comfortable, but ultimately passionless romance he could offer. And she deserved that. They both did.
Indeed, even that pang of regret faded quickly as he watched them mooning over each other like a couple of daft fools.
Ann might have been a good choice for him. The idea of marrying again had even seemed appealing when he considered the sort of friendship they’d share.
But she and Kal were even more well suited. And he had to believe there were other women out there with whom he might share the same comfortable, easy friendship.
He rocked back on his heels, his attention already drifting away from the happy couple. He found Mr. Everson laughing at something The Duke of Carver was saying to the group that had crowded around him and his fiancée Meg.
The last of Albright’s disappointment was quickly replaced by irritation.
In the course of one fortnight he’d lost the prospect of a perfectly pleasant partner and any leads he’d had on the smuggling situation.
If he were being honest, the latter was far more irksome. Ann wasn’t the only woman he might find a lasting friendship with, but he was running out time to find the one man behind the thievery—the one well-connected gentleman, at least. The crew of smugglers had grown to an unmanageable size, but it was only the one leader Albright needed to find.
