Page 41 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
She heard a sigh, but ignored it.
“Of course, Lord Wentley has the title, which will make him more appealing to my parents, but I’m the one who’d be stuck with my choice, not them.”
She set her chin in her hand and rested her elbow on her knee as she deliberated.
It truly was a difficult decision, made all the more so by the ticking clock that was her engagement announcement. Her uncle had informed her only this morning that her parents had settled on making the announcement at the Loggerfields’ ball, which was only ten days away.
She had to act and she had to act quickly.
You know how you can act quickly, Meg had said.
Accept Albright’s proposal, Ann had finished.
But neither of them understood that she could not do such a thing. She hadn’t wished to explain in detail, mainly because she didn’t even wish to dwell on the topic.
Truly, the sooner she could marry another man and never hear Albright’s name mentioned again, the better. The thought of him only made her mood fouler—which was difficult to do considering the day she’d had—so she endeavored to focus once more.
After all… “Pining over a man who does not return one’s feelings has never done anyone any good.” She frowned. “Who said that? I feel as though I’ve heard it before.”
No response.
Lud, she knew she was miserable company of late, but really.
“Perhaps I made it up.” She gave ahmph. “Perhaps once I am free of my family and my husband I shall set out to be a writer.”
This earned her a groan which she did not dignify with a response.
A silence fell and, like always of late, her silly brain tried to fill it instantly with thoughts of Albright.
The way he’d looked when he’d come charging in to her rescue. His grudging laugh when they’d first become acquainted, and his easier, more affectionate laugh once they’d formed a….
A what? A friendship?
No.
An alliance?
She shook her head. Didn’t matter. Mooning over Albright was a waste of precious time.
This was why she had to keep her thoughts focused. She opened her mouth to continue her list of potential husbands and all their pros and cons, but before she could, a voice split the night air.
“Felicity!”
She winced at Albright’s shout. Though, she had to admit the desperation she heard there was rather gratifying, but still…
“Not so loud, if you please,” she said quietly as he rounded the corner of her great uncle’s home. “I’d rather not wake Uncle Edward.”
He stopped short at the sight of her sitting under her beloved tree. “Felicity, are you all right?”
“Quite well, thank you.” She was proud of how strong her voice came out. No hint of a weepy wobble.
A grunting noise ruined what might have been an otherwise lovely moment.
Albright seemed to be frozen in place and the men who’d come with him faltered to a stop beside him. Most of the men she knew and so she waved.
This earned her a smothered laugh from Carver, and a wicked grin from Lord Kalvin.
She’d always liked these men, even before her friends decided they loved them.
