Page 77 of Irresistible
She turned just as Dougal was nearing her. The look of surprise on her face was quickly replaced with detachment. He could almost imagine her admonishing herself for allowing anything to show when others were around, even if it was just Lucien who was aware of their acquaintance.
“Good evening, Miss Goodfellow.” Dougal bowed and took her hand. He hesitated, but ultimately brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “What a pleasure to see you here.”
“Good evening, Lord Fallin.”
He released her hand, wondering if he’d held it too long. Hell, he felt like a young buck with his first infatuation.
Jess turned her attention to Lucien. “Lord Lucien.”
Lucien bowed. “Miss Goodfellow, always a delight.”
Dougal looked into the coach, but it was empty. “Are you alone?” Had she successfully assumed the title of spinster? He would toast her later if that was the case.
“Yes, my parents allowed me to come under the chaperonage of Lady Wexford. It helped that they weren’t invited,” she added.
“Wex’s sister’s doing, no doubt?” Lucien asked. “I understand you and she formed a close friendship while you were under Lady Pickering’s care.”
“We did. I like Kat—Kathleen—very much. She was kind enough to invite me to the dinner party tonight.” She glanced toward Dougal. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. It certainly wasn’t you.”
“We were just as uninformed,” Dougal said. “May I escort you inside?” He offered her his arm.
“I suppose.” She moved close and curled her hand around his sleeve. Her scent had haunted him for days, and now he could bask in it. Again, he had to keep himself from behaving like a besotted fool.
He realized her grip was tense. And her answer,I suppose, gave him pause. Perhaps the change in her demeanor outside the coach wasn’t due to her masking her reaction upon seeing him—at least not for the reasons he thought. She’d been angry with him when they’d parted at Lady Pickering’s.
Lucien trailed behind them as they made their way to the door, so Dougal seized the moment to say something. “Are you still upset with me?” he asked softly.
“Not at all.” Her voice was just above a whisper. “I’m only surprised to see you, especially since you said we would not encounter each other again.”
“I didn’t expect to. But I’m incredibly glad we have.”
“Are you?” She turned her head, and their gazes locked as they stepped into the entry hall.
Dougal couldn’t bring himself to look away. It was as if he’d walked through a desert and had finally found water. He was enraptured. Despite the fact that she still seemed annoyed with him.
“Welcome!” Lady Wexford’s voice greeted them. She also fairly destroyed the lovely moment.
Not completely. Dougal was now looking forward to the evening in a way he hadn’t before.
Cassandra moved toward Jess. “I’m so glad you could come, Miss Goodfellow. Kat is looking forward to having a friend here. Come, let’s go to the library, where we’ve gathered before dinner is served.”
Jess met his eyes once more as she took her hand from his arm. Then she joined Cassandra and walked with her toward the library at the back of the house.
“That was quite a reunion,” Lucien murmured close to Dougal’s side.
Dougal rolled his shoulders. “We became good friends. Wouldn’t you be if you’d done what we had?” He looked toward Lucien and immediately regretted doing so.
Lucien’s brows shot up. “What was that, pray?”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Dougal started toward the library. “Don’t make insinuations. Miss Goodfellow doesn’t deserve your adolescent humor.”
“Humor you typically share,” Lucien mused.
They reached the drawing room and saw that it was to be a small party. Aside from their hosts, Wexford’s sister Miss Shaughnessy, and Jess, there was Lucien’s brother Constantine, the Earl of Aldington, and his wife, Sabrina. Dougal noted it was a neatly organized gathering with equal numbers of men and women.
Dougal made the rounds greeting people. As he finished, his friend Tobias, the Earl of Overton, and his wife, Fiona, arrived.
“Everyone is here,” Cassandra declared before going to greet the latest arrivals.
