A Curious Heart (Love Vine: A Regency Series) by Diane Davis White
Authors: Diane Davis White
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now as well, do not do so with my aunt."
Having spoken, Sir Gordon stepped to the door and held it open in invitation for his friend to precede him from the room.
Rothburn exited with a wry grin. As a parting shot, with raised eyebrows, he said, "Are you certain it is Lady Alana about whom you are concerned, old fellow?"
He had the satisfaction of seeing a full blush come over the other's features before he made a hasty retreat to the drawing room.
Close on his heels, Sir Gordon hissed, "I know not what you mean by that, but we will have this finished later. I am too angry to pursue it at the moment and so are you. This conversation is not done, to be sure."
In truth, neither man was really angry now. But both were confused, and very much at odds with one another. Rothburn had known for some time his friend had more than a casual fondness for Lady Eleanor and knew as well that Sir Gordon was a gentleman. As such, he would never pursue his interest in another man's arena—especially if that other man were his best friend.
The earl began to wonder just what would happen if he were to throw the two of them together—with his blessing of course.
Perhaps he could rid himself of his unspoken attachment to Lady Eleanor, give his friend what he wanted most in life and be free to pursue his own interests at will.
His interests being the pursuit of Lady Alana.
Chapter Five
~~
Griffin sat next to Allie on the small settee near the fireplace, admiring her dimple and the spark of joy in her beautiful eyes. His interest in her had changed considerably—from seduction to courting—in the few hours he had known her. Something about her pulled at his spirit, drew the better part of him into the light.
How could he ever have thought to dally with this lovely young woman? Ashamed at his previous motives, Griffin frowned.
Allie looked over at the young man, noting his puckered brow. He was so well-mannered, so perfectly handsome, and, so seemingly gentle, she was beginning to falter from her other duties. For the last hour, she hadn't thought about the romantic entanglements of her brother and her aunt. She could only concentrate on Griffin George, a man who made her heart beat faster, and for once, she was almost tongue-tied with shyness. Almost .
"So you are just up from the country for the season? You do not normally stay here?" Griffin queried the object of his affection with idle curiosity while watching the flames of the fireplace dance in her eyes. Suddenly the air in the room became very close and he pulled at his cravat, slightly displacing the carefully folded linen.
"I come here once or twice a year. But this is my first Season. Do you come here often, Griffin?" Allie, as enamored of Griffin as he was of her, failed to notice the arrival of her brother and the earl. For once, Allie was concentrating on furthering her own love life.
"Not as often as I will in future. That is—if you are here." Nearly blushing at his bold words, Griffin seemed to have lost what town polish he had gained in the last several years. "I find that our excursion this afternoon was possibly the most blissful experience of my life. Ah—the part about meeting you, that is."
Allie had him blushing and stuttering, for goodness sakes. He could barely think of anything sensible to say in her presence. Continuing with the inane, he queried her further, hoping to regain some of his seductive powers by the sheer passing of time. Of course, this did not happen. Especially with her aunt staring daggers at him.
Sitting directly across from the young pair, Lady Alana looked up sharply at his words, her eyes trained on Griffin. Although she liked him and wanted to nurture his interest in Allie, she must act the outraged chaperon and keep him in line.
Allowing him to think that such comments would go undetected was an invitation to disaster. Keep him on a leash, she decided. Keep him off balance. Then she began to wonder of whom she thought. Was
Having spoken, Sir Gordon stepped to the door and held it open in invitation for his friend to precede him from the room.
Rothburn exited with a wry grin. As a parting shot, with raised eyebrows, he said, "Are you certain it is Lady Alana about whom you are concerned, old fellow?"
He had the satisfaction of seeing a full blush come over the other's features before he made a hasty retreat to the drawing room.
Close on his heels, Sir Gordon hissed, "I know not what you mean by that, but we will have this finished later. I am too angry to pursue it at the moment and so are you. This conversation is not done, to be sure."
In truth, neither man was really angry now. But both were confused, and very much at odds with one another. Rothburn had known for some time his friend had more than a casual fondness for Lady Eleanor and knew as well that Sir Gordon was a gentleman. As such, he would never pursue his interest in another man's arena—especially if that other man were his best friend.
The earl began to wonder just what would happen if he were to throw the two of them together—with his blessing of course.
Perhaps he could rid himself of his unspoken attachment to Lady Eleanor, give his friend what he wanted most in life and be free to pursue his own interests at will.
His interests being the pursuit of Lady Alana.
Chapter Five
~~
Griffin sat next to Allie on the small settee near the fireplace, admiring her dimple and the spark of joy in her beautiful eyes. His interest in her had changed considerably—from seduction to courting—in the few hours he had known her. Something about her pulled at his spirit, drew the better part of him into the light.
How could he ever have thought to dally with this lovely young woman? Ashamed at his previous motives, Griffin frowned.
Allie looked over at the young man, noting his puckered brow. He was so well-mannered, so perfectly handsome, and, so seemingly gentle, she was beginning to falter from her other duties. For the last hour, she hadn't thought about the romantic entanglements of her brother and her aunt. She could only concentrate on Griffin George, a man who made her heart beat faster, and for once, she was almost tongue-tied with shyness. Almost .
"So you are just up from the country for the season? You do not normally stay here?" Griffin queried the object of his affection with idle curiosity while watching the flames of the fireplace dance in her eyes. Suddenly the air in the room became very close and he pulled at his cravat, slightly displacing the carefully folded linen.
"I come here once or twice a year. But this is my first Season. Do you come here often, Griffin?" Allie, as enamored of Griffin as he was of her, failed to notice the arrival of her brother and the earl. For once, Allie was concentrating on furthering her own love life.
"Not as often as I will in future. That is—if you are here." Nearly blushing at his bold words, Griffin seemed to have lost what town polish he had gained in the last several years. "I find that our excursion this afternoon was possibly the most blissful experience of my life. Ah—the part about meeting you, that is."
Allie had him blushing and stuttering, for goodness sakes. He could barely think of anything sensible to say in her presence. Continuing with the inane, he queried her further, hoping to regain some of his seductive powers by the sheer passing of time. Of course, this did not happen. Especially with her aunt staring daggers at him.
Sitting directly across from the young pair, Lady Alana looked up sharply at his words, her eyes trained on Griffin. Although she liked him and wanted to nurture his interest in Allie, she must act the outraged chaperon and keep him in line.
Allowing him to think that such comments would go undetected was an invitation to disaster. Keep him on a leash, she decided. Keep him off balance. Then she began to wonder of whom she thought. Was
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