caught Lord Hamson’s eye and then asked graciously, “Will you permit me to fetch you some refreshment? I see that a nice spread is being laid out by the staff as we speak. Would you like a sandwich, some fruit, or cheese, perhaps? Truly, I would be happy to return with anything you desire.”
“Well!” She grinned. “I hardly know how to answer such generosity.” She could feel small twinges of hunger and remembered that she had been so anxious, she had forgone supper. “I find I am quite famished. Please return with whatever you consider agreeable. I will leave that discretion up to you. And thank you for kindly thinking of me.”
He bowed and then glanced at Lord Hamson again before taking his leave.
After a few moments of silence, when that lord continued to stand near her, she finally spoke up. “Come now, Lord Hamson. Are you not even going to say hello? Or offer me refreshment as well?”
“I . . . Hello, Lady Romney. How are you this fine evening?”
She smiled and tilted her head. “A little better. And how do you get on? Are you done playing cards?”
He shrugged and glanced down at his boots before grinning ruefully. “I am afraid I have been cast away from the tables. I was not attending as I should be, and was told to retire my hand so the others could continue.”
She bit her lip from the sudden giggle that produced itself. “And why is that, my lord?”
His earnest gaze met hers. All at once, she was reminded again why she had preferred him over any other gentleman four years ago. A slight dimple played peek-a-boo as he hesitated before answering, “You. I could not tear my attentions away from you.”
“Me?” She was surprised and decided to bring him down a peg. No sense tumbling over his charms when he felt other women were more to his taste. “Are you certain it was me, Lord Hamson? Am I not too damaged for the likes of you?” A clear reminder that she had no business finding him charming at all.
He blanched, as she hoped he would, and then attempted a grin. “A direct hit, my dear. Straight to the heart.”
“The heart! You do not say.” Her own core raced wildly. Indeed, the man was a cursed fiend, the way he could make her feel! It was dreadful to be so fluttery around him. With an arch of her brow, she continued. “I would not know what that felt like,” she brazenly lied. “For your part, I hope it is not too painful, and will last but a short duration.”
He took a deep breath as he reacted to her fresh verbal arrow and then said simply, “Lady Romney, I fear neither of us are prepared for this encounter this evening. If you will allow me to do so, I must bid you adieu.” He bowed low as her chest grew heavy.
“Of course you may leave. I see that Lord Atten is making his way back anyhow.”
And there was the final strike. His eyes belied the pain he attempted to conceal as he nodded once and then left. Her upper body ached painfully for him, but it could not be helped. Neither of them would benefit from the other anymore. It was time they both put their past infatuation aside and progressed forward.
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
George made his way into his quarters, walked over to his large canopied four-poster bed, and then landed himself upon it. This would not do. Lord Atten could not be serious in his devotions to Lady Romney, could he? What would his family say to the match?
George stared up at the ancient embroidered covering above him and wished himself a millions miles away from this appalling town. There was nothing he could do about anything, anyway. It was best to allow their new romance to run its course and then step away.
Except, was he willing to be present to the whole of their flirtations the rest of his life? Atten was a particular companion of his, and if he were to wed Lady Romney, George saw nothing for it but to lose his friendship overall, for he would not be able to endure to see them together.
George sighed and spent a good deal
“Well!” She grinned. “I hardly know how to answer such generosity.” She could feel small twinges of hunger and remembered that she had been so anxious, she had forgone supper. “I find I am quite famished. Please return with whatever you consider agreeable. I will leave that discretion up to you. And thank you for kindly thinking of me.”
He bowed and then glanced at Lord Hamson again before taking his leave.
After a few moments of silence, when that lord continued to stand near her, she finally spoke up. “Come now, Lord Hamson. Are you not even going to say hello? Or offer me refreshment as well?”
“I . . . Hello, Lady Romney. How are you this fine evening?”
She smiled and tilted her head. “A little better. And how do you get on? Are you done playing cards?”
He shrugged and glanced down at his boots before grinning ruefully. “I am afraid I have been cast away from the tables. I was not attending as I should be, and was told to retire my hand so the others could continue.”
She bit her lip from the sudden giggle that produced itself. “And why is that, my lord?”
His earnest gaze met hers. All at once, she was reminded again why she had preferred him over any other gentleman four years ago. A slight dimple played peek-a-boo as he hesitated before answering, “You. I could not tear my attentions away from you.”
“Me?” She was surprised and decided to bring him down a peg. No sense tumbling over his charms when he felt other women were more to his taste. “Are you certain it was me, Lord Hamson? Am I not too damaged for the likes of you?” A clear reminder that she had no business finding him charming at all.
He blanched, as she hoped he would, and then attempted a grin. “A direct hit, my dear. Straight to the heart.”
“The heart! You do not say.” Her own core raced wildly. Indeed, the man was a cursed fiend, the way he could make her feel! It was dreadful to be so fluttery around him. With an arch of her brow, she continued. “I would not know what that felt like,” she brazenly lied. “For your part, I hope it is not too painful, and will last but a short duration.”
He took a deep breath as he reacted to her fresh verbal arrow and then said simply, “Lady Romney, I fear neither of us are prepared for this encounter this evening. If you will allow me to do so, I must bid you adieu.” He bowed low as her chest grew heavy.
“Of course you may leave. I see that Lord Atten is making his way back anyhow.”
And there was the final strike. His eyes belied the pain he attempted to conceal as he nodded once and then left. Her upper body ached painfully for him, but it could not be helped. Neither of them would benefit from the other anymore. It was time they both put their past infatuation aside and progressed forward.
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
George made his way into his quarters, walked over to his large canopied four-poster bed, and then landed himself upon it. This would not do. Lord Atten could not be serious in his devotions to Lady Romney, could he? What would his family say to the match?
George stared up at the ancient embroidered covering above him and wished himself a millions miles away from this appalling town. There was nothing he could do about anything, anyway. It was best to allow their new romance to run its course and then step away.
Except, was he willing to be present to the whole of their flirtations the rest of his life? Atten was a particular companion of his, and if he were to wed Lady Romney, George saw nothing for it but to lose his friendship overall, for he would not be able to endure to see them together.
George sighed and spent a good deal
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