Second Glances: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice Continues (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) by Alexa Adams Page B

so-called hero causes all the trouble in the first place.”
    He blinked, disbelievingly, and then flashed her one of his most charming smiles, “You think me a scoundrel, Miss Bennet?”
    She would not look at him directly. “I think you are trouble, Sir James, and for whatever reason you have alighted on me as your next target.”
    His smile faded. “You will not be convinced that I am truly interested in your welfare.”
    “I cannot imagine why you should be,” she asserted.
    “Can you not?”
    She blushed and looked away again. “I beg you, sir, to not make me the object of your teasing.”
    “And I, again, assure you, Miss Bennet, that I am in earnest. Why not turn to Darcy for an account of my character? You surely will believe his good report of me.”
    “I would, if he had one to give. Both he and Miss Darcy speak of you fondly, Sir James, there is no doubt of that, but they also both describe you as an oddity. You yourself admitted your eccentricities.”
    “I will not deny them,” he said vehemently. “I was never one to quail at the notion of being exceptional. In fact, I have always rather relished the notion.”
    “But you cannot deny that such behavior is calculated to make those around you uncomfortable!”
    “Indeed, I do deny it! Nor has anyone ever suggested that my company is anything less than excellent. I have always made friends easily.”
    “A more telling question would be if you kept them.”
    He was thoroughly nettled, which was a most uncommon state for Sir James. “Do you not have the evidence of your own eyes to attest to that fact?”
    “Oh, I cannot count family friends. They are quite a different matter.”
    “Miss Bennet, you are determined to cast me in the worst possible light!”
    She looked surprised. “No indeed! I am only attempting to persuade you not to trifle with my feelings.”
    “And I am trying to persuade you that I have no intention of the sort,” he declared, throwing caution to the wind. “On the contrary, Miss Bennet, I would like to court you!”
    She laughed uncomfortably, studying her feet. “This is precisely what I mean!”
    “How so?”
    “Why would a gentleman like you be interested in an impoverished young lady, only just emerged from the schoolroom? I am not considered as intelligent as my sister Elizabeth, nor a learned as Mary, but I hope I am not such a fool.”
    “Perhaps you will explain to me, Miss Bennet, why a gentleman, such as myself, would make sport of a lady in the guardianship of my friend. Such behavior is unheard of!”
    “But you are an eccentric, Sir James! You choose not to allow such rules to regulate your conduct.”
    He knew not what to say to such illogical assertions as Miss Bennet was casting his way. Never before had he encountered someone so determined to dislike him, and though he was tempted to represent the evidence in his favor, as well as provide some instruction on deduction, instinct told him his explanations would not be received kindly. As Kitty had only become increasingly heated throughout the course of their conversation, he let it lapse into silence and tried to just enjoy dancing with her, but his mind insisted upon brooding. It was clear he would need to employ more unusual means than a mere declaration to convince Miss Bennet of his honorable intentions. Though they were an outrage to reason, he did not begrudge her her doubts. In fact, after being long accustomed to almost every young lady he met taking any friendly overture as a precursor to a proposal, Miss Bennet’s reluctance was a refreshing change. He fancied she did not, in truth, think so very ill of him as she professed. To quote the bard, “The lady doth protest too much,” but whatever her deeper feelings might be, he was determined to change her expressed opinion, and as he said to Mr. Brooks later that evening, “When she does look upon me with affection, I am sure to be certain it is sincere, and not just the maneuverings of a