Page 17 of A Wicked Business

Charles looked suddenly panic-stricken, and Felix remembered then his last gift had been bought that very morning. A parting present for Mrs Norbury after their disastrous trip to the theatre. By the end of the night, Felix could not imagine what he’d been thinking about getting involved with her and had not needed the disapproving words Evie had written to bring him to his senses. He refused to accept that the decision had any connection with the woman before him, though. It has been a mistake, that was all, and now it was over. However, as the affair had been so brief, he did not wish to cause the lady any embarrassment and so had been more than generous with his present. Felix was not looking forward to giving it to her later that same day, but he did not believe in putting off unpleasant tasks and he would never be such a coward as not to sever the connection in person. He did not believe Charles wished to reveal his last purchase had been an emerald bracelet worth a small fortune for his soon to be ex-mistress, however.

“He is actually on a buying expedition with me this very day, as I have requested his help and advice,” he cut in before Charles wilted under Miss Bodrott’s keen gaze. “I had news from Evie today. A daughter arrived on the first of the month. Sophronia.”

“Oh, how darling!” Cat exclaimed with delight. “Why, then I must also buy a present for the babe too. Why do we not all go for a shopping trip to Regent Street together? Then we can all help each other,” she suggested, giving Felix a challenging look that dared him to think of a reason why not.

As Regent Street was a bare two-minute walk away, and he had already told them he and Charles were shopping for his niece, he had very little option.

“We should be delighted to escort you,” he said, inclining his head in agreement, for what else could he do? Felix told himself that spending time with Lady Belinda was nothing special and to just get it over with. His body had other ideas, however, and every inch of his skin seemed to prickle with awareness at having her near. What the devil was wrong with him, getting himself all het up over such a woman? That she could disrupt his equilibrium with such ease made him irritated, both with himself and with her. He needed to get another mistress with all haste before he got himself into trouble.

The last thing he wanted was to get entangled with a woman of her class, an unmarried woman who would expect to be marched up the aisle if he so much as stole a kiss. Not to mention a woman whose father would hunt him down and shoot him before he set one foot in the direction of a church. No, trouble of that kind he could definitely do without. His priorities lay elsewhere, and his focus was to make a success of himself, to make his father proud. He could never match Gabriel Knight’s achievements no matter what he did, but at least he might prove to his father that the vast empire he had built from nothing would be left in safe hands.

Felix handed Cat and then Lady Belinda from the carriage, leaving Charles to see to Miss Bodrott.

“I’m dreadfully sorry,” Lady Belinda told him in an undertone as she stepped down.

He looked at her enquiringly and she returned an apologetic smile.

“It is perfectly obvious you do not wish to shop with us,” she explained in her usual frank manner.

Felix frowned, a little annoyed that she found him so transparent when he’d believed even Cat had not detected the depths of his irritation at being coerced into shopping with them.

“It is?” he asked, realising he sounded rather aloof, the words colder than he had intended.

Lady Belinda released his hand, her smile fading. “If it was not, it is now,” she replied, sweeping past him to take Cat’s arm.

Felix bit back a curse. What was it about the woman that made him act like a complete arse? Shaking his head, he resolved to do better. He turned to glance back at Charles, who had a wide-eyed look of something between panic and startled delight at finding Miss Bodrott had taken his arm. He was gazing up at her with every appearance of hero worship. Felix smiled, wondering if the poor fellow had any idea what he was playing with. Charles had not had the pleasure of hearing Miss Bodrott’s rather invigorating conversation yet, and the woman not only stood half a head taller than Charles but probably outweighed him by several stone. Not that this was difficult, as Felix would have been astonished if Charles weighed more than six stone dripping wet. He always feared he did not eat enough. From the way Miss Bodrott was studying Charles, he wondered if she was thinking the same thing.

They strolled down the exclusive shopping street, which still seemed busy despite the exodus of those fashionable people who had already escaped the heat. Richly dressed footmen lingered outside shops, awaiting their masters and mistresses, chatting and exchanging gossip. Cat and Lady Belinda stopped to peruse a display of stunning silk shawls, the colours enough to catch even his eye and make him pause to contemplate the intricate embroidery. There was one in a shade of cobalt blue with yellow and green silk flowers worked upon it that he could at once imagine gracing Lady Belinda’s lovely shoulders. He watched her surreptitiously as she contemplated the exquisite silk, surprised when she moved along without going inside.

They walked on, past lamp posts where dealers sold terrier, poodle and spaniel pups, obliged to stop at each so the ladies might pet the adorable bundles of fluff. Along the kerbside, vendors of stain cleaning pastes and suspicious looking bottles of tonics hawked their wares, and an Italian boy turned a barrel organ, singing along in a sweet falsetto. The delicious scents from a pastry shop had them all gravitating to the big glass window despite having just eaten ices and they spent a pleasant moment contemplating a lavish display of cakes and bonbons and jellies arranged around clever barley sugar cases.

“Ain’t it splendid,” Miss Bodrott said, gazing at the delicious arrangement of goodies with a happy sigh. “Oh, and they got Turkish Delight too. I adore Turkish Delight,” she said wistfully.

“I was thinking of buying some liquorice,” Charles said, suddenly breaking out from the stunned silence that seemed to have held him in thrall since the moment Miss Bodrott had taken his arm. “I should be happy to buy you some Turkish Delight, if you would allow it?”

“Oh, why Mr Kirby, how kind you are,” Miss Bodrott said, beaming at him.

Felix noticed how the smile softened her somewhat harsh features and made the lady’s eyes sparkle. Charles had obviously noticed too, for the poor fellow looked rather dumbstruck. Felix wondered if Charles had much experience with women and decided he might need to take him aside and have a word. Love at first sight was all well and good, supposing that was the emotion he was experiencing, but he did not wish to see the indomitable Miss Bodrott trample his secretary’s heart.

Felix glanced at Lady Belinda, unsurprised to see she was also watching the interplay between the two with interest and concern. He offered her a smile, but she turned away without returning the expression. She walked off a little way, looking in the next window. Jullien’s shop sold musical instruments and sheet music, and Lady Belinda studied the display of the latest music on offer.

“Do you play?” he asked, gesturing to the window.

“Piano,” she said with a nod. “Though not with any great skill. I am adequate at most ladylike pursuits but excel at none of them.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Felix replied with a smile, endeavouring to make amends for having been so obviously unfriendly. It wasn’t that he did not want to be friends, or to spend time in her company, it was only that her company had all his nerves leaping with delighted excitement and his gut telling him he was heading for trouble. He had learned to listen to his instincts, but when they sent him such mixed messages, he felt all at sea and very much on his guard. “You seem to me the kind of lady who is determined to excel at all she does.”

“Do I, indeed?” she replied, turning to look at him, her expression unreadable. “How very unpleasant I sound.”

“Oh, come on,” Felix protested, stung by her antagonism when he’d been trying to make amends, no matter how clumsily. “If you are going to take every word I say amiss, this is going to be a very long afternoon.”

She shrugged, apparently indifferent. “Then please do not let us detain you. I’m certain the admirable Mr Kirby is quite aware of your tastes. I believe we will survive the loss of your company.”

Felix gaped at her, startled by her sudden hostility and finding his own hackles rising in response. “Look, I’m sorry if I seemed less than eager to be in your presence, but your family isn’t exactly fond of mine and that’s hard to forget.”

“My father,” Lady Belinda said crisply, her blue eyes fixed upon him. “My father despises you, Mr Knight, you and your father and everything you both stand for. I, however, am not the Earl of Keston, something I feel compelled to point out, as you seem to have failed to notice that for yourself.”

“Oh, I noticed,” he said bitterly, before he could think better of it.