Page 18 of A Wicked Business

Lady Belinda gasped and turned on the spot, stalking away from him.

“Wait!” he said in alarm, not wanting her to rush off heedlessly without an escort. “Wait, my lady. I beg your pardon, but you must realise that, at least, was not an insult.”

She slowed, turning to look at him over her shoulder and he hurried to stand beside her, putting his hand on her arm to halt her completely.

“I’m sorry,” he said, meaning it, before dropping his hand. Touching her seemed a bad idea, or at least, it seemed like an excellent idea, but one that would land him in water so hot he’d be boiled alive before he had to concern himself with drowning. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I cannot seem to keep a civil tongue in my head when I am in your company. It’s… actually, it’s rather vexing.”

“I’m rather vexing, you mean,” she said, but she was smiling a little this time, her expression rueful.

He stared at her, wishing the expression was not so beguiling, wishing she didn’t turn him inside out and make him wonder what it was he really wanted.

“No more than I am to you.”

“True,” she admitted, which made him laugh.

“Look,” he said, gesturing across the street to where a silversmith’s shop was visible. “Do you care to come and find a suitable gift for my new niece? I’m afraid Cat was quite correct, drat her. I am the kind of gentleman who gets his secretary to buy gifts for him. It’s not because I can’t be bothered, though finding time can be difficult, but I’m afraid I’m just not very good at it.”

“That is mere humbuggery,” Lady Belinda said firmly but not unkindly.

“Oh, no!” Felix protested, determined to be acquitted on this front if no other. “Before Charles, there were years of embarrassment as my sisters and my mother tried to find polite things to say when I had very clearly chosen ill.”

“Oh, I do not doubt your ability to muck it up, Mr Knight,” Lady Belinda said soothingly. “I only mean to say that there is a knack to buying presents which you must learn.”

“Why, you little wretch!” he replied, staring at her in frank admiration. “I never heard anyone be as rude as you are to me under the guise of giving polite advice.”

“That too is a knack,” she admitted, though her eyes sparkled with such obvious relish he knew she was enjoying herself as much as he was. Felix gave a bark of laughter and shook his head, holding out his arm to her. Trouble she might be, but it seemed he was unable to resist.

“Come, my Lady Caustic, teach me your dark arts.”

She laughed then, that low, breathy sound he’d heard once before, and did such strange things to his equilibrium. He stared at her, noticing with delight the solitary dimple peeking out in her cheek. “Very well, Mr Acerbic, but you had best learn your lesson well. I have no patience for slow tops.”

“You astonish me,” Felix replied, yet the words came out softer than he’d meant, and their eyes locked until a flush of colour tinged her cheeks.

“The silversmith’s, Mr Knight,” she reminded him, shaking him out of the deep dive he seemed to have taken into the endless blue of her eyes.

Idiot, he told himself soundly and escorted her across the street.