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Felicia acquiesced with this and saw Becky seated inside Scott’s room, turned, and eyed Scott for a moment. “There, are you happy, sir?” Her brow was up, and her eyes glittered a dare at him.
Scott ignored her and said, “Now, I have some of the story. Do, someone, give me the rest.”
Felicia was so taken by the fact that Scott was completely enthralled with her new friend. She sat watching because he was unable to break away his gaze from Becky’s face.
She had odd sensations shoot through her as this fact sank in. She was amused, she was pleased, and she was certainly just a bit jealous. Why she should be jealous was something she couldn’t answer. She was not interested in Scott romantically, and yet, for a moment, she saw the future, and the future no longer belonged to who and what they had been to each other. She felt a sudden sadness overtake her. Life would change now.
This mood was soon dispelled by Ashton, who said, “Scott, you are looking fagged to death. I think we should leave you to have some rest.”
“No, you don’t. Of all the paltry things,” Scott said.
Ashton grinned and left them then; when he returned, his reappearance took all of Felicia’s attention, and she found herself staring at him. She sucked in her lips as his lips occupied her attention. What was wrong with her?
He had arrived with a warm smile for her and quietly told them that they might have a bit of a wait as Miss Wilson’s father, the squire, was not found at home. The livery boy had returned to say one of his staff had gone in search of him, for the good squire was out with a group of his friends all bent on finding his daughter.
“Oh dear, poor Papa,” Becky cried, and Scott bent out of his chair to pat her arm.
Softly he told her, “They will find him, and before you know it he will know you are safe. Those scoundrels will be nothing more than a bad memory.”
Felicia’s jaw dropped. He was playing the gentleman so well. Was he always the collected, concerned gentleman she presently was watching, or had his sudden concern for Becky brought it out of him? She was more than a little astonished and turned to find Ashton looking at her with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
“What, sir?”
“Am I forever going to hear only ‘sir’ when you address me?” he asked impatiently, ignoring her question as he pulled a wooden chair up and sat.
She felt a blush fill her cheeks. “What then shall I call you?”
“Glen. I have been dearly wishing to hear my name on your lips,” he said softly.
Her breath hitched in her throat. She met his gaze head-on, and they remained locked in that gaze for a moment. She felt her heart thumping and was recalled to order by Scott, who demanded, “Well? Come on, Flip. Who if not you will tell me what happened and how you became embroiled in the ugly business?”
“What? Oh … well, yes, there I was out for a bit of a ride, and it was the veriest chance that I heard them.”
“Ah, eavesdropping is something she does very well,” Scott announced with a chuckle.
“Disagreeable boy, do you want to know or do you not?” she countered.
“Do go on,” Ashton said on a short laugh, “for I too, would like to know how you came upon the scoundrels.”
Slightly mollified, though casting a warning glare at Scott, Felicia continued. “Right then, so there I was already off my horse checking Whiley, as he had thrown a shoe, when I heard and saw something that did not feel right. I was quickly very sure something havey-cavey was about, you see …”
“Havey-cavey?” Ashton laughed. “You have that term from Scott here, no doubt?”
She frowned darkly at the two men bent on teasing her. “I do, but if everyone will keep interrupting me I shall lose my way and not be able to tell you anything more at all.”
Ashton put up his hands, and Scott barked a laugh to say, “That won’t fadge, girl—not one bit. You want to tell us your part as much as we want to hear it.”
She narrowed her eyes and wagged a finger but said, “So there I was. Those villains had … slapped brave Becky, and, well …” She gave Becky an encouraging smile. “I had no choice but to follow the blackguards.”
“Of course,” Ashton said with a grimace, “with no thought to yourself.”
“I know how to keep out of sight.” Felicia put up her chin. “So, I did what needed to be done. I followed them. Then all at once, there was Mr. Ash—” She noted that Ashton’s brow was up and corrected herself. “Glen, who had apparently followed me.” She rounded on him and demanded, “Which is something I have been wondering about?”
He inclined his head and said softly, “Indeed. I saw you walk to the stables and thought to catch up and ride with you.”
She dimpled and said, “Oh.” She turned back to Scott. “Well, once Ashton … er … Glen arrived, I knew everything would work out right and tight.”
“Did you, my dear?” Ashton said softly, and again when their eyes met she felt a glow rush through her body.
