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“And you would, no doubt, miss out on some of the experience of it all,” Constance added with a gentle smile.
“Are you having an experience, my lady?” Florent asked with a chuckle that sent another thrill through her.
“Everything is an experience, my lord,” she countered, lifting her chin lest he start thinking anything questionable about her.
“I suppose that is true,” he replied, a slight frown crinkled his forehead as he watched her attentively. “Ought I not to have asked? I meant it to be a jest, but it seems to have offended you.”
Constance blinked and heat filled her chest and face. He had obviously not been intending any sort of implication. He probably didn’t even know anything about her if he didn’t go about much in Society. She shouldn’t have been so quick to take offense. She owed him an apology, but she didn’t know how to do it without telling him why she had been so touchy.
“No apologies needed, my lord. Or rather, it is on my side to do so. I think I must have slept fitfully and didn’t awaken fit for company it would seem.”
“Not at all,” he murmured, bowing to her slightly once more. “I say, have you seen either my mother or my sister? That’s Lady Alcott and Miss Alcott if you don’t know who I’m connected to.”
Constance was instantly charmed. While, as a nobleman, he ought to be better informed about who everyone was, he didn’t expect everyone to know who he was either. Somehow, she appreciated that quality since even on the continent who was who was a very important topic.
But Connie had just been wondering about Daisy and was already worrying the girl was getting up to shenanigans. It was a common occurrence at some house parties. Constance doubted Lady Adelaide would appreciate her guests loosening themselves to that extent, but Connie didn’t want to stir up any trouble for the young woman.
“I’ve just left the salon and didn’t see either of your family members there. But it is a very large house so I cannot be certain where anyone is. I’m, in fact, looking for my companion as well.”
“Did I hear tell that Miss Smith is your companion? I believe I might have seen her in my wanderings.”
Connie tried not to stare but how did the man know her companion and yet it had been necessary for him to be introduced to her? A frown started to crease her forehead but Constance exerted a concerted effort at stopping its formation.
She had been uncomfortable with the other guests and was dreading the next rumoured arrival. Mr. Alcott was causing her strange impulses. It was all rather absurd. She needed to find Peggy in order to prevent herself from stepping into trouble. It was strange that both Miss Alcott and Miss Smith were missing. She only hoped trouble hadn’t found them while searching for her.
“How helpful,” she murmured. “Or rather, it would be helpful if you could recall where it was that you encountered her.”
Florent grinned. “She was with Lady Adelaide in the foyer when I arrived.”
“Oh, are you that literally just arrived?”
“That literally,” he agreed with a nod. “I was busy throughout the entire day yesterday, so it was well into the evening when I finally could have come over. I decided one more night of sleep in my own bed would be preferable, besides the fact that it might be slightly less rude to arrive in the morning rather than the late evening when I was already late anyway.”
Constance grinned. “And since the travel was so extensive, it must have been a trial,” she added with a teasing grin. To her delight, Florent did not appear to take the least offence. He returned her grin.
“Isn’t that always the way? I suppose since you had the furthest to come, you were probably the first one here.”
“Actually, I believe that honour goes to your mother and sister. I was actually another late arrival, only having arrived here yesterday.”
“Oh, well, then the viscountess shan’t mind me overly, in that case. I haven’t thrown out her numbers for days on end as my mother would like me to think.”
Connie smiled anew. “Just last night, but it didn’t seem to bother Lady Adelaide overmuch.”
“I appreciate your saying so. I will use you as a witness if I must.”
“I don’t think so, I’m afraid, my lord. I shouldn’t like to get between a man and his mother.”
Florent’s eyebrow rose as he regarded her with interest. “I beg your pardon, my lady.”
Heat flooded Constance from the top of her head to at least the pit of her belly and she knew no amount of effort would be able to keep the red from filling her face. She hadn’t meant to imply anything other than not wishing to become entangled in a family dispute, but she could see how her words could have been taken to mean something far more complicated and not at all what she had intended.
“Thank you for the information about Miss Smith. I will see you later.” With those abrupt words, Constance turned on her heel and fled. It was fleeing in her mind even if it was at a gentle, sedate pace that would appear to be unexceptional to any observer, even the confounding man who seemed to be staring holes into her back as she walked away from him.
But Constance hadn’t been able to deal with the expression on his face. It had been the strangest combination of interest, fascination, flirtation, and appreciation. All varying degrees of expressions she had witnessed on the faces of other gentlemen many times before. But she had never been affected in the same way before. She had never been inclined to linger and bask in the attention. And yet she had done so many times. Constance Moreland was not a fleer. It was the exact opposite of her personality. Except for that one time when they had been informed that a battle was about to break out near them, then one could consider that she had fled. But normally Constance was the type to take a firm stand, not run away from uncomfortable situations.
When one considered it, her entire life was an uncomfortable situation. She was young, unwed, reasonably attractive, and sufficiently well off to be considered independently wealthy. And she chose to travel the world with a companion in tow. And yet she had managed to never court a single scandal aside from her very own existence. Her companion’s reputation for being a stickler for propriety was one reason no hint of scandal had ever settled upon her, which was probably partially why she was so unsettled by her companion’s absence.
The other reason was that she had never before been tempted to linger in a gentleman’s company.Why now? Why this gentleman?
She had meant to try to keep Mr. Alcott occupied in order to prevent him from looking for his sister, Connie remembered too late. The urge to turn back was ignored. Miss Alcott would have to fend for herself for now. Lady Constance needed to recover from her first encounter with the Honorable Mr. Alcott.
