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He smiled. “I believe my mother and grandmother are plotting something.”
“Plotting!”
“Yes.”
She tugged the shawl closer around her slim shoulders. “Plotting sounds so nefarious.”
“You do not know them,” he muttered darkly.
This time she laughed, the sound sweet and infectious. “Then tell me.”
“My grandmother said she felt my general indifference to the frivolity of the seasons had extended to marriages,” he said with a dry bite. “Since then, she and my mother have crafted numerous schemes to force my hand. They even knew a particular lady tried to compromise me by waiting for me in my room at a garden party my mother hosted.”
“No,” she gasped.
“Yes,” he said with a chuckle. “You should have heard their arguments as to why I must do the honorable thing and save the lady’s reputation.”
“What did you do?” she asked in horrified accents.
“I called for my horse and went on my merry way to London.”
Miss Harrington simply stopped and stared up at him. “With no thoughts to the lady’s reputation and your honor?”
He arched a brow. “My honor had not been compromised, and why should I care about a lady who wanted to marry me without even knowing I despise syllabub.”
“How did syllabub come into it?”
“She loved it and said she would feed this to her husband on their wedding night. I cannot fathom the conversation ladies have, but there you have it.”
Miss Harrington held a hand over her mouth and laughed, her golden eyes dancing with hilarity. Her face turned from exceedingly pretty to beautiful. Then a mischievous glimmer lit her eyes. “I love lemon syllabub myself,” she murmured. “I am still not sure why you are so certain your mother is hatching any sort of plot with your grandmother. You gave her what she wanted. I am certain she is considerably eased.”
“Then why do you think she is pressed against the windowpane watching us with her jeweled lorgnette?”
CHAPTERNINE
Felicity glanced behind her to the drawing room window in the distance, where his grandmother indeed watched them strolling with a jeweled lorgnette. Rather shocking of the old woman. It amused Felicity but only so far. For now, she had to do some loving stuff toward the dratted man to satisfy their inquisitiveness. Which, upon reflection, did not scare her but filled her with peculiar eagerness.
“I am truly curious as to what nanna is looking for between us,” he murmured. There was an unfathomable look in his eyes, and she could see the wheels turning in his mind.
Felicity turned toward him and lightly rested a hand on his arm, peering up at him. How handsome he looked tonight, dressed in pristine evening clothes, his dark evening coat and trousers accented by a pale blue brocade waistcoat, the silk embroidered in shades of violet. That touch was more flamboyant than his town clothes, but gave a more relaxed mien to his demeanor, as if he only revealed his real nature when at home in the country.
“Perhaps she is looking for this spark.”Good heavens. She sounded a bit breathless and sensual.
“Miss Harrington, what are you doing?”
She flushed, and he held up a hand to forestall her reply. “It is better to tell me what you are thinking. Your cheeks are blushing the most delightful red. How salacious is it?”
The teasing rogue. As she brushed her fingers against his chest, she heard his breath catch. “I am sure this…is sufficient proof for your grandmother that I am enamored with you.”
The earl’s mouth curved in a lopsided smile. “Nanna is bound to remain disappointed and suspicious.”
“Why?”
“I am something of a rake about town, my sweet, a thoroughly unjustified reputation, but alas, it still exists. She would expect me to haul you to me and kiss you most thoroughly.”
Felicity choked. “In full view of everyone?”
His eyes gleamed with something wicked and provoking. “Yes.” Then he leaned forward.
