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She tried not to groan again. At least with a couple ofthe boys, she would have someone to converse with, especially when she didn’t want to talk to Wayne. It was bad enough that her arm bumped against his during the ride.
Wringing her hands in her lap, she tried thinking of a conversation topic that might keep both men in the coach talking. Yet, Harold had closed his eyes as if trying to catch a nap, and Wayne looked out of the window. His nonchalant way of conversing bothered her more than anything, as if nothing had happened between them. As if the earth had not moved for him like it had for her. Yet, it shouldn’t have moved at all. Perhaps having him not care was a good thing.
Approximately thirty minutes later, they reached the boxing event. The building wasn’t very large, but as she walked beside Harold, it surprised her how many people filled the seats surrounding the boxing arena. A few people she recognized, but most she did not. It also shocked her to see other women who had come to witness two men hitting each other until their faces were bloody. This didn’t bother Regina, but most women didn’t have the childhood she had.
Jane’s cousins were waiting for them, and they saved their seats. The men appeared happy to see Regina. The four cousins had been living close to Harold since she could remember, but not once had she met their parents to know how exactly they were related to the Meyer family. It had always bothered her that they didn’t look similar at all. There should have been some kind of family resemblance.
She sat next to Harold, but even before the boxing started, he switched seats with Wayne to discuss something with his nephews. Although she wanted to stop Harold, she couldn’t. After all, what would be her excuse?
The boxing started, and Regina tried to get into the fight. Just as her mind finally stopped thinking of Wayne, he would shift in his seat, making her aware of him once again. She gritted her teeth so hard she feared she wouldn’t have many left once the fight was over.
The crowd cheered when their opponent took control of the match, but from what she could tell, each boxer was equally talented in the sport. She didn’t have a favorite boxer, but it was enjoyable just to be watching the event instead of being with Jane as she was fitted for her wedding gown.
From the corner of her eye, there was a movement at the end of the row of seats. She swung her focus that way as Harold and thecousinswere standing and walking away.
Her heart dropped, and her body stiffened. Why was Harold leaving her alone with Wayne without asking her first?
“Where is he going?” she asked in a panic.
“Calm yourself, Miss Taylor,” Wayne said in a soothing voice. “The earl said he would be back shortly.”
Irritation rose inside her, making her want to scream. Taking deep breaths, she hoped it would calm her fiercely beating heart.
She nodded to Wayne, not wanting to look him directly in the eyes. If she did, she feared she might remember last night again. Inwardly, she groaned. Why had she thought ofthatagain?
Without really looking at him, she could tell his body was as rigid as her own. Perhaps this was nerve-wracking for him, too. If so, had he remembered about last night? As she pondered this thought, she didn’t feel as threatened as before.
“So, Mr. Nichols...” Her voice must have startled him because he jerked his head toward him, sucking in a fast breath. Her thoughts screeched to a stop, especially when he turned toward her, and his leg bumped against hers. Their gazes met and locked. Without warning, the beating of her heart quickened.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Um... How do you suppose we can become better acquainted?” After she said it, mortification washed over her, making her want to die right here, right now. If there were a small hole nearby, she would crawl inside with room to fit. Through her embarrassment, she held herself strong and kept her focus on him.
For several seconds, all he could do was stare. But then slowly, the grim line that had been on his lips curled up into a smile. Curses, he was handsome.
“I suppose this is a good way to get to know each other.” He gestured with his hands around the arena. “To carry on a pleasant conversation in a public environment.”
She arched an eyebrow. “How do you know our conversation will be pleasant?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I can only hope that it will. How else am I supposed to make you like me?”
Her heartbeat flipped wildly, and she wished it hadn’t. “I don’t think you can make me like you, Mr. Nichols. I happen to think that you are not the man my friend should marry.” There, she said it. She released a deep sigh.
He nodded. “Yes, I know how you feel about me. I could tell immediately after meeting you that you were not impressed.”
“Do you blame me?” She shook her head. “When you met Jane, she was foxed, and you charmed her regardless. I wouldn’t doubt you had too much to drink that night, as well.”
His brows creased, and he frowned. “What makes you presume to know everything about that night when you were not there?”
“Mr. Nichols, you seem like the type of man who charms the intoxicated, wealthy women, hoping for only one outcome. You sir, only want to marry Jane because of her money.”
“Miss Taylor, I don’t know if Lady Jane has told you, but I didn’t know about her father’s wealth when we first met. I enjoyed Jane’s company, and we had a pleasant evening at the ball.”
Regina rolled her eyes. “Oh, I’m quite sure you had averypleasant evening. Men like you only want to take advantage of women when they are helpless.”
She quickly clamped her mouth shut, knowing that she had said too much.
What had she done? How could she avoid talking about last night with a slip-up like that?
