his
matchbreaking
proved successful. He’d report to Lord Rigby once he was certain no opportunity for reconciliation existed.
Meanwhile Leonard’s eyes glinted with stifled laughter. Was he flattered Fiona had gone to such lengths to display her discontent or had the lady provided him the perfect excuse to dismiss all affection? Valerian should feel relieved, exhilarated, and downright euphoric. Instead, success left a bitter taste in his mouth that had nothing to do with Fiona’s misguided assault. From the lascivious expression Leonard turned toward Wilhelmina, one could surmise his interest was unleashed and strengthening with each inhale.
Wilhelmina’s heart clenched as Fiona circled her arms around Dashwood’s neck, her lush body pressed to his in blatant invitation, while he did not object a whit. Labeling the emotion disappointment, for surely her foray into the world of matchmaking had proved a colossal failure, Wilhelmina reconciled Fiona vied for Leonard’s attention, acting on impulse in an attempt to gain the gentleman’s jealous reaction. Her own erratic heartache did not lessen and a blanket of anxiety wrapped tighter, deflating her newborn confidence.
Leonard appeared no worse for the wear, although his expression displayed a mixture of surprise, betrayal, and curiosity.
“Fiona, whatsoever are you doing?” Wilhelmina’s indignant objection burst through the silence before she could think better of it. It could only be emotion evoking the brazen remark. She shifted her eyes to Dashwood, his face unreadable.
“I should ask the very same.” Leonard’s tone indicated equal parts confusion and concern.
“So now you’re in a hurry to talk and take notice.” Fiona gathered her skirts and rushed past in a flurry of agitation, Leonard fast to follow, the tips of his boots nearly clipping the heels of the lady’s slippers.
“You’ve made a mess of things, Lord Dashwood.” Misplaced anger, at her inability to see the couple happily joined, at the predicament and her inadequacy, laced the accusation with an edge of hysteria. She knew her words were harsh, but anger overrode etiquette.
“Slow down in your berating. I had nothing to do with Fiona’s half-baked scheme.” He turned, his words calm, his expression amused and the glint in his eye deflated her anger in one fell swoop.
“You might have discouraged her.” Her voice dropped to a level of misery. “Fiona and Leonard are meant to be together if they would stop playing these silly games and trust their true emotions. Perhaps Leonard should present Fiona with a pretty bauble.” She spoke more to herself than her company.
“Trust their true emotions?” He stifled a chuckle with effort.
“Have you no faith in love?”
“None at all.”
Silence stretched for several awkward moments.
Then abandoning his cryptic reply, she leveled a stare meant to convey restrained patience. “How is it, wherever I go, you are there too?”
“I could ask the same of you.” One corner of his mouth twitched, as if he suppressed a smile.
“I was invited at Fiona’s request. We are friends…at least we were at one time. You’ve wounded her sensibilities.” For some unnamed reason she stepped closer to him, although the logical thing would be for her to turn and walk away.
“I’ve wounded her? You had the man of her heart on your arm as you traipsed across the meadow, negligent of her feelings while she waited here in the arbor. You’re quick to criticize Fiona’s approach while you also play a game with Leonard’s affection. At the moment, I believe the man doesn’t know where he stands with either lady who’s caught his eye. Have a care with his intentions.”
“How dare you? I would never toy with someone’s affections. I am a woman of high standards.” She poked her finger into the air to emphasis her exclamation. “I’m to have a care? You’ve voiced slanderous comments and inaccurate suggestions that discombobulated
matchbreaking
proved successful. He’d report to Lord Rigby once he was certain no opportunity for reconciliation existed.
Meanwhile Leonard’s eyes glinted with stifled laughter. Was he flattered Fiona had gone to such lengths to display her discontent or had the lady provided him the perfect excuse to dismiss all affection? Valerian should feel relieved, exhilarated, and downright euphoric. Instead, success left a bitter taste in his mouth that had nothing to do with Fiona’s misguided assault. From the lascivious expression Leonard turned toward Wilhelmina, one could surmise his interest was unleashed and strengthening with each inhale.
Wilhelmina’s heart clenched as Fiona circled her arms around Dashwood’s neck, her lush body pressed to his in blatant invitation, while he did not object a whit. Labeling the emotion disappointment, for surely her foray into the world of matchmaking had proved a colossal failure, Wilhelmina reconciled Fiona vied for Leonard’s attention, acting on impulse in an attempt to gain the gentleman’s jealous reaction. Her own erratic heartache did not lessen and a blanket of anxiety wrapped tighter, deflating her newborn confidence.
Leonard appeared no worse for the wear, although his expression displayed a mixture of surprise, betrayal, and curiosity.
“Fiona, whatsoever are you doing?” Wilhelmina’s indignant objection burst through the silence before she could think better of it. It could only be emotion evoking the brazen remark. She shifted her eyes to Dashwood, his face unreadable.
“I should ask the very same.” Leonard’s tone indicated equal parts confusion and concern.
“So now you’re in a hurry to talk and take notice.” Fiona gathered her skirts and rushed past in a flurry of agitation, Leonard fast to follow, the tips of his boots nearly clipping the heels of the lady’s slippers.
“You’ve made a mess of things, Lord Dashwood.” Misplaced anger, at her inability to see the couple happily joined, at the predicament and her inadequacy, laced the accusation with an edge of hysteria. She knew her words were harsh, but anger overrode etiquette.
“Slow down in your berating. I had nothing to do with Fiona’s half-baked scheme.” He turned, his words calm, his expression amused and the glint in his eye deflated her anger in one fell swoop.
“You might have discouraged her.” Her voice dropped to a level of misery. “Fiona and Leonard are meant to be together if they would stop playing these silly games and trust their true emotions. Perhaps Leonard should present Fiona with a pretty bauble.” She spoke more to herself than her company.
“Trust their true emotions?” He stifled a chuckle with effort.
“Have you no faith in love?”
“None at all.”
Silence stretched for several awkward moments.
Then abandoning his cryptic reply, she leveled a stare meant to convey restrained patience. “How is it, wherever I go, you are there too?”
“I could ask the same of you.” One corner of his mouth twitched, as if he suppressed a smile.
“I was invited at Fiona’s request. We are friends…at least we were at one time. You’ve wounded her sensibilities.” For some unnamed reason she stepped closer to him, although the logical thing would be for her to turn and walk away.
“I’ve wounded her? You had the man of her heart on your arm as you traipsed across the meadow, negligent of her feelings while she waited here in the arbor. You’re quick to criticize Fiona’s approach while you also play a game with Leonard’s affection. At the moment, I believe the man doesn’t know where he stands with either lady who’s caught his eye. Have a care with his intentions.”
“How dare you? I would never toy with someone’s affections. I am a woman of high standards.” She poked her finger into the air to emphasis her exclamation. “I’m to have a care? You’ve voiced slanderous comments and inaccurate suggestions that discombobulated
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