For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory Page B

there was something entirely too calculating behind his eyes, then most seemed not to notice.
    Heston, the butler, silently approached the dowager and whispered something in her ear.
    “Invite them in, Heston. I’m sure Mrs. Browning will be charmed to speak with Lady Malcolm.”
    Abigail withheld a wince. That meant that Raine wood’s group, or at least part of it, was in the foyer. They often traveled with Lady Malcolm, the mother of Rainewood’s rumored betrothed.
    Mrs. Browning inclined her head in a neutral manner. A sideways glance warned Abigail against doing anything odd.
    She felt Basil’s eyes on her as well, but no one said anything as the footsteps clicked through the hall, until Lady Malcolm in all her vibrant rose glory entered the room. “Your Grace.” She clasped the dowager’s hand. “Forgive our impertinence in calling, but we just couldn’t wait.”
    She handed the dowager a box. “We found these on Bond Street and they are simply too delightful to keep to ourselves.”
    The dowager opened the box of sweets as the rest of the party filed into the room.
    “These are lovely, Lady Malcolm.” The dowager gave her a smile—though even her gracious smiles appeared like a barracuda about to devour her next meal.
    Celeste Malcolm, Aidan Campbell, and Charles Stagen followed behind. Brows uniformly rose at seeing the Smarts. Celeste Malcolm’s eyes narrowed. The gossip concerning Rainewood’s interaction with Abigail was still fresh in the rounds.
    It took a minute for everyone to exchange terse greetings and be seated. The fifteen shades of purple in the room became even more overwhelming as matched and complimentary chairs were drawn together.
    Aidan Campbell’s chair was a mite closer to Abigail’s than she was comfortable with.
    “We were just speaking of the balloon demonstration next week on the green,” Charles Stagen said to Basil before addressing the dowager duchess. “Campbell is just mad for them. He has been up in two already. Still trails Rainewood in number of lifts though.”
    “Solid fun,” Campbell said, though his eyes tightened briefly. Worry over his friend? “Just the other day I said to Rainewood, ‘Raine, quite a future in the—’”
    Her attention keeled as a more commanding presence, and the current topic of conversation, strode through the door. Something in her chest jerked in response and relief. She barely spared a glance to the others who continued the conversation without her.
    Rainewood stopped abruptly when he saw her. He looked as if he’d been running, breath heaving in the way that it had when they’d been small—though without the laughter that had always accompanied it. The stray thought that he hadn’t learned he didn’t have to breathe crossed her mind.
    “I thought it was you.” Rainewood took a step forward, then another. “I heard you from the study above, but couldn’t get here until someone opened the damn door. I couldn’t remember what was on the other side and there was a barrier again.” The words tumbled out in a fashion completely opposite from his usual controlled drawl. “I thought perhaps I’d dreamed your voice.”
    Her own breath caught.
    “I don’t even know how many moons have risen since I last saw your face.”
    Her heart could have stopped beating in that moment and she wasn’t sure that she would have cared. Not only did he still remember her, something she had been unprepared for, but he was looking at her as if the sun rose only on her express permission.
    “My focus only returned when you did.” He stepped around a chair.
    “Miss Smart?”
    She batted away the annoying voice that was attempting to divert her attention. Rainewood continued toward her, more quickly now with forceful steps. “I have barely been able to breathe without you. And here you are.”
    Her heart vibrated her chest, reminding her that she was still very much alive, and she joined him in his race-worthy furious breathing.
    “I could