Her Favoured Captain by Francine Howarth Page A

such a suggestion. “He and I are merely
friends, childhood friends of longstanding. I have no desires in his direction
and he none in mine . . . That I am aware of.“
      Leohne flashed a look of disbelief. “But you
laugh a lot when you are with him, and I am always left to follow the pair of
you as though I do not even exist.”
      “That is an unfair statement. Oft Richard
has drawn you into our conversations, and it is you who chooses to stay
behind instead of catching up and slipping your arm in his.”
      “But he has never offered his arm to me.”
      “Then cease your pretence of shyness and
step forward first in future. I am more than happy to walk behind for a
change.”
      “What are you two squabbling about now?”
asked Charles, inclining head over shoulder from where he was seated, his
injured leg resting on a pillowed stool.
      Richard, with amused glint in his eyes
glanced their way. “I fear we have displeased them somehow.”
      Charles chuckled, said, “Shall we go for a
stroll alongside the lake? I think I can manage a little farther today.” As he
struggled to gain his feet, assisted by Richard, they really had no option but
to agree to his suggestion.
      She took it upon herself to help Charles,
“Here, take my arm, dear brother.” For she was utter determined she would not
be accused of harbouring Richard all to her self, which left young Viscount
Somerton with no option but to offer his arm to Leohne.   To which her sister giggled in acceptance,
and off they set.
      For Charles it was a case of slow and
steady, for he could not bend his injured leg at all and only quite recent had
begun to take light exercise after a serious fall from his horse. It was no
wonder then that Leohne and Viscount Somerton soon gained distance of several
yards ahead, and before long almost out of sight.
      Charles patted her hand, the lake
shimmering, swans floating past them majestic and stealing their attention.
“That was a kind gesture, you’re taking my arm and allowing Leohne time alone
with her heart’s desire.”
      She laughed. “Well, why not. I have no wish
to raise Richard’s expectations of more than friendship between him and I, for
it would be so unfair. I like him, true enough, but cannot envisage a marriage
between us.”
      “He’s very fond of you, you know.”
      “Yes, but now I know Leohne is utter smitten
by him I shall do my utmost to procure a happy outcome for her.”
      “Darling Diamonta, the sacrifices you make
for yon snippet of a sister, indeed most commendable.”
      “It is no sacrifice to step aside and hope
Richard will be lured by her charming guile, for the little minx has had her
heart set on him for quite a while methinks.”
      “And you, what gentleman has caught your
eye?”
      A self-conscious laugh escaped in haste to
allay any suspicious thoughts he might have, though she duly cursed a sudden
flush to her cheeks. “Oh, no one in particular.” She averted attention to the
far side of the lake where her sister and the viscount were animated in
conversation. “You see, they’re getting along famously.”
      Charles chuckled. “You can say what you
like, but this Mr . No One in Particular, has most certainly stirred
something within you, for I have never seen you looking so vivacious and
ravishing.”
      “Charles Taylor Whitaker, what would our
father think if he were here now to hear you talk of me in such a manner?”
      “No doubt agree, and demand the name of the
bounder.”
      “Bounder?” She turned to face him, noted a
mischievous glint in his slate blue eyes. “If Francois De Boviere, Count of
Saint Mont Marche could hear you, he would no doubt call you to a duel at
dawn.”
      “Damn Frenchmen are fools, utter fools.
Always killing each other over some woman or other, and where’s the sense in
that?”
      “I think if ever a man proved willing to
duel for my love, he might well win my favour.”
      “Ha, just like