was to pin a man down for if there was one thing Society
yearned for above all others, it was conformity in such matters. A
man who was leg-shackled was so much more agreeable than one who
was still enjoying his freedom.
At his fourth – and he fervently hoped, last
– go round on the dance floor, a country reel that saw one change
partners frequently, he found himself twirling Miss Honeywood
around. She gave him a look when they found themselves facing each
other, a rather mischievous one accompanied by a wicked smile.
‘My lord,’ she murmured.
‘Miss Honeywood,’ he returned stiffly.
‘You’re very sociable tonight.’
‘I am always sociable.’
‘Oh no… many people comment on the fact that
you are not.’
‘Do they indeed?’
‘So I understand. My aunt has lamented on
your elusive nature on many occasions.’
‘I find that hard to believe.’
‘Oh come now,’ she dimpled up at him. ‘I
think we both know your value in Society, my lord.’
He was prevented from replying to this
provocative utterance as they changed partners, which was
unfortunate, as he wished to give her a set down. By the time they
came back together again, she had moved on to another topic.
‘Mr. Lampforth also danced with me. He did
not do a very good job. You are a far better dancer.’
‘Thank you. I am surprised you got him to
come. I would not have thought this kind of thing was his style at
all.’
‘So he said.’
‘Why did you ask him to come?’ he demanded
suspiciously.
‘I need help identifying those items I have
acquired. He very generously offered to help me.’
‘Then he’s even more of a fool than I
thought he was,’ Aubrey said dampeningly. ‘Why can’t you see how
dangerous this is?’
‘Because I don’t believe it is. There is no
reason for anybody to do me any harm. I am helping those poor
unfortunates, after all.’
He stared down at her in frustration. ‘Are
you always this difficult?’
This prompted a tilt of the head, as if she
were actually giving the question some consideration. ‘You would
have to ask my parents,’ she said, after a moment. ‘I doubt I am a
good judge of the matter.’
Partners were exchanged
once more and Aubrey was forced to move on to less challenging
topics of conversation with the next female he found himself faced
with. Miss Honeywood is an original, I’ll
give her that , he reflected wryly. He
certainly had not met anybody like her before. Just the
same…
On their final go round together, he tried
one more time. ‘At the very least, have the items in your
possession mailed so there is no physical contact.’
‘I’ve thought of that,’ she allowed. ‘Mr.
Lampforth said that it might be traced but I doubt that is
possible. I was more concerned about them falling into the hands of
the wrong person. These items are very… sensitive. I would hate to
be responsible for being the cause of unhappiness because
somebody’s secret had been discovered.’
‘Dear heavens, you are the most –’
‘You’ve already said,’ she interrupted, tone
infuriatingly soothing. ‘I quite understand. You disapprove. I have
elected to believe it is because you are concerned for my welfare,
as opposed to just the managing type. And I appreciate the
sentiment, I truly do Lord Talisker. But there is no need to
concern yourself.’
He stared down at her wrathfully. Appreciate
the sentiment? The hell she did. ‘Miss Honeywood –’
But he was too late, for they were separated
again and he was returned to his original partner for the final
steps of the reel. All in all, it had typified his brief
relationship with Harriet Honeywood; brief, irksome and immensely
frustrating. He would have pursued it further if she had not
immediately returned to her aunt.
Once again – although possibly not for the
last time, he had to allow – Aubrey washed his hands of the
matter.
Chapter Five
If Harry was surprised to see that, not only
was Mr.
yearned for above all others, it was conformity in such matters. A
man who was leg-shackled was so much more agreeable than one who
was still enjoying his freedom.
At his fourth – and he fervently hoped, last
– go round on the dance floor, a country reel that saw one change
partners frequently, he found himself twirling Miss Honeywood
around. She gave him a look when they found themselves facing each
other, a rather mischievous one accompanied by a wicked smile.
‘My lord,’ she murmured.
‘Miss Honeywood,’ he returned stiffly.
‘You’re very sociable tonight.’
‘I am always sociable.’
‘Oh no… many people comment on the fact that
you are not.’
‘Do they indeed?’
‘So I understand. My aunt has lamented on
your elusive nature on many occasions.’
‘I find that hard to believe.’
‘Oh come now,’ she dimpled up at him. ‘I
think we both know your value in Society, my lord.’
He was prevented from replying to this
provocative utterance as they changed partners, which was
unfortunate, as he wished to give her a set down. By the time they
came back together again, she had moved on to another topic.
‘Mr. Lampforth also danced with me. He did
not do a very good job. You are a far better dancer.’
‘Thank you. I am surprised you got him to
come. I would not have thought this kind of thing was his style at
all.’
‘So he said.’
‘Why did you ask him to come?’ he demanded
suspiciously.
‘I need help identifying those items I have
acquired. He very generously offered to help me.’
‘Then he’s even more of a fool than I
thought he was,’ Aubrey said dampeningly. ‘Why can’t you see how
dangerous this is?’
‘Because I don’t believe it is. There is no
reason for anybody to do me any harm. I am helping those poor
unfortunates, after all.’
He stared down at her in frustration. ‘Are
you always this difficult?’
This prompted a tilt of the head, as if she
were actually giving the question some consideration. ‘You would
have to ask my parents,’ she said, after a moment. ‘I doubt I am a
good judge of the matter.’
Partners were exchanged
once more and Aubrey was forced to move on to less challenging
topics of conversation with the next female he found himself faced
with. Miss Honeywood is an original, I’ll
give her that , he reflected wryly. He
certainly had not met anybody like her before. Just the
same…
On their final go round together, he tried
one more time. ‘At the very least, have the items in your
possession mailed so there is no physical contact.’
‘I’ve thought of that,’ she allowed. ‘Mr.
Lampforth said that it might be traced but I doubt that is
possible. I was more concerned about them falling into the hands of
the wrong person. These items are very… sensitive. I would hate to
be responsible for being the cause of unhappiness because
somebody’s secret had been discovered.’
‘Dear heavens, you are the most –’
‘You’ve already said,’ she interrupted, tone
infuriatingly soothing. ‘I quite understand. You disapprove. I have
elected to believe it is because you are concerned for my welfare,
as opposed to just the managing type. And I appreciate the
sentiment, I truly do Lord Talisker. But there is no need to
concern yourself.’
He stared down at her wrathfully. Appreciate
the sentiment? The hell she did. ‘Miss Honeywood –’
But he was too late, for they were separated
again and he was returned to his original partner for the final
steps of the reel. All in all, it had typified his brief
relationship with Harriet Honeywood; brief, irksome and immensely
frustrating. He would have pursued it further if she had not
immediately returned to her aunt.
Once again – although possibly not for the
last time, he had to allow – Aubrey washed his hands of the
matter.
Chapter Five
If Harry was surprised to see that, not only
was Mr.
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