temptation, and the episode with Felicia gave her plenty of ammunition in that regard, that wasn’t why she was arranging for him to join them at supper. She wanted to ask him for a favor, and with that being the case, teasing him about Lady Felicia would not be wise.
Chapter Seven
N ever before had Aidan appreciated just how long twenty minutes could be.
“And when Mama told me that a very special guest would be joining us during intermission as a surprise for my first season, why, I was just so excited,” Lady Felicia gushed, making him appreciate Julia’s skill as a mimic.
He’d arrived at Covent Garden ten minutes past the start of the second intermission, but he’d barely had time to greet his host and hostess before he’d been introduced to their daughter, and the remaining minutes were dragging by in interminable fashion. Lady Felicia, however, was prattling along at top speed.
“And although I knew it was meant to be a surprise, I just had to ask who the special guest was. Mama kept refusing to tell me, of course. I mean, it wouldn’t be a surprise, otherwise, would it? But that fact didn’t stop me. I’m very determined when I want something,” she added with a giggle. “So I just kept asking and asking, and Mama—who never could keep a secret—finally relented enough to give me a hint. And what she said, you’ll never guess.”
There was a pause, indicating that despite her prediction, he was expected to make the attempt. At this moment, however, Aidan just couldn’t work up the enthusiasm to do so. He merely raised his eyebrows.
That small gesture proved to be sufficient encouragement. “Mama told me that at long last, I would be able to meet my hero.”
She gave him a smile that, had she never before spoken a word, might have been quite captivating. Unfortunately for both of them, her beauty had ceased to captivate him the moment she began to talk, and when she gave him a melting look with those lovely, dark, almond-shaped eyes, he felt not the least stirring of attraction, thereby disproving Julia’s silly accusation that he was particularly susceptible to brown eyes. Nonetheless, he had just been given a compliment, and he was required to respond accordingly. “You flatter me, Lady Felicia,” he murmured, “and I do thank you for it, but I hardly think I am worthy of the description of hero.”
“Oh, but you are, Your Grace! We had occasion to meet once before, though I’m sure you don’t remember it.”
Aidan, who didn’t, cast a quick but desperate glance at the door, wondering if he really had to stay the entire time for etiquette to be satisfied. But even as he thought that, he knew anything less was unworthy of a gentleman. He glanced around the box for an alternative to Lady Felicia’s nonstop stream of chatter. His gaze paused on the girl’s parents, hoping to see a way of bringing them into conversation, but their backs were to him and their daughter as they talked with other guests, making it clear he was on his own.
“It was eight years ago,” Felicia said, and Aidan was forced to return his attention to her. “I was only a girl then, of course, and I was riding with my governess in Hyde Park when suddenly my horse bolted. It frightened me out of my wits, for I couldn’t rein the mare in. I tried and tried, but I’ve always been rather delicate, certainly no match for a big, strong horse.” She paused with a tinkling laugh. “Well, there we were, headed straight for the Serpentine, when you came racing alongside, caught me up, and pulled me right onto your saddle! I was so overcome, being swept up in your strong arms like that, that I fainted dead away. When I awoke, I was lying in the grass, with my governess kneeling beside me, rubbing my wrists, and you standing guard so protectively to keep the crowd away.”
Now that she was reminding him of it, Aidan did remember the incident in question, though he’d never learned the girl’s name, and his version
Chapter Seven
N ever before had Aidan appreciated just how long twenty minutes could be.
“And when Mama told me that a very special guest would be joining us during intermission as a surprise for my first season, why, I was just so excited,” Lady Felicia gushed, making him appreciate Julia’s skill as a mimic.
He’d arrived at Covent Garden ten minutes past the start of the second intermission, but he’d barely had time to greet his host and hostess before he’d been introduced to their daughter, and the remaining minutes were dragging by in interminable fashion. Lady Felicia, however, was prattling along at top speed.
“And although I knew it was meant to be a surprise, I just had to ask who the special guest was. Mama kept refusing to tell me, of course. I mean, it wouldn’t be a surprise, otherwise, would it? But that fact didn’t stop me. I’m very determined when I want something,” she added with a giggle. “So I just kept asking and asking, and Mama—who never could keep a secret—finally relented enough to give me a hint. And what she said, you’ll never guess.”
There was a pause, indicating that despite her prediction, he was expected to make the attempt. At this moment, however, Aidan just couldn’t work up the enthusiasm to do so. He merely raised his eyebrows.
That small gesture proved to be sufficient encouragement. “Mama told me that at long last, I would be able to meet my hero.”
She gave him a smile that, had she never before spoken a word, might have been quite captivating. Unfortunately for both of them, her beauty had ceased to captivate him the moment she began to talk, and when she gave him a melting look with those lovely, dark, almond-shaped eyes, he felt not the least stirring of attraction, thereby disproving Julia’s silly accusation that he was particularly susceptible to brown eyes. Nonetheless, he had just been given a compliment, and he was required to respond accordingly. “You flatter me, Lady Felicia,” he murmured, “and I do thank you for it, but I hardly think I am worthy of the description of hero.”
“Oh, but you are, Your Grace! We had occasion to meet once before, though I’m sure you don’t remember it.”
Aidan, who didn’t, cast a quick but desperate glance at the door, wondering if he really had to stay the entire time for etiquette to be satisfied. But even as he thought that, he knew anything less was unworthy of a gentleman. He glanced around the box for an alternative to Lady Felicia’s nonstop stream of chatter. His gaze paused on the girl’s parents, hoping to see a way of bringing them into conversation, but their backs were to him and their daughter as they talked with other guests, making it clear he was on his own.
“It was eight years ago,” Felicia said, and Aidan was forced to return his attention to her. “I was only a girl then, of course, and I was riding with my governess in Hyde Park when suddenly my horse bolted. It frightened me out of my wits, for I couldn’t rein the mare in. I tried and tried, but I’ve always been rather delicate, certainly no match for a big, strong horse.” She paused with a tinkling laugh. “Well, there we were, headed straight for the Serpentine, when you came racing alongside, caught me up, and pulled me right onto your saddle! I was so overcome, being swept up in your strong arms like that, that I fainted dead away. When I awoke, I was lying in the grass, with my governess kneeling beside me, rubbing my wrists, and you standing guard so protectively to keep the crowd away.”
Now that she was reminding him of it, Aidan did remember the incident in question, though he’d never learned the girl’s name, and his version
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