The Scoundrel and I: A Novella by Katharine Ashe

ravenous dogs. The widow had tried to reject the gifts, but blast if he would let her pride and religious scruples keep those children sunk in misery. He would find a way to make her accept charity. He had to.
    Rounding the team to the other side of the carriage, he extended his hand to Elle and the tangle of frustration in his chest eased.
    “Of what is
this
a good sign?” she said as she descended. “That you are an incorrigible scoundrel?”
    “That I fluster you,” he said.
    She tugged her fingers away again. “You do not fluster me, Captain.”
    But he did. And it filled him with the most extraordinary sensation. She wanted him. At thirty-four he was seasoned enough to recognize desire in a woman’s eyes. And she had kissed him as though she wanted him. No shrinking virgin here.
    But she did not trust him. That was as clear as rain in a barrel.
    “If you insist, Miss Flood.” He leaned close and took a long pull of her intoxicating scent. “But I’ll have you know, I am an experienced tactician. Trained to notice these things.”
    Alarm skittered across her features.
    Exiting a shop nearby, Seraphina waved and Elle moved swiftly away.
    Blast
his cursed tongue. Instead of distressing her he wanted be making those eyes sparkle, making her laugh. She deserved it. She deserved happiness. And he was determined to see that she got it.
    With renewed resolve, he went after her.

 
     

Chapter Eight
    Seraphina greeted her warmly and drew her into a shop.
    “It is an absolute delight to have the opportunity to poke about in shops, Elle. Look at this lace. It is far too expensive for the quality. But that lace there is divine. Now, watch as I inspect these closely,” she whispered. “The shopkeeper will peer at me suspiciously until I reveal my name and then he will fall all over himself. So will those matrons over there, who will eavesdrop until they are able to insert themselves into the conversation.”
    It happened exactly as she predicted. When Seraphina drew her into the conversation, the shopkeeper and ladies barely glanced at her stained gown before fawning over her too.
    She enjoyed it far too much, she suspected. The captain, however, shared only a few charming remarks with the matrons. When Seraphina asked him to cross the street to perform an errand for her, he went without a word.
    “What have you done to my brother, Elle?” Seraphina asked a quarter of an hour later as he came through traffic toward them again. “I have rarely seen him so subdued.”
    “I have done nothing.” The notion that she
could
do something to disturb his equanimity was ludicrous. Yet the night before, after their kiss, he had obviously been shaken. “Is he subdued?”
    “Most assuredly.”
    “It’s done,” he said as he met them on the footpath. “Where to next, ladies?”
    Seraphina’s attention shifted past his shoulder to a man and a woman nearing. They were dressed expensively if somewhat severely, and their faces were grave.
    “Good day, Mrs. Starling,” the man said, making a shallow bow to Seraphina. He sniffed. “Anthony.”
    “How d’you do, George? Alice.” The captain’s smile did not reach his eyes.
    “We are well,” Alice said. Ignoring Seraphina, her gaze briefly alighted upon Elle then returned to him. “Will you attend Sir Benton’s birthday celebration a fortnight hence, Anthony?”
    “Both me and Seraphina, of course. Wouldn’t miss it. Looking forward to seeing all the little ones. By the by, how’s James taken to university? Making top marks?”
    “Of course,” George replied. “But we expect that, naturally.”
    Seraphina said, “George, Alice, may I present to—”
    “Must be moving on then,” the captain cut in. “Elsewhere we’ve got to be. George, Alice, always a pleasure.” He turned to her and Seraphina. “Ladies?” With a decisive nod, he gestured them toward another shop.
    When they were inside, Seraphina turned upon him.
    “Why didn’t you introduce