A/N: I'm sending a huge thank you to all of you for such a wonderful response to the first chapter. I see my love of Historical/Regency Romance is shared. As I finished writing the story outline this weekend, love, fluff and joy took complete control over the story. lol. I think I needed some relief from the current angst of the show. It will be about 7 chapters with postings every three days so we get a "Happily Ever After" for Christmas. I hope you enjoy the journey.

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"Oh, I'm so sorr…y," Felicity whispered in awe as she glanced up and then kept having to look up as her startled blue eyes followed the long, long line of powerful legs encased in tan buckskin breeches and up the elegant navy blue waistcoat to the pristine white cravat impeccably tied below a jawline that was strong and...sensual. As she took in the stranger's lips, that looked like they were lovingly sculpted by a master; Felicity Megan Smoak, the only daughter of a deceased impoverished country squire, felt the first stirrings of...what she had only ever read about in her books...attraction. She felt warm and flushed as his eyes, that were framed by thick, lush lashes and that were as blue as his coat, looked directly into hers. Not only was he incredibly handsome, as in greek god handsome with hair fashionably cropped close to his head, but... he was looking right at her. His attention filled her with so much emotion that she didn't quite know what to do.

She couldn't remember the last time a person of society and he was definitely someone of consequence... looked at her, really looked at her. And not in a way that was dismissive or haughty, but in a way a human being looks at another human being. She basked in the connection. She appreciated it and she wanted to hold onto it for a little while longer.

He didn't say anything more as they stood, inappropriately close and alone. His wide shoulders and innate masculinity didn't intimidate her, in fact it made her feel extremely feminine, delicate and...safe. Safe was something she hadn't felt in a very long time. The fear and uncertainty after her father's death and when her home and estate went to a distant male cousin; left Felicity homeless and to the generosity of her father's sister. Aunt Sara, her beloved Aunt Sara, had graciously taken her in. Even with her aunt's small stipend of income she still welcomed her orphaned niece with love. Together they lived on a strict budget, but shared a life full of little joys and companionship.

A ghost of a smile curved along his lips, those exquisite lips. Felicity never realized she could be so affected by a man's smile, but goodness, she was.

"I believe you have what I want," he said, in a voice as rich, dark and satiny as Felicity's favorite chocolate. The low octave reverberating along her body caressing her skin like a man would do, to a woman he wanted.

Felicity had long given up on her dreams of marrying and having a family, so if this one moment and this one person could make her "feel" this magic, for just a second of a heartbeat...she would cherish it always.

"May I?" The greek god asked, as he reached out for the periodical Felicity held in her hands. He liked Astronomy? Her already impressed impression of him went up another notch. He wasn't a dandy, he actually had a brain. Felicity was so used to the frivolousness of the ton and the laziness of privilege. She may have been out of favor with the ton the last 3 years, but she was still a daughter of a squire and a niece to a favored widow who still received invitations to society's events.

His fingers accidentally grazed hers as he gently closed the book in her hands. Electricity surged where his skin touched hers. She had never touched a man, other than her father and family, with bare skin. A woman of stature always wore gloves in polite society and a man of consequence would always adhere to proper manners. Felicity had taken off her gloves to better turn the pages of her book, not ever anticipating a moment like this...his touch took her breath away. She thought she saw surprise and then interest flicker in the stranger's eyes, but it was gone so quickly she must have imagined it.

He swallowed before stepping back, putting some distance between them. Felicity was left cold at his withdrawal. It reminded her of who she was. A woman of 21 summers with no dowry, standing before a man who wore clothing that cost more than a month of her aunt's income.

His eyes lowered to read the title of the book then glanced back up at her. "I really should go," he whispered as he stood rooted in place. Seconds passed while he seemed to work through some decision.

"If you decide not to purchase this book, please give it to the storekeeper and I will have him forward it to me. Good day, madam," he said, as his gaze lingered one last time and then he walked away.

Felicity eased back against the book shelf as she tried to remember how to breath again. What an incredible encounter and she had hardly said a word. He must think her an imbecile. Albeit one that read science journals, but an imbecile nevertheless. She was too nervous to continue reading, so she held the book close to her chest and savored what she was feeling.

Science and the study of stars had always been a wonderment to her. The little corner of this neighborhood bookstore afforded her hours of free reading. Mr. Lance, the owner and a dear friend of her aunt's, was kind enough to allow her unlimited access to a world of written knowledge. She had no library of her own and she could never afford the costs of her love of Astronomy. Whenever she looked up at the blanket of stars at night, her worries and pain faded away. The heavens were too beautiful to feel otherwise.

She walked to the front of the store and set the periodical down on the counter.

"Mr. Lance, I believe the gentleman who just left wished to have this book delivered." Felicity said to the stocky robust man, with one of the kindest hearts she had the privilege of knowing, who was smiling at her.

"Yes, indeed. That was the new Duke of Starling. I had heard of his return from the war. He seemed a little flustered as he left instructions." Mr. Lance said, with a twinkle in his eye.

"The Duke of Starling?" Felicity repeated, as she blushed at what Mr. Lance was implying. The stranger hadn't acted like a Duke. Weren't they usually aloof and disdainful? Of course Felicity had no experience with men of that stature, so she could only guess. She now felt silly at her fanciful musings of thinking he had been affected by her as much as she was by him. A Duke would never show interest in someone of her class. What he had shown interest in was the book.

"I'll leave this book to you. Have a good day, Mr. Lance." Felicity said as she left before he could attempt to gossip some more with her.

If the stranger had just inherited a Dukedom, she didn't want to be any part of the gossip that could be malicious and hurtful when the ton was on the hunt for an eligible bachelor.