Chapter 2: Page 3
She should have kept her voice down. A striking blondhead
sitting on Kinneas's right, leaned toward them and purred
with gleeful malice, "Don't you think that might be one
of the attractions of the match for her? Imagine a
wealthy husband one hardly ever needs to keep company
with!"
Irvine made some sort of vague comment about doubting Lord
Leonhart's fiancée would agree, while Selphie struggled
to rein in her indignation. If she hadn't thought it
would make a dreadful scene, she'd have been tempted to
dump the contents of her soup bowl over the little minx!
Selphie knew the creature, if only by reputation. Lady
Quistis Trepe had jilted two men already, and only her
father's wealth and title had kept her from being
shunned by the ton. Fearing Lady Quistis might have designs
on Kinneas, Selphie took care to keep him so engaged in
conversation with her that he scarcely had a moment to
glance at his right-hand neighbor.
If that meant she had no time to chat with Zell Dintch,
it couldn't be helped. A lady must be willing
to make some sacrifices for the man she…liked a great
deal. Selphie felt quite rewarded when, near the end of
the meal, the Zell stole an opportunity to whisper
an intriguing invitation.
By the end of dinner, Kinneas felt as if he had drunk too
much of the earl's fine wine. Selphie's sudden exclusive
interest set him giddy with hope. Why, she'd hardly even
glanced at that coxcomb Dintch, who'd been taking far
too much interest in her to suit Irvine.
Perhaps his foolishness during their game that afternoon
had made her see he wasn't as stuffy and backward as she
might have thought. Or perhaps there was a little magic
in the air. Irvine didn't care what was behind it, as long
as it worked.
When the gentlemen retired to the earl's library, Kinneas
excused himself as soon as he could. He tipped the
earl's ancient valet a large sum for information about
Miss Tilmitt's whereabouts, then raced to the gardens
in search of her.
Just as he was rounding one of the hedges, he heard her
cry, "So you did come, after all!"
Irvine opened his mouth to reply. Before he could speak,
another man's voice answered the very words he'd meant
to say. "My apologies, dear lady. I came as soon as I
could."
"You're here now," said Selphie. "That's what matters."
As Kinneas watched from behind the hedge, his hope
shattered and ground into the dust, the woman he loved
took Dintch's arm and they began a slow stroll around
the garden.
She should have kept her voice down. A striking blondhead
sitting on Kinneas's right, leaned toward them and purred
with gleeful malice, "Don't you think that might be one
of the attractions of the match for her? Imagine a
wealthy husband one hardly ever needs to keep company
with!"
Irvine made some sort of vague comment about doubting Lord
Leonhart's fiancée would agree, while Selphie struggled
to rein in her indignation. If she hadn't thought it
would make a dreadful scene, she'd have been tempted to
dump the contents of her soup bowl over the little minx!
Selphie knew the creature, if only by reputation. Lady
Quistis Trepe had jilted two men already, and only her
father's wealth and title had kept her from being
shunned by the ton. Fearing Lady Quistis might have designs
on Kinneas, Selphie took care to keep him so engaged in
conversation with her that he scarcely had a moment to
glance at his right-hand neighbor.
If that meant she had no time to chat with Zell Dintch,
it couldn't be helped. A lady must be willing
to make some sacrifices for the man she…liked a great
deal. Selphie felt quite rewarded when, near the end of
the meal, the Zell stole an opportunity to whisper
an intriguing invitation.
By the end of dinner, Kinneas felt as if he had drunk too
much of the earl's fine wine. Selphie's sudden exclusive
interest set him giddy with hope. Why, she'd hardly even
glanced at that coxcomb Dintch, who'd been taking far
too much interest in her to suit Irvine.
Perhaps his foolishness during their game that afternoon
had made her see he wasn't as stuffy and backward as she
might have thought. Or perhaps there was a little magic
in the air. Irvine didn't care what was behind it, as long
as it worked.
When the gentlemen retired to the earl's library, Kinneas
excused himself as soon as he could. He tipped the
earl's ancient valet a large sum for information about
Miss Tilmitt's whereabouts, then raced to the gardens
in search of her.
Just as he was rounding one of the hedges, he heard her
cry, "So you did come, after all!"
Irvine opened his mouth to reply. Before he could speak,
another man's voice answered the very words he'd meant
to say. "My apologies, dear lady. I came as soon as I
could."
"You're here now," said Selphie. "That's what matters."
As Kinneas watched from behind the hedge, his hope
shattered and ground into the dust, the woman he loved
took Dintch's arm and they began a slow stroll around
the garden.
