The Scoundrel and I - Katharine Ashe Page 0,29
acerbic tone of her voice and did nothing to soften it. Instead she took refuge in Lady Justice’s frequent critique. “The aristocracy wastes a ridiculous amount of money and time on superficialities. Only look at this carriage.”
“You said you liked this carriage.”
“And that coat”—the coat that displayed his shoulders to gorgeous advantage—“must have cost a fortune, when—”
The gaze he turned upon her was full of pleasure. And affection. Undeniable affection.
Elle’s breath went entirely out of her.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she managed. “I was chastising you.”
“Rather be chastised by you, Gabrielle Flood, than praised by anybody else.”
“Then you are very silly.”
His forehead crunched anew. “No doubt of that.”
“All right, I will ask. Why are you scowling?”
“A grandmother.” He pulled the carriage to a sudden halt. “A grandmother.”
“What are you doing?” She looked around at the traffic. “You cannot stop driving in the middle of a busy street like this.”
“I’m a decorated hero of the Bombardment of Algiers and a member of the Order of the Garter. I can jolly well do anything I like. You live with a grandmother yet you never mentioned her to me?”
“Why should I have mentioned her to you? I hardly know you.”
His eyes blazed and he looked directly at her lips. “Is that so?”
He had a point.
“I met you only five days ago,” she spluttered.
“Thought you were a stickler for precision.”
“I am a stickler for precision. But I have no idea why you are noting that now.”
“We met seven days ago,” he said.
“You knocked me over seven days ago. You spoke to me like a human being only five days ago.”
He grew abruptly somber. “I’m sorry I didn’t apologize to you for that, Elle.”
“You did apologize. Begrudgingly, perhaps. But you did.”
“I was in something of a hurry right then.”
“Were you?”
He paused, then said, “My first officer had a spot of rum luck that day. Extraordinarily rum luck.”
“And you were rushing to him with a bottle of brandy?”
“I was rushing to his wife to collect her. Wanted her to be able to pay her last respects before he died.”
Her eyes and lips flew wide.
“Oh, Anthony,” she said. “I am so very sorry. I had no idea.”
“Couldn’t have.” He grasped her hand. Her fingers felt perfect in his, lithe and beautiful. “Now say my name again.”
“W-What?”
“You just called me Anthony.”
She snatched her hand away. “You are incorrigible.”
“And you’re repeating yourself. That’s a good sign.” He looped the reins and jumped off the box. His visit to Jane Park’s house that morning had dispirited him. She was no closer to accepting a gift of money than she’d been two days earlier. But the little ones were hungry as the devil. They had gobbled up the cakes and fallen upon the game of Spillikins he’d brought like 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