she’d hoped to have. Though the past few sets had provided more interesting partners, it was difficult to enjoy the reprieve with her heart aching so.
Perhaps it was time to return to Plymouth. Her month-long visit with Aunt Imogene had stretched into six weeks, and no doubt she was needed at home. Yet her silly, aching heart sank at the thought of leaving Bristow.
Felicity didn’t know what to make of Mr. Finch. Worse, she didn’t know if she wanted to puzzle him out. Was he the stubborn fool he seemed to be? Or the flawed man Mr. Kingsley described? With all the attention turned her way, she’d hardly had a moment to think about either of those conversations. And as footsteps echoed behind her, Felicity suspected she wouldn’t get an opportunity now, either.
“You are as graceful as I remember.” There’d been a time when Alastair’s voice had entranced her, but now it felt like oil dripping down her skin.
“And you are far more irritating than I remember,” murmured Felicity with an inward sigh. Raising her voice for him to hear, she said, “I would like to be alone, Mr. Dunn.”
Coming up behind her, he leaned forward and gave a soft chuckle. “Mr. Dunn, is it?”
Felicity stepped away.
“Do you wish to tease me further? You’ve tortured me for nearly a fortnight, but I have endured it, for I deserve your censure.” Mr. Dunn’s voice rose, his tone filling with the agony of lost souls. Had she ever truly believed this melodramatic balderdash to be in earnest? Felicity shuddered over her past ignorance.
“In truth, you deserve my gratitude,” said Felicity, though there were other, more painful and humiliating things the scoundrel deserved as well. “You taught me not to give my heart foolishly or trust in hollow words. If not for you, I might’ve made a terrible match with some other mercenary man.”
“You think me a liar?” Mr. Dunn’s tone was filled with unshed tears, and Felicity rubbed at her temple, hoping to ease the pressure there. When his palms brushed her arms, she leapt away, spinning and putting out a hand to ward him off.
“I know you are a liar,” she said with narrowed eyes. “Did you think I wouldn’t realize your letters were falsified?”
Mr. Dunn’s brows shot up, his eyes darting away from her; that spark of surprise was enough to tell Felicity how little he thought of her intelligence. Her revelation discomposed him for only a heartbeat before he met her gaze once more with a pained smile.
“I admit it.” His shoulders dropped with a heavy sigh. “They were the letters I always wanted to send you, but I couldn’t afford the paper or ink then. But neither could I arrive on your doorstep after all this time without an offering. When I wrote them may be untrue, but surely those missives demonstrate how much I still adore you.”
Clearly, his opinion of her wits was even lower than she’d realized.
“For goodness’ sake, Mr. Dunn. You are embarrassing yourself and irritating me. For both our sakes, leave it be.”
“But you are my whole existence. I’ve dreamt of this moment for years. Do not say that you are lost to me.” Taking her by the forearms, he held her there, that once handsome visage aimed at her as though that and his false ardor would sway her. And they might’ve, once.
If it weren’t for the pains pricking her temple and the general exhaustion pulling at her as though gravity itself had strengthened its hold on her, Felicity might’ve been impressed with the fellow’s acting ability. In some ways, it eased the embarrassment that tainted her memories of him, for Alastair Dunn was quite convincing as the forlorn lover. It was like he’d stepped forth from the pages of a novel, determined to carry the heroine off into that perfect fantasy of eternal wedded bliss.
Felicity twisted her arm, breaking his hold on her. “Why do you love me, Mr. Dunn?”
Stepping forward, he swept her into his arms, leaning in until she felt his moist breath on her cheeks. “I think my letters say the words well enough.”
Pushing against him, Felicity wrenched herself free again and put another few paces between them. “They conveyed your intentions quite clearly, but I wish to hear it from you.”
Dipping to his knees, he took her hand in his, placing a kiss on her knuckles. “You are the most radiant woman I have ever laid eyes on, my darling. I have traveled across this country, and none