“Perhaps at first, I did not recognize that you were a gentleman of wit as well as folly. But the more I saw you, I found myself rather hoping to be friends.”
Griffin lowered his gaze to the ground between them. “I hoped for the same. That is why I did not admit to my secret, and why I kept writing. I wished to come to know you better, and I thought if I revealed myself too soon…” He squeezed his eyes shut and released a deep sigh.
“What did you think would happen?” she asked, her voice soft. “I would be upset?”
Though his laugh was short, and rather without humor, Griffin hastily looked up at her. “Are you not?”
“I am most upset.” She took another step nearer. They were almost within touching distance, if he were to raise his hand. “Or I was. I find myself more curious now. When I met you near the flower girl, were you there for our exchange of letters?” Her eyes were narrowed, her focus intent upon him.
Curious was far better than angry, which was likely what he deserved.
“That was why I was there. To leave a letter, or retrieve one, but I also hoped each time that I might be fortunate enough to meet you there.” He wanted to close the remaining distance between them himself, but he rather doubted he should.
Color entered her cheeks, giving them a rosy hue he found charming. “And that list of eligible gentlemen you provided to me. You included your own name. Why? Did you mean to use your letters to persuade me to give the men a chance?”
He swallowed, then nodded. “I did not intend to do it—not until the night of the ball. When we danced, and I had to introduce you to others, I knew I wanted a chance of my own.” He lowered his gaze again, wondering exactly how pitiful he must sound to her.
Phoebe moved closer, her riding boots coming into view. “What sort of chance, Griffin?” His head jerked up at her use of his given name, and then he saw it—a sparkle in her eyes. His heart lightened with hope.
“A chance to come to know you, to court you.” Finally, he raised his hand toward her, palm up. “To see if, perhaps, we suit one another as well as I feel we must.”
She regarded his expression carefully, then looked down at his gloved hand. Slowly, she reached out to him, placing her hand in his. Everything in him both relaxed and became electrified at her touch. He sensed her understanding, her forgiveness, and something more. Something quite beautiful.
“I told a very close friend about you. About both my letter-writer and you, Griffin Fenwick.” She looked up at him from beneath the brim of her hat. “She said I ought to meet my anonymous friend. She said, in fact, that the moment I laid eyes upon him I would know if I could care for him. You see, your letters made me curious. Then they rather enchanted me.”
Griffin leaned closer, his eyes upon hers. “And? Now that you have laid eyes upon me?”
Her smile grew. She tipped her chin up bravely. “Griffin. I find I rather adore you, and if you do not ask to call upon me, if you do not seek my brother out and inquire after a courtship, I will be grievously disappointed.” For a moment, her eyes glimmered with worry.
Griffin pulled in a sharp breath of air. “Phoebe, my dearest, most lovely friend. I rather intend to do more than court you. In fact, if you will permit me, I should rather like to kiss you.”
A grin burst upon her beautiful face. Phoebe stood upon her toes, tilting her face toward his. They met in what little space remained between them, heedless of anyone watching, and sealing their fate, rather happily. Her lips were soft, sweet, and his free hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer. He had longed to kiss her since the night of the play; it was better than even his dreams. Everything felt warm, and right, and Griffin knew in the instant their lips touched that he would spend the rest of his life craving Phoebe’s kisses.
When they parted, her hat tipped back rather perilously after their kiss, Griffin kept her close. “A courtship is all well and good, my love. But it will be terribly short.”
Her already pink cheeks darkened, and her eyes gleamed. “I find I do not mind that idea.