Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss - Bree Wolf Page 0,73

man of many words; still, would it kill you to admit that you care for her?”

Drake had been scanning his surroundings, but upon his friend’s inquisitive question, his head jerked around to face him. “Pardon me?” Indeed, Phineas had said as much before, and yet, Drake once more felt caught off guard. He did not care for his friend’s question nor for its implications.

Phineas chuckled and clasped a companionable hand upon Drake’s shoulder. “Don’t let her slip through your fingers,” he remarked, then gestured down the path to where Lord Sedgwick stood watching as the sisters just now reemerged from a small grove with rapt attention.

Drake tensed, and immediately Phineas laughed, no doubt noting his reaction. “Precisely.” Then he strode away, hands held out to his wife, who stepped into his embrace with a deep smile upon her face.

Drake remained behind, watching as Leonora offered Lord Sedgwick no more than a courteous nod. The young lord seemed displeased, but the look upon his face suggested that he finally understood that there would be no future for the two of them. He bowed out and walked away.

Remaining where he was, Drake continued to watch as Phineas and his wife walked away, leaving Leonora in the care of her two younger sisters. They laughed and chatted, and Drake was relieved to see her so at ease. Most of the time, a certain strain remained upon her face and shadows lingered where only joy should be. Here, today, he caught a glimpse of the carefree, young woman she had once been and hoped to be again.

For a long while, nothing much happened. Drake remained in the background while the sisters strolled along the Serpentine. At some point, he noticed the youngest—Lady Harriet, if he remembered correctly—gesture up ahead on the path. Drake followed her gaze and found Lord Gillingham standing there. He nodded his head to the sisters, who continued to whisper among themselves.

For a reason he did not dare examine more closely, Drake felt an immediate dislike toward his peer. Indeed, he did not much care for the way he gazed at the sisters, the look in his eyes clearly stating interest. Who was he looking at?

Deep down, though, Drake knew.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Common Ground

“Lord Gillingham seems to have taken an interest in you,” Harry remarked with a grin as they stood near the Serpentine, the sound of its rushing waters drifting to their ears. “I’ve seen him look at you more than once. I believe it is safe to say that he fancies you.” She turned curious eyes to Leonora. “How do you feel about his suit?”

Leonora averted her gaze, uncomfortable with the way Lord Gillingham was looking at her. Only she also felt uncomfortable looking at her younger sister, knowing Harriet knew nothing of Leonora’s troubles.

“He seems kind,” Christina remarked with a sideways glance at Leonora. “However, even the kindest man can be the wrong man.”

Leonora smiled at her sister in gratitude, relieved that at least she understood all the many contradicting emotions Leonora was currently battling. She felt a little lost and had avoided seeing Drake this past week. Yet, she missed him. She missed him a lot.

Harry laughed. “Any man is the wrong man,” she stated daringly. “After all, as women, we are unprotected by the law. Especially after marriage, is that not so?” She looked at her sisters pointedly, her brows rising in challenge. “We are forever dependent upon our husbands being kind and courteous, granting us favors and freedoms.” Scoffing, she shook her head. “Of course, if they chose to, they could just as easily take them away.”

“You have a very bleak way of looking at marriage, Harry,” Christina remarked, a concerned frown coming to her face. “If you continue to rebuff every gentleman with this frank manner of yours, you shall never find yourself married.”

Harry’s face lit up. “You say that as though it were a bad thing, Chris. You, all of you, forever urge Juliet to mingle and seek a husband. Has it never occurred to you that she is the wisest one of us all? Forever remaining unmarried grants us freedoms that marriage never could. After all, our parents encourage us to be who we are and to do as we please and not bow to societal pressures.”

Leonora looked over to where her eldest sister was just now helping their grandmother to her feet. “Do you truly believe that Jules intends to remain unmarried?” she asked her youngest sister, looking at her curiously. “She is