Laurie Benson – An Unexpected Countess (страница 8)

The woman’s petite form moved from behind the shelves and she hobbled with a regal air towards Sarah. ‘Were you shopping?’

‘We were indeed.’

‘Did you have success?’

An image of the perfect pair of slippers almost made Sarah sigh. ‘A pair of slippers I ordered were finished and Katrina accompanied me to fetch them.’

‘A woman can never have too many pairs of slippers.’

‘I couldn’t agree more.’

‘If you’re searching for novels, they’re at the far end of the room, my dear. Once you find one, I suggest waiting for her in the Crimson Drawing Room. The light in there is lovely this time of day.’

Sarah knew the comment was more a direction than a suggestion. As long as she had something to occupy herself with during the wait, it didn’t matter what room she was in. ‘Thank you. I know it well.’

‘Capital.’ A smile brightened the Dowager’s face and made her eyes sparkle. ‘I need to see what is taking so long with my tea. I’m beginning to wonder if I must to sail to China myself to retrieve it.’ She walked to the door and tugged on the tapestry bell pull.

It didn’t take long for Sarah to find Waverley. The novel proved so engrossing it was a wonder she didn’t walk into a wall on her way down the hall. Upon entering the drawing room, she took the nearest chair and turned the page.

The sound of a throat clearing from her left made her jump. At the far end of the room Hartwick stood before the windows, a glass in his hand. He was dressed in his usual black attire, save for his snowy white shirt and cravat.

Oh, lud! She should have never left the library.

He strolled towards her until his shiny black Hessians almost touched the tips of her white kidskin boots. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been standing in the moonlight with his chiselled features glistening with drops of rain.

They stared into each other’s eyes, challenging the other to break the silence that stretched between them. He caved first.

‘Miss Forrester.’ It came out almost as a scold, as if he was annoyed she had interrupted his solitude.

‘Hartwick.’

‘I almost did not recognise you without your trews. Should I be concerned you’re developing a habit of showing up at unexpected times?’

‘No more so than my concern that you’re taking far too much pleasure in startling me.’

‘Touché.’ He tipped his head respectfully and motioned to the chair next to her. ‘May I?’

When she nodded her consent, he sat down and picked up her wrist with his ungloved hand to read the spine of her book. Tingles ran up and down her arm.

She pulled her hand away. ‘I’m waiting for Katrina.’

‘I gathered as much.’

‘This is an odd location to find you at this time of day...alone.’

‘I, too, am waiting for my friend. He’s attending to matters with his secretary. I imagine he will be returning shortly.’

‘Returning? I always thought you and Lyonsdale met in his study.’

‘Apparently he no longer wants me in that room.’ He took a sip from the amber liquid in his glass. ‘I believe banned was the word he used.’

His nonchalant manner made her smile. ‘I can’t imagine why.’

He looked off into the distance, then focused back on her. ‘Some nonsense about brandy.’

That was not what she’d expected to hear and she glanced pointedly at his glass.

‘He accompanied me to purchase a horse today at Tattersall’s. I’m imbibing as a celebration of sorts. And you, Miss Forrester, what brings you to this stupendously decorated room today?’

‘Katrina and I were shopping. She’s attending to Augusta. I suppose she will not be long.’

He took another drink, eyeing her over the glass. ‘I assume you were on the hunt for a new pair of slippers.’

It vexed her that, from the few times they had spoken, he knew her so well. ‘Why would you assume that?’

He arched his brow and smirked. ‘Is it truly necessary to ask that question?’

She snapped the book shut. ‘We might have been shopping for bonnets or ribbons or gowns.’

‘Very true.’ He nodded sagely and took another sip of brandy. ‘What did you purchase?’

‘Slippers,’ she replied, glancing away.

‘Sorry, I didn’t catch that.’

She looked directly into those aquamarine eyes that were rimmed by thick, dark lashes. It was unfair God had given a man eyes like that. ‘I said I purchased slippers.’

‘How surprising.’

‘And how surprising of you to purchase a horse. How many of them do you own now?’

He sat up straighter. ‘I don’t see how that is relevant. And where are these new slippers of yours? Do not tell me you are wearing them already.’

Her mouth dropped into a defeated frown. ‘They’re ruined. The perfect pair of pink slippers that I have wanted forever are ruined, never to grace a ballroom or garden party,’ she admitted wistfully. It was so sad.

‘Ruined? But you just purchased them. What happened?’

‘It’s a long story,’ she said with a sigh. ‘What breed of horse did you purchase?’

‘A four-year-old thoroughbred colt.’

‘That sounds promising. You must be very pleased.’

‘I suppose.’

‘You don’t sound very pleased.’

‘It’s a long story.’ He raised his glass slowly and the crystal touched his lips. For a moment he savoured the taste before his Adam’s apple slid up and down with his swallow.

Her stomach did an odd little flip. It happened now and then, whenever she witnessed him doing the most mundane things. When he was not consciously trying to charm people, he was magnificent to watch.

‘Speaking of things we’d rather forget,’ he continued, ‘reassure me you will not be traipsing about any rooftops in the near future. If I hadn’t been up there to grab you, you would have fallen to your death.’

‘If you hadn’t been up there, I wouldn’t have been startled enough to slip. You owe me an apology.’ She wished he’d forgotten about their encounter. The last thing she needed was Lord Hartwick poking into her affairs.

‘An apology?’ he replied indignantly. ‘I saved you!’

‘Which would not have been necessary if you had simply ignored me.’

‘I didn’t know it was you. If I had, I most certainly would have ignored you. Since you have yet to thank me for saving you, I’ll accept your unspoken gratitude and say it was my pleasure.’ He smirked at her and cocked his head.

There were times it was impossible not to roll her eyes at him.

‘And that is the response I’m given. I see. Well, the next time I find you in need of assistance, I will ignore you. Is that to your liking, Miss Forrester?’

‘That would suit my needs very well, my lord.’

* * *

The problem was, as much as Hart hated to admit it to himself, he enjoyed matching wits with Miss Forrester and had no desire to ignore her. Women fell into one of two camps. Either they would throw themselves at him or run the other way, afraid of his rakish reputation. Sarah Forrester was different. He had no idea how to charm her and he wasn’t completely certain she even liked him. Not that it should matter if she did. Which it did not. It absolutely did not. But he was discovering how much fun it was to provoke a reaction from her.

He should excuse himself and return to his place across the room, from where he had been contemplating how to steal Lady Everill’s bracelet. Placing that much physical distance between them was the proper thing to do, considering they were both unmarried. Instead he gave her his most charming smile, settled back into the red brocade cushions and waited.

She let out a long, exasperated sigh, which caused her breasts to rise and fall in her yellow-and-white-striped gown. He took another sip of brandy.

‘Must we continue to converse?’ she moaned.

He laughed at the audacity of that statement by an American to a peer of the realm. ‘We don’t have to. We could sit in companionable silence. I’ll enjoy my brandy and you can read your book.’