Chapter 3

3

I t wouldn’t be long before Albright sought her out.

Felicity tapped her foot as she smiled and nodded to a passing acquaintance. She knew he’d seek her out, but honestly… “What’s taking him so long?”

“Hmm?” Jane murmured beside her.

“What’s that?” Meg asked.

Felicity gave her friends a rueful smile, and a moment later they were all smiling broadly at a passing matron. “My apologies,” she said when the older woman passed their spot in the park. “I fear I’m a bit distracted today.”

“Of course you are, what with all that’s happened of late,” Meg said before popping a piece of cheese into her mouth.

Felicity tipped her head back to take in the sunshine and forced herself to relax and enjoy this afternoon with her friends. The only one missing was Ann, and no one could blame their sweet redheaded friend for wanting to spend this lovely summer afternoon with her new suitor. Truly, she’d been surprised that Meg and Jane weren’t spending the day with their fiancés as well, but she was selfishly grateful for it.

Ann’s latest coup with Lord Kalvin meant Felicity’s days of sunshine and freedom with her fellow wallflower friends was truly coming to an end.

Her time had come.

Tomorrow, she promised herself. Tomorrow she’d put her mind to the task of choosing her match and then she’d make it happen.

Her confidence came not from her charms nor her beauty. It was simply that all of London knew that she was an heiress with a dowry fit for a queen. All she had to do was find a chap in need of a fortune, and with enough good standing to suit her parents.

Which was most gentlemen, her uncle had assured her. It takes funds to keep an estate running well, so don’t despair, child , he’d told her only that morning.

I’m not despairing, Uncle , she’d assured him in return.

Jane leaned forward and her quiet voice was nearly lost in the breeze. “Shall I ask Jasper to speak to Albright?” Her brows were knitted in concern on Felicity’s behalf.

Felicity shook her head, which sent her curls bouncing and then the wind blew a large swatch of hair into her face. She shook her head and pushed her hair back. “No, but thank you. Your husband-to-be is right to stay out of it. If Albright believes his reputation is best protected by steering clear of this mess, then you should both keep doing what you’re doing.”

Meg nudged Jane’s arm teasingly. “And what are you two doing, anyway?”

Jane blushed as she giggled. “You’d know, Meg.”

Meg laughed as well, but she seemed far from embarrassed. “I’m so glad you and Lord Marlin are getting on so well.”

Jane didn’t respond but she reached for a piece of fruit with a satisfied smile.

“And you and Carver?” Felicity asked Meg. “How are the wedding preparations?”

“Splendid.” Meg beamed. “My mother and his aunt are so passionate about the topic, I have little to do but plan rendezvous with my intended.”

Felicity laughed along with Jane.

“I am glad we’re doing this today,” Meg added. She reached out and squeezed both their hands. “I miss Ann, but I’m glad we’re here today.”

Jane nodded. “It will be so much more difficult to arrange these gatherings once we all have families of our own.”

“But we will,” Meg declared. “We’ll always find time for one another.”

Felicity smiled at her friend. Lud, she hoped that was true. Her heart gave a little squeeze as she tried to imagine the future.

She was so very happy for her friends, but in the end, she knew that they’d each found not just a love match but…a friend. A partner.

She didn’t expect to find the same, and she didn’t even want such a thing, necessarily. But it did make her feel lonely to know that while they’d all be marrying a dear friend…

And she’d be losing all of hers. She had no doubt they’d still remain close. But it wouldn’t be the same. It would no longer be the four of them against the world. They wouldn’t have their little corner table at balls or meet for tea quite so often…

She cut off a maudlin sigh and instead turned her attention to the crowded walkway nearby. No sign of Albright.

Truly. What was taking him so long? Two days had passed, and surely by now he could have figured out where to find her. It wasn’t as though she’d been hiding.

She shifted on the blanket, dimly aware of Meg’s chatter and the sound of her chaperone’s ever-present giveaway—clicking knitting needles.

Felicity often thought she might marry the first available lord just to escape the dreaded click-click-click sound that had begun to haunt her dreams.

She was so busy looking down the path, Felicity jumped when Lord Marlin’s deep voice came from behind her. “Pardon us, ladies.”

Jane leapt to her feet with an enthusiasm that might have been embarrassing if Lord Marlin wasn’t gazing upon his betrothed with equally embarrassing infatuation. He held his hands out to her and only had eyes for Jane as he continued. “I hope you don’t mind us interrupting like this but Lord Albright was curious as to your whereabouts and, well…”

Here the once mildly terrifying Earl did the unthinkable—he smiled in a way that might be called bashful. “I found myself looking for an excuse to see you, Jane. And, well…here we are.”

Jane beamed up at him. “I’m happy to see you.” She craned her neck to look at Albright. “And you, my lord.”

He dipped his head with that easy smile of his. But his gaze was firmly fixed on Felicity.

Felicity who could not hide her triumphant smile if she’d tried.

So she didn’t try.

She’d known he’d come. I knew you’d come! Oh, how she wanted to sing it. The young baron might be charming and chivalrous, and all those many splendid things. But he was also curious, and that emotion she understood all too well.

“Miss McGovern,” Albright said. He’d already exchanged perfectly pleasant greetings with Meg and Jane, but his tone altered as he met her gaze.

It wasn’t irritation she heard there, it was…a challenge.

Felicity took her time getting to her feet, excitement zinging through her veins. “Lord Albright,” she said when she stood.

“May I have a word?” His words were polite. His tone too.

So very proper.

Felicity had to press her lips together to suppress a grin. But she wanted to say something outrageous just to see if she could make him drop that charming smile.

But she gave an equally polite nod, and murmured an excuse to her friends. She gave her chaperone a sweet smile and made sure that she and Albright remained well within sight while out of hearing.

See? She could be proper too.

“You wished to speak to me, Lord Albright?” Her tone was as light and innocent as she could manage.

“Yes. I’d like to continue our conversation from the other night.” He said, equally light and amiable.

She blinked, feigning ignorance. “Which part?”

His smile never faltered. “The part in which you were going to tell me what Mr. Everson was doing at your uncle’s home.”

“Ah.” She nodded. “That part.”

“Indeed.”

She waited.

He waited.

She did her best to hide the smile from her lips and her eyes, but truly…this was too much fun.

He drew in a deep breath. “Well?”

She blinked a few times and smiled sweetly. “Yes?”

He moved in closer, and…there. Finally. His nonchalant facade disappeared and his voice dipped low. “This is not a game, Miss McGovern.”

“Then why do you insist on playing, Lord Albright? You have a question, so ask it.”

“Fine. What did you overhear?”

She smiled. “Nothing.”

His nostrils flared and his gaze grew even darker. “So you’re just teasing me now, is that it? Or were you lying the other day?”

“Not at all.” When he looked fit to bursting with impatience, she continued. “I overheard just as little as you. However, you may have realized by now that I live in the same home as my Uncle Edward, and we do things such as take meals together and sit by the fire in the evenings. We even have a tendency to talk to one another on these occasions.”

Now it was his turn to blink and she saw her meaning take hold. “And what is it that you talk about?”

“Oh, all sorts of things,” she started.

Felicity was distracted when Lady Olivia passed. Poor dear had only just arrived in London and was meant to marry The Marquess of Kalvin, but now that he was off the market, so to speak, she was surrounded by young lords eager to take his place.

Lady Olivia smiled and Felicity gave her a little wave.

“Miss McGovern,” Albright said. And then, in a harder tone, “Felicity!”

She drew her attention back to him. “Really, Lord Albright. You act as if it’s your right to know all that I know and yet you are so very loath to share your own knowledge.”

“That’s because it is not fit for a lady.”

“And here we must agree to disagree,” she said.

Another heavy silence fell, and this time she was the one whose patience was waning. Her next words slipped out with more urgency and pleading than intended. “I could help you.”

He stiffened. “I do not see how.”

“Don’t you?” She didn’t try to hide her disdain. It was one thing to try and protect her, but she’d never enjoyed being patronized. “You do not see how a young heiress and the niece to his prospective business partner might be useful in some way?”

“Useful,” he repeated. A muscle in his jaw ticked and his warm brown eyes grew so much warmer. Goodness, he could burn a girl with a look that scalding. “I do not see how a gentleman could use a young lady at all and still call himself a gentleman. I do not need your help, Miss McGovern, and I thought I’d made it clear I do not want it.”

Her breath caught as his words struck their mark.

He couldn’t even pretend that she might have some use. Her chest felt empty and her lungs struggled to work. But she recovered quickly. Of course she did. His opinion of her was one she was well used to. There was no reason it should hurt her.

“I see.” She forced a smile. “Very well.”

His eyes darted between hers, and his expression clouded with…concern? Or perhaps a hint of guilt?

“I understand,” she added, smiling even brighter.

“Do you?”

Of course she did. Despite the way he’d twisted her words, he couldn’t have made himself more clear. Because she was a silly young lady, she had no use.

It was an opinion many shared. Especially her parents. It really shouldn’t be so disappointing that he felt the same.

And yet, she had to swallow hard before she continued. “Mr. Everson approached my uncle in regards to a business proposal. It seems Everson is starting a trading company and is looking for investors.”

Albright seemed a little stunned. Was it this news that so surprised him or the fact that she’d readily shared it? “I…” He cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

She nodded, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. “My friends will be wondering what we’re discussing if we stay here much longer.” She flashed him her best, most dazzling smile. “If you’ll excuse me…”

He started to respond, but she did not linger to hear it.

Her friends and Mrs. Bishop watched her rejoin the party with blatant curiosity, but Felicity returned to her seat, reached for some bread, and asked brightly, “What did I miss?”

Dear Meg and Jane rose to the occasion, filling the silence with cheerful chatter and taking the attention away from Felicity. All she had to do was sit there and smile as her heart rate returned to normal.

Once it did, she felt that familiar, reliable stubborn streak rally.

If Lord Albright didn’t want her help, that was fine.

She had plans of her own to make. Her teeth clamped down on the bread with more force than necessary. She wouldn’t give that dreadful Lord Albright another thought.

But those plans…?

They would absolutely involve the mysterious Mr. Everson.