Page 53 of Pining for Lord Lockhart
She looked away. “Actually, I don’t know if I’m ready to know something like that.”
“That’s right. The woman who learns that will receive a marriage proposal shortly after and then know that she will be my number one forever. Are you ready for that kind of question?”
She sucked in a breath. “Are you?” Her head started to shake no of its own accord.
“I’m not.”
Her exhale of relief made him smile.
“But I might be one day. If any woman could intrigue me enough to make me wish to commit myself to only her, it would be you.” He placed a hand at the side of her face. “But you would turn me down if I asked right now, and I wouldn’t be able to do right by you yet.”
She nodded. “We make a happy pair of friends though, don’t we?”
“The best kind of friends.” He smiled, and his expression was almost tender.
“Back away from her right now.” Lord Lockhart’s voice carried too far to too many people and had such a warning abrasive tone, Charity almost didn’t recognize it. She turned.
“Act like he is being utterly ridiculous. This is very important. People are watching.”
Her eyes widened.
“No, no, laugh. Laugh like he doesn’t know what he is talking about.”
She swallowed.
“Now.”
So she laughed. And then turned to Lord Lockhart and laughed harder. “Come over here so we can laugh with you.” She gestured.
Lord Wessex laughed with her.
And most everyone stopped watching them with such heightened interest.
As soon as Lord Lockhart was within whispering distance, she hissed, “What is the matter with you?”
“What are you talking about? This man was trying to exert his rakish ways.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“I’ve come to rescue you.”
Lord Wessex snorted. “By making a huge fuss about nothing so that people think there’s something to see and come forcing marriage on us all?”
“No, that’s not what I was trying to do.”
“Of course not. But that’s what very nearly happened.”
He looked from one to the other. “So you weren’t having a romantic interlude?”
“We were having a friendship interlude.” Charity didn’t feel the need to tell him that it could have gone either way.
Lord Lockhart looked from one to the other. “Then you should know better.” He pointed to Lord Wessex. “You particularly should know better. There needs to be space between you. You already have a reputation. Everyone is wondering when she’ll give in to your charms. They’re watching, thinking that your heart is about to be broken.” He pointed at Charity, and she decided she very much disliked having a finger jabbing the air in her direction.
“Have I ever cared what people think? Do you think I care now? You are out of line. And don’t you have your fiancée to escort home?”
“She is not my fiancée.”
“So you say.” Lord Wessex shook his head.
