Page 13 of The Scholar's Key
But that was not him. He didn’t have such a sense of humor. Sure, Eric found him amusing, entertaining even, but Eric was his brother. They knew one another better than nearly anyone else, so it made sense.
He wasn’t going to fool himself that Lady Percy would feel anything for him but vague interest as an acquaintance.
It didn’t matter what he told himself, however. When a tall, broad man stepped up to the small group of women and bowed in front of them, his eyes heavy on Lady Percy, Noah was reminded of what kind of man she preferred.
“Uncle,” he said, leaning over and interrupting his uncle before he could stop himself, “who is that man over there?”
“Where’s that?”
“Across the room, with the group of young ladies.”
His uncle squinted, but it was his aunt who answered.
“Oh, that is Lord Stephen, son of Lord Lecher,” she said. “He has resided in Bath for quite some time, I believe. From what I’ve heard, he is finally on the hunt for a wife. Looks like he is beginning his quest.”
So he was. With Lady Percy.
“Do you know him, Noah?”
“I do not,” he said, throwing back his drink. But he did want to know just what Lord Stephen’s intentions were for the woman who Noah couldn’t stop thinking about – whether he liked it or not.
* * *
Percy forceda smile on her face.
Lord Stephen was affable. He was polite. He was from the correct bloodlines and was in line for a title.
He was physically strong and commanded attention. He was the perfect combination of what attracted her and what her parents wished for her.
So why did she wish him to finish this story he was telling and walk away from them all?
Suddenly she realized all eyes were on her, waiting for her to say something, and she cleared her throat, wishing she had paid more attention.
“Percy does love to dance,” her cousin, Elizabeth, said, taking pity on her and elbowing her in the side.
“Yes,” Percy said with a smile. “I do.”
“And would you like to dance with me?” Lord Stephen said.
“I would. Yes,” she lied, but it would be incredibly rude to say no — even for her.
“Very well. I shall collect you shortly when the next dance begins. Ladies,” he said, bowing slightly to all of them, and Percy’s lips tightened together.
She took a sip of her drink as her cousins began tittering about his interest in her, pausing when her gaze fell upon a familiar figure across the room.
Mr. Rowley.
If she didn’t know him better, she likely would have missed his figure entirely, as he seemed to fade into the background behind him.
Well, not literally, for he was wearing dark trousers and a dark jacket, and the wall was sky blue, but suffice it to say, he certainly did not stand out – mostly because of the aura around him, one that made it seem as though he was trying to hide.
Their gazes caught and held, and there was something in his eyes that interested her – although she couldn’t have said exactly what it was. She raised an eyebrow in question, and she could have sworn his cheeks reddened as he lifted his drink and turned away.
“Who are you looking at?” Elizabeth asked.
“A friend,” she said, an involuntary smile striking her face. Mr. Rowley had become rather entertaining, whether or not he meant to be. “A friend of a friend, I suppose I should say.”
“You seem rather interested in said friend,” said her other cousin, Rebecca, peering around Elizabeth to see him. “I do not see anyone.”
