Page 31 of The Scholar's Key
“That’s right. Mutual acquaintance and all that? You know Lady Percy, do you not?”
“I do.”
“I’ll be sure you are invited to the wedding.”
He threw back his head and laughed at that, as though aware of exactly what Noah felt for Percy.
“Does yourbetrothedknow you are here?” Noah asked, drawing out the word to make it clear that he knew perfectly well that no promises had yet been made.
“It’s no business of hers what I do with my time,” he said with a shrug. “Besides, you have a penchant for her yourself, do you not, Mr. Rowley? To share my sin would be to admit yours.”
He grinned then, and Noah could only smile tersely and continue walking. He wasn’t about to share with Lord Stephen that not only was Percy well aware that he was here, but she had, in fact, encouraged him to come. It was too bad he couldn’t tell him, for he would have loved to have seen the look on his face at such information.
He was surprised to find, when he looked up, that Mrs. MacNall was watching him, through eyes hooded and lowered.
“Mr. Rowley,” she drawled. “I never imagined you would show here.”
“You underestimate me,” he said, drawing close to her, leaning a hip against the wooden column beside her. “I am far from what most expect of me.”
“I see that,” she said, tilting her head as she studied him. “You look… different.”
He forced his lips up into a small smile. He knew how his hairstyle had changed his appearance, and how much better the cut of his jacket and trousers fit him. But, strangely, his acting out the situation with Percy had most aided him, giving him a confidence that he hadn’t possessed before. If he had caused Percy to experience arousal at his attempted seduction, then there was a chance he could achieve his aim with Mrs. MacNall.
“Perhaps it is due to your company,” he said now, hoping his tone was flirtatious, although truthfully, he had no idea how it sounded.
She smiled, although she seemed suspicious.
“Are you a charmer, then, Mr. Rowley?”
“I try to be,” he said, although the words, which had come so easy with Percy, seemed to stick in his throat.
He looked down for her necklace but found her neck, unfortunately, bare. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. When he looked up, he found her watching him with a smirk, and he realized that she had misread just where his gaze had been directed.
Not that he had missed her ample, burgeoning bosom. That would be nearly impossible.
He just hadn’t been greatly intrigued by it, was all.
“Shall we sit?” she asked, gesturing toward one of the chesterfields that had been laid haphazardly around the room.
“Of course,” he said, taking a seat, stiffening when she sat so close to him that her arm was resting upon his. Unlike Percy’s touch, hers had quite the opposite effect, and he wanted nothing more than to stand and walk away.
But of course, that would not help him achieve his purpose.
“Tell me of this… protector of yours,” Noah said. “Is he a jealous man?”
Mrs. MacNall laughed, a fake, tinkling laugh, so unlike Percy’s deep and honest one.
“I suppose you could say that,” she said. “But he does not own me.”
“He just pays for you to live,” Noah said before he could stop himself, and she raised an eyebrow.
“Do you judge me for that, Mr. Rowley?”
“Not at all,” he said truthfully. “I am simply trying to better understand the situation.”
“Very well, then,” she said, her lips curling into a smile. “Buy me a drink?”
He nodded, doing as she asked. He flirted with her as best he could, slightly annoyed when Lord Stephen began to walk toward them, his resolve clear. He intended to pursue Mrs. MacNall for himself. Which Noah had no problem with – except that he needed to be the one to go home with her tonight.
