Page 14 of The Lady
There was a highly amused look on the earl’s face as he stared between them, a decided twinkle in his eyes. He was dressed immaculately, although it was clear he had been travelling given his cape.
“What a surprise,” Langley remarked lightly as Lady Flora turned hastily around and moved across the study, repairing her outfit. Philip forced himself to stare at his brother, daring his lordship to say more.
“I hardly think, given your previous reputation, we should expect any comment from you, my lord,” Lady Flora snapped.
“Oh. Indeed.” Langley laughed, and Philip could have murdered his brother. Langley seemed to find the whole situation quite the most amusing lark he’d seen in quite some time.
“This is most ill-timed. But you can be the first to congratulate me on our engagement,” Philip said, hoping to limit the damage.
“Oh, Pip that is wonderful,” Langley said with real affection, using the nickname he had always preferred for Philip as he clasped his brother’s hand in a warm handshake. “I thought I had simply interrupted a nasty little affair, and that would have made the next family Christmas or christening terribly awkward. Especially if I had to play at being the strict moral one.”
“Not a role you were born to play,” Philip said, wishing his brother would leave them in peace.
“Yes,” he said, looking over towards Flora, who still had her back to them, and wondering how she might feel at the announcement of their engagement. “Might have stung of hypocrisy on your part.” Taking a step closer, he lowered his voice, “Flora?”
CHAPTER 7
There was nothing else for it. She was going to have to turn around. Of all the nasty, unexpected interruptions, this had to be one of the worst. Short of her older brother the duke being there. Of all the badly timed occurrences. Silvester, Lord Langley, the one-time rake and libertine who’d debauched London a decade or more ago with his wild antics. Of course, he was now entirely reformed, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t tease the pair of them mercilessly.
Flora felt sick to her stomach and tried to think of a positive part of this, but none were occurring.
At least Langley wasn’t a gossip. She supposed that was something, but there was no way in hell he wouldn’t tell his beloved wife, Margot. The problem was, of course, that Margot would tell Elsie, and Elsie happened to be Flora’s sister-in-law. There was no way the duke would appreciate hearing from such a source about whatever Philip and she had been doing. Especially given how much Kit barely tolerated his brother-in-law and thought Philip little better.
What a muddle.
With a sigh, Flora turned on her heel to face the two brothers and answer the question which lingered on Philip’s lips.
She had come here ready and willing to offer herself to him. She had wanted his kisses. His touch. Hell, if he’d been willing, she would have wanted to get engaged. But what she most definitely didn’t want was for either of them to feel forced into a match. Which seemed to be the situation now. A marriage of necessity or force was not something that held any appeal to her.
Looking between them now, she could see Langley was his normally arrogant self. The earl had moved away from her and was busy helping himself to the tea things. Hurriedly gobbling up the biscuits as he waited for Flora to reply.
On the other hand, Philip had stepped closer, all considerate concern. There was such an undercurrent of kindness to the man, of safety—that was why she had wanted him in the first place. And his undeniable attractiveness, why even his exposed forearms…
Pay attention,Flora told herself.
Philip’s hand came out to rest on her waist, blocking her again from his brother’s view. If Langley ever bothered to look up from his food she would be shielded.
“My lady, I presumed, but you must realise…”
“I would not force your hand.” This was a key point she wished to emphasise. Her plan this morning had been to practically propose herself. Or at least to initiate an affair—which wouldn’t be nasty in the slightest. Her aim had been clear. She wished to succeed in making Philip fall in love with her. Eventually yes, she hoped they would wed, but not until she was secure in his affections. Such things came to her in rapid clarity but, sadly, all completely useless now.
Philip looked surprised at her comment, his face colouring for a second. “I am a man of honour. I would never take advantage?—”
“I threw myself at you. I gave you very little choice.”
There was a noise from behind him, from Langley who seemed to find her comment vastly amusing, but it did not strike Philip in the same way. He was just frowning. “Would you like me to go on one knee, or speak to your brother, the duke first?”
With her back stiffening Flora shook her head. “We do not need to speak to Kit.”
“Wouldn’t envy you that particular task,” Langley said.
“Get out.” Philip snapped, a mottled red suffusing his cheeks. “I don’t think this is the right place for you, Brother dear.”
“But I did so want some happy news.” Langley stuffed the remainder of a lemon pieces into his mouth and sighed.
“I know your wife is pregnant,” Philip said.
“She isn’t due for weeks. Her pregnancies always do last a longer time than average. Trust Margot to be different.”
