Page 60 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
Johnathan nodded.
“And if she flutters it slowly with her right hand, it means ‘approach me.’”
“What if she flutters it quickly with her left?”
“She wants you to leave her alone.”
Johnathan’s brow scrunched. Susannah had done both flutters. Had she wanted him to leave at first, then changed her mind?
“And what does it mean if she blinks rapidly like she has something caught in her eye?”
This time Eddie did laugh.
“You promised not to laugh.”
“No, you asked that I not be a nuisance, but I never promised anything.”
Searching his mind, Johnathan realized Eddie had never made the requisite promise.
“But to answer your question”—Eddie clasped his hands and leaned back into his chair— “Women bat their lashes because they think it makes them look alluring. Most of the time it just makes them appear ridiculous, but it is a clear indication of their interest.”
A slow smile spread across Johnathan’s face and he let his head fall back on the chair. Staring at the ceiling, he replayed his interactions with Susannah. She’d batted her lashes more than once at him.
Warmth spread from his chest through his entire body as he let hope take flight. There was a chance.
“Now who’s the one mooning over a girl?”
Johnathan’s attention snapped back to his friend. “Stop it, Eddie.”
He held up his hands. “I’m not doing anything. Simply stating the truth.”
A sigh broke through Johnathan’s resolve. The sound encouraged his friend. “It’s no secret anyway. You know that by now.”
“I do, but it s-s-still m-makes m-m-me—”
“Nervous. Yes, I know.” Eddie sobered. “I need to warn you, though. Melior has noticed a certain amount of affection between Miss Wayland and Mr. Wallace. It might be good to tread carefully until she has made it clear who she favors the most.”
And like that, the hope he’d gathered like fallen leaves blew away on the wind of Eddie’s words. Johnathan was beginning to despise Mr. Wallace. No, he was beyond beginning and well intoactual loathing. And yet, from all he knew, the man would make a decent match for Susannah.
He shot to his feet. “I need to go. Please tell Melior I wish her well in her healing.”
Eddie rose. “John, I—”
He held up a hand. “You spoke the truth. I would expect nothing less from a friend, but I promised Lord Upton that I’d not let Javenia hail a hack before he returned and yet I’ve been shut up here with you for nearly half an hour.”
Eddie nodded and let his gaze drop to the floor. “And my secret?”
He stared at his friend silently, letting him grow restless in his seat. A little retribution for laughing at him. Then a slow smile formed. “Is safe with me.”
Chapter 20
Javenia paced from one end of the room to the other but Johnathan did not know what to say or do. She’d come to his townhouse in high dudgeon complaining how Melior had been nearly carried out of Lady Lincolnhurst’s on Friday only to attend the opera on Monday.
“Nate begged Melior to rest but she refused. I love her, but that woman is more stubborn than Prinny when he’s found a new bobble he must have. What is she thinking?”
She passed by him again and he decided there was no use holding to propriety by standing. She’d pace herself out eventually. He lowered himself into his favorite chair near the fire. Large and sturdy, it fit his tall frame perfectly.
“And then if that was not enough, she accompanied Miss Wayland and the Wallaces to the menagerie on Tuesday. She is wearing herself thin and if she is not careful, she’s going to hurt the baby.”
