Page 5 of The Misfortunate Miss Farthington
She spotted him when he was mere feet away, and her dark eyes widened with recognition. And there. Just like always, he caught that glint that was so spectacularlyher.
It was curiosity and amusement and passion and life, all somehow expressed in the glint in her eyes. It was ajoie de vivrethat made one feel like he was approaching a goddess of old. A Greek myth come to life to dole out life and love to her patrons.
And yes. He was entirely too ridiculous when it came to this woman.
He reached for her hand and bent over it. “Miss Farthington, what a delight to see you here.”
Her cheeks pinkened slightly but her smile was bright. “I so enjoyed hearing you speak before; I could not miss a chance to hear you talk so knowledgeably again.”
His heart soared. He had the most alarming urge to roar and beat his chest with pride.
“May I introduce my cousin,” she said. “Lady Daphne.”
He managed to drag his gaze away long enough to exchange all the necessary niceties with Miss Farthington’s pretty young cousin, who he could have sworn was laughing at him.
Rightfully so, he thought wryly.
There was still enough reason left in his addled brain for him to know just how foolish his smitten state had become. Especially when reason tried to remind him—again, and for the thousandth time—that she was the daughter of a wealthy viscount. Soon she’d be an earl’s daughter, by all accounts. She could have her pick of men.
She smiled up at him as she accepted his arm and let him lead her to seats he’d reserved for his friends.
Her father would never allow this match, surely, even if she, by some miracle, returned his feelings. But all the reason in the world couldn’t stop his heart from pounding and his senses from going wild as he caught the scent of lavenders in her hair and felt the warmth of her perfect hourglass figure brushing up against his as they made their way through the crowd.
Her cousin fell into step behind them, and despite the crowd that swarmed around them—or perhaps because of it—he had the most delicious feeling that they were alone in their own little world. He bent over her slightly, trying to protect her from the crush as best he could.
“I’m so glad you could come,” he said. “I’ve been hoping to see you again. The way we last parted…”
She tilted her head back and his lungs hitched at the sight of her mischievous little smile.
“Our last meeting was a rather unusual interlude, was it not?” she teased.
“That’s one way of putting it,” he returned.
She grinned and he felt like he’d conquered worlds.
Their last meeting had been beyond scandalous. It had been an adventure the likes of which his former spy friend Luke might have been accustomed to, but which had been a rare event indeed for him.
And he loved that he’d shared it with Miss Farthington.
“Have you had any more such outings since we last met?” He kept his tone dry, and her eyes twinkled with laughter.
“Have I snuck through Hyde Park in the dead of night to await a rendezvous with a traitor, you mean?”
“Mmm.”
She pursed her lips as if in thought. “I cannot say I’ve had the pleasure. You?”
He chuckled but then feigned seriousness once more. “Honestly, I’m not invited to nearly as many nefarious rendezvous as I’d like. It’s a pity, really.”
She burst out into a laugh before clapping a hand to her mouth. But she was too late because his heart was already aglow from the sound of her laughter, so genuine and pure.
Just like her.
One got the impression that despite her perfectly poised and calm demeanor, there was no artifice there, just good manners and an even better heart.
His chest felt too tight for a moment as he watched her try to rein in her laughter.
“I’ll have to speak to your friends about that,” she murmured, once more poised and polite and…utterly adorable.
