Page 20 of Lord Carlisle's Enticing Lure
Instinct had Giselle opening her arms wide as she bent to catch the little girl to her. “Good afternoon, dear Bella. Where are you off to?”
Carlisle towered above them. The sun silhouetting his agile form, he radiated a new joy to her day. As he always did. “Wonderful to see you, Giselle. Forgive Bella her new name for you. She has adapted it to her own abilities.”
With Bella clinging to her legs, Giselle admired the elegance of him. He wore pale breeches, a peach-colored silk waistcoat, and an apple-green-and-taupe tweed frockcoat of soft wool. Her mouth watered. “I don’t mind at all. Gigi is a perfectly good name. My mother used to address me that way. You have given me happy memories today. Thank you, Bella!”
The little girl giggled.
Carlisle shifted and Giselle saw his smile, brilliant as the sun. “Bellaand I walk to the new carousel in the market square. A ride on a few horses is in order, you know. Where are you off to on this fine day?”
“I go to a reception. An old friend has invited me to relive our pasts.”
“How lovely. Well…” He hesitated, but then took a step closer. “Why not join my sister and me for dinner?”
“Oh, I would not intrude.”
“You’d be a welcome addition to our little group. Even her beau joins us.” He took her hand and squeezed it affectionately. “Brighten my evening, won’t you?”
Her heart swelled. “Sir, you are too complimentary.”
“Allow me to be more so. Join us. Please.”
“I will. I will. Thank you.” She had a lump in her throat at his tender words. She surmised the gaiety of meeting old friends contributed to her sense of freedom—and abandon to accept his invitation. She tipped her head toward the walk north. “I must go.”
“Eight o’clock.”
“Eight it is.” Unable to contain herself, she grinned at him.
“That’s the look I appreciate. You, happy with me.”
She blushed.
“And that look too, my dear Gigi.”
“I must go.”
He tsked. “Quelle damage.”
“You are incorrigible, sir.”
“Only for you.”
Reluctantly, she pulled her hand from his. “Until tonight.”
*
Clive stood watchingher leave him and felt her departure as keenly as if the sun had dissolved. Eight o’clock seemed an eternity away.
She crossed the street, a graceful mirage in celestial blue.
Then he spotted a man furtively parallel her action, matching her pace.
Clive scooped up Bella into his arms and trailed behind them.
The man never diverted from his path. He was tracking her, stalking her. Thin as a stick, he was an ugly creature with the largest beak nose. Certainly he was no fine gentleman.
Who in hell was he? And what did he want with her?
Clive winced. He could not be the person she should have met outside the hotel the other night. If he were known to her or had an appointment to meet her, he would have no need to track her. He could approach her and talk.
