Page 22 of Romancing the Rifleman
Harrington felt a tingling sensation spread across his cheeks.God, he hoped he wasn’t blushing.“What about her?”
Henry made a not-particularly-successful attempt to look nonchalant.“It sounds like you’ve been spending a fair amount of time in her company.”
Harrington reached for his glass.“Hardly.Her brother ran me off the second he saw me.I’m lucky to have exchanged four words with her.”
He was taking in a mouthful of ale when Peter said, “And what about the rumors that you almost kissed her in broad daylight, in the middle of Hyde Park?”
Harrington barely managed to swallow his drink.He came up coughing, and Henry gave him a couple of thumps on the back.
“I…what?That’s… that’s ridiculous.It was all Rafe Westbrook’s fault.”
Henry and Peter exchanged a look.“Is that so?”Henry asked.
The words tumbled from his mouth.“He was trying to make Diana get in a rowboat with him.Wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he had the temerity to grab her.But then”—Harrington couldn’t help but laugh, remembering—“she did this thing with her arm.”He punched his fist downward, demonstrating.“I’ll bet her Aunt Griselda showed it to her.It had‘Aunt Griselda’ written all over it.And she sent the idiot tumbling right into the Serpentine.”
“Really?”Peter asked.
“Yes, and the point was, when I saw that she was about to get splashed, I did what any gentleman would do.I moved her out of the way and stepped in so I took the brunt of it.It was entirely innocent, I swear.”
Both of his friends looked baldly skeptical.“Well,” Peter drawled, “it certainly sounds as if you’ve been spendinghardlyanytimein her company.”
Henry was even less discreet.“She’s his type.”
“She’s exactly his type,” Peter agreed.
“He’s had a weakness for her ever since she cut Lady Pritchard to shreds at her debut ball,” Henry observed.
Peter opened his mouth to agree, but Harrington cut him off.“Will you two shut it?It’s completely impossible.At the Richford ball, Trevissick wouldn’t even let medancewith her.”
Peter looked at Henry.“Note that he doesn’t deny liking her.Merely that her brother wouldn’t allow it.”
Harrington decided a change of tactics was in order.“You’re the one who said she was one of the most intelligent women of your acquaintance.Why don’tyoucourt her?You’d actually stand a chance in hell.”
Peter paused, wiping an errant drip from the side of his glass.“I actually proposed to Adelaide last week.”
This was not entirely surprising.Peter had been courting Lady Adelaide De Courcy for the past year.Harrington hadn’t realized things were that serious, but of course, he’d been out of the country for the last six months.
Lady Adelaide’s father was the Marquis of Siddington, a highly placed diplomat.Much like Peter, she had grown up abroad, primarily in Vienna and St.Petersburg, and she spoke a half-dozen languages.
“Congratulations,” Henry said, raising a hand to flag down the waiter.“This calls for a toast.”
Peter grabbed Henry’s arm, pulling it down.“Not so fast.She hasn’t given me an answer yet.”
Harrington scowled.“She hasn’twhat?”
Peter shrugged.“It’s an important decision.She asked for some time to consider it.”
Harrington snorted.“If she hasn’t figured out that you’re a fucking prince, it doesn’t say much for her intelligence.”
Henry’s expression was pinched.“I hope this doesn’t come out wrong, but I am surprised to hear that you decided to propose.Perhaps I have formed the wrong impression, but I have not observed a great deal of ardor on either side.”
Peter seemed unbothered.“Paradoxically, that is one of the things I like about her.I’m seeking a practical arrangement.I work long hours.The last thing I need is a wife who would expect me to dote on her day and night.I need someone sophisticated.Worldly.I need to host a wide array of business associates in my home.I need a woman capable of planning impressive gatherings, who will not be cowed entertaining some of the most influential men in Europe.”He gave a philosophical shrug.“Lady Adelaide meets all of my requirements.”
Henry was shaking his head.“Peter.GoodGod.We’re talking about yourwife.You’re going to spend the rest of your life with this woman!”
Peter tilted his head.“Not necessarily.Should the relationship become untenable, I could certainly afford to set her up in her own household.”
Henry groaned.“No.What iswrongwith you?You haven’t even married the woman yet, and you’re already planning for the failure of your marriage!”
