Page 16 of Romancing the Rifleman
Fitzherbert’s eyes were darting around.“Were you?”
Harrington’s smile was genial.“I was!My brother told me about the fascinating wager you recorded in the betting book at White’s?—”
“Oh, dear!”Fitzherbert cried.“I have suddenly recalled a pressing engagement.”He dropped his daffodils so hastily that they tumbled to the floor of the carriage.“Lady Diana, a pleasure, as always.”
Harrington turned to Humphrey Montague.“Monty!Fancy bumping into… Say, where are you going?”
They were doomed to wonder, because Mr.Montague had wheeled his horse around and was hying himself back toward Rotten Row.
Izzie beamed at her brother.“How I’ve missed you.”
Diana murmured her agreement.Indeed, Harrington was an exceptionally useful fellow to have around.Why, he had vanquished her suitors in one minute flat!
He was handsome, amusing, and he valued her opinion.To say nothing of the fact that he was one of the few men of her acquaintance whom she did not find irritating.To be sure, he was not regarded as much of a catch, as he was a second son and not in possession of a fortune.
But what did she care about that?She had fortune enough to last them a lifetime.She was the rare woman who could afford to choose a husband for his lively wit and finely turned leg.
As Harrington leaned down to listen to Lucy, Diana could not help but allow her gaze to sweep from his broad shoulders to his flat stomach and below.His legs were clad in skintight breeches, and Diana could not help but observe that there was no soft flesh there to tremble, in spite of the jostling of the carriage.Clearly, army life was not without its advantages…
They reached the banks of the Serpentine, and Diana ordered the coachman to stop.Harrington hopped down and handed his sisters out of the carriage.
As he helped Diana to the ground, he whispered, “I need to speak to you.”
The corner of her mouth turned up.Even better.“I was hoping to speak with you as well,” she murmured.“How did things go last night with Lord Kinwood?”
“Better than I could have hoped.”His brown eyes were bright in the dappled sunlight beneath the trees.“Thanks to you.You see?—”
“Hurry up, you two!”Suddenly, Lucy was there, seizing their arms and tugging them forward.“I thought we were going to walk by the water.”
Diana shot Harrington a look.Later.He inclined his head in understanding.Lucy did not seem to notice that anything was amiss.
Izzie, on the other hand, was watching them with great interest.Diana detected no disapproval in her gaze; her expression was one of keen anticipation.
Which was arguably more frightening than if she had been furious about the prospect of Diana flirting with her brother, given that this was Izzie.
Striving for an air of nonchalance, Diana accepted Harrington’s proffered arm, and the four of them made their way toward the banks of the Serpentine.
Lucy broke off to admire a pair of swans.Izzie trailed after her twin, but not before casting Diana a speaking look.
After a moment, Diana leaned toward Harrington’s ear and whispered, “So, did Lord Kinwood ask about the canal?”
He nodded.“Just as you said.He wanted me to sponsor the bill in the House of Commons!Made it sound like he was doing me this tremendous favor.”
Diana hmphed.“The utter gall.”
“But I was able to put him in his place with the numbers you gave me.”He gave her a crooked smile, and time seemed to slow.“I can’t tell you how grateful I?—”
“What are you two talking about?”Lucy, who had abandoned the swans, was peering at them curiously.
“Nothing,” Harrington said a little too quickly.
“Walk with me, Lucy,” Izzie said firmly, striding over and hooking her arm through her twin’s.
“Oh!”Lucy cried as Izzie propelled her forward.“But I?—”
Izzie leaned in and hissed something in her sister’s ear.Lucy stiffened, then glanced over her shoulder at Harrington and Diana, her mouth a perfect “O.”
She said nothing more as Izzie marched her along the banks of the river.
