Page 7 of Romancing the Rifleman
Thinking back, that was the moment Harrington had truly captured her regard.
She shook herself.“But how areyou?I didn’t realize you were back in London.”
“I only returned today.It was unexpected.My regiment is posted to Faversham, but I was called to London by somebody at Horse Guards.Seems they have a special assignment for me.”
“Well, I, for one, am very glad that you have returned to us.”Her voice quavered, and she found it difficult to meet his eye.Gracious, what was this?Diana wasn’t normally the sentimental sort.
But she found that Harrington’s safe return, combined with his defense of her to Joseph Cumberworth, had moved her.
Moreover, she had a feeling that this was important.
That, in spite of her reputation for being the ice queen who brushed men off like a speck of lint upon her gown, maybe, just maybe, this was a man she didn’t want to flick away.
Harrington spoke into the silence that had descended between them.“So, if you heard my tirade, I take it you were also here when Cumberworth and Blachford were saying their piece?”
“I was.I was in the library when Mr.Cumberworth and Mr.Blachford entered.I sometimes find large gatherings such as this one to be taxing.It helps me to steal away for a moment of solitude.”She gestured to the curtains.“When I heard them coming, I hid.”
He cringed sympathetically.“I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
She grinned.“At least I got to hear you call him a syphilitic potato.”
He held both hands up.“If the shoe fits…”
“In this case, it fits like a glove.I had to bite my hand so I wouldn’t laugh aloud.”
“That’s high praise.”He was practically glowing, but his smile faltered.“Still, I hate to think of you standing behind that curtain while those blackguards abused you.”
She shrugged.“I’ve heard worse.I wasn’t sniffling into my handkerchief.”Her lips twisted.“I was busy plotting my revenge.”
He leaned forward.“Do tell.”
She waved her hand.“Oh, nothing elaborate.I was merely going to give him false hope by agreeing to a dance, then proceed to call him every name I could think of other than his own.”
He barked out a laugh.“Diabolical.I suppose I ruined it for you by threatening to inform your brother of everything he said.”
She shrugged.“That’s all right.Although Marcus’s preferred form of revenge is boring in its predictability, I cannot deny that it is effective.I am sure I will enjoy watching Cumberworth get cast out of all good society.”
“As consolation prizes go, it’s not half bad,” he agreed.He peered down at her a moment, biting his lip.She rather thought he was gathering his courage.“As you won’t be dancing with him after all, perhaps you would do me the honor instead.”
She inclined her head.“I should be delighted.”
He offered her his arm, and they headed toward the door.As they were about to cross the threshold, something occurred to her.“But how remiss of me!I almost forgot to offer you my congratulations.”
He gave her a curious look.“Congratulations?On what, surviving the retreat?”
She squeezed his arm.“No, silly.On your election to Parliament.”
Chapter4
Harrington tripped over the edge of the rug.In retrospect, it was a good thing Lady Diana had taken hisarm, because for a second there,shewas the one holdinghimup.
“I’m sorry,” he said, stumbling to a halt.“What was that you said?”
It had sounded as if she had said something about Parliament, but he had obviously misheard.He hadn’t been elected to Parliament.
It was patently obvious that he wasn’t parliamentary material.
She looked up at him, surprise filling her pretty blue eyes.“Had you not heard?You emerged victorious in the special election.”
