![]() Simon recalled their brief interlude in the hall at Lady Danbury's house, and found it a pity that he wasn't to be allowed any more private time with Daphne, but he recognized a brick wall when he saw one, especially when said wall happened to be namedĪnthony Bridgerton. "Well, that should be easy," Daphne said, "as we wouldn't be allowed to be alone if we were courting in truth, anyway." "Second, under no circumstances are the two of you to be alone together. "Actually," Simon murmured, "I rather think your mother would applaud our ingenuity, but since you have quite obviously knownĪnthony shot him a frosty look. "Mother would be devastated if she learned the truth." “First of all, this goes no further than this room." No,” he said, lifting one hand in the air and pointing toward her as if what he really wanted to do was place his finger on her lips and shush her. “I am sure you will wish to let me know how I feel about you.” ![]() ![]() There was nothing but air, and even that seemed in short supply.Īnd then he straightened as if nothing had happened and said, “Do let me know what you decide.” Her lips parted, but she had nothing to say, not a single word. To all who observed, he was the soul of propriety, but Hyacinth caught the daring gleam in his eye, and she felt the breath leave her body as tingles of electricity rushed across her skin. “You’ll have to figure that out for yourself,” he murmured. He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a feather-light kiss across her knuckles. “Miss Bridgerton,” he said, “the devil himself couldn’t scare you.” “You might find it difficult to believe,” Hyacinth shot back, “but I haven’t been going to bed each night thinking to myself-Oh, I do wish my brother would offer me something that passes for a compliment in his twisted mind.” “Haven’t you waited your entire life for me to agree that you’re smarter than any of the poor fools who have attempted to court you?” “Gregory!” This came from Hyacinth, but that was only because Lady Bridgerton had excused herself and followed one of the footmen into the hall. “It’s probably why we can’t seem to get her married off.” Gregory shrugged, reaching for a piece of shortbread. “Yes, I’d noticed,” Gareth murmured, deciding that maybe there might be a bit more to Hyacinth’s brother than he had thought. “I’m sure you would,” her brother replied, “which is why you should never be allowed within thirty feet of a sword.” He turned to Gareth. “I would be quite good at it,” she protested. Where was she going with this? “I like to fence, yes,” he replied. “I understand that you are an accomplished swords-man,” she finally said. “Have to keep it hidden,” he explained, pouring it liberally into two glasses. He moved some books to the side and reached behind to pull out what looked to be a very old bottle of cognac. “The good stuff,” the viscount said firmly. “Ehhhh…” Gareth wasn’t quite sure what to make of this. “No,” he said to himself, putting it haphazardly back into place, “the good stuff, I think.” He turned to Gareth, his eyes taking on a strange, almost giddy light. Lord Bridgerton crossed the room to a recessed bookcase and plucked a cut-glass decanter off one of the shelves. “A celebration is in order, don’t you think?” “I need a drink,” the viscount said, rising to his feet. “I beg your pardon,” he said, since truly, he could think of nothing else. It wasn’t quite what Gareth had expected. His lips seemed to move through the whole thing, too, and if Gareth were a more suspicious man, he would have thought that the viscount had said, “Thank you, Lord.”Ĭombined with the heavenward tilt of the viscount’s eyes, it did seem the most likely translation.Īnd then, just as Gareth was taking all of this in, Lord Bridgerton let the palms of his hands fall against the desk with surprising force, and he looked Gareth squarely in the eye as he said, “Oh, she’ll have you. This was not a man who sagged or groaned. Gareth had seen the viscount on many occasions and was quite familiar with his reputation. It was more of a sigh, actually-a huge, tired, heartfelt sigh that made the man positively deflate in front of Gareth. Or perhaps there were merely two or three, and it just seemed like eight, because it was all so unexpected.įirst, the viscount exhaled, although that did seem to understate the case. And then, because the viscount did not say anything, because he didn’t even move, Gareth added, “Er, if she’ll have me.”Īnd then about eight things happened at once. “I would like to marry Hyacinth,” he said. He looked up, meeting the viscount’s dark eyes with steady purpose. He had vowed to do this right, and he would not be cowed. Hyacinth’s brother wasn’t going to make this easy on him.
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