“Absolutely.”Tiffany’s laugh was marvelous, contagious.“I haven’t had this much fun in ages.”
Together they made their way to the main salon.The gentleman rose from his straight-backed chairs.Elizabeth had to admit that, at least, this one was younger.
After the introductions, Elizabeth and Tiffany sat on a Grecian chaise lounge covered in red velvet.Elizabeth did her best to flirt with Lord Stanley.She asked him all kinds of questions and tried to hang on his every word.She noticed that Jonathan remained very quiet; however, his expression was tight with strain.She couldn’t tell whether he was jealous or simply bored.
Once again, Linton appeared in the doorway.“Excuse me, Lady Elizabeth, but Mr.Beau Brummell is here to see you.I tried to tell him that you already had guests, but he insisted.”
“I’m expecting him, Linton,” Elizabeth said quickly.“Please show him in.”
“What ishedoing here?”Jonathan asked as his gaze locked with hers.
“I promised to go riding in the park with him,” Elizabeth replied sweetly.
“Elizabeth,” Jonathan said, his tone threatening as he stood and moved to the far side of the large room.
“Excuse us a moment,” Elizabeth said to Tiffany and Stanley.Then she moved to Jonathan.“Yes?”
“Beau Brummell is not the marrying kind,” Jonathan stated emphatically.
Her gaze froze on his lips, and he remembered how good their kisses used to be.
He shook himself mentally.His thoughts didn’t need to wander down that path.“Besides, he has no title, and Adam would never approve.”
“I happen to like Beau.”Elizabeth tried to keep her voice as normal as possible.“He is kind, and the most charming man I’ve ever met.I can’t say the same of you, at the moment.”
He looked at her with a sardonic expression that sent her temper soaring.“I must approve your match,” he informed her bluntly.
“In that case, you had better start considering Beau because I just might choose him,” Elizabeth said in a broken whisper.“Now, if you’ll excuse me ...”She turned away from Jonathan and started to leave.
Jonathan grabbed her arm and hissed, “Don’t push me too far, Elizabeth.”
Instead of jerking her arm free as she wanted to, Elizabeth simply pulled it away so they wouldn’t draw the attention of the others.“You don’t own me, Jonathan Hird.”She left him then, but she could still feel his gaze boring into her back.
“Are you ready, Beau?”Elizabeth said as he entered the room.
“Most certainly, beautiful lady.”He bowed graciously.
“If you’ll excuse us, Lord Stanley.”Elizabeth moved over and took Beau’s hand.“But I already have a previous engagement.”
“Quite understandable,” Stanley said as he rose.“Perhaps I can see you next week.”
“That would be lovely.Come along, Tiffany,” Elizabeth said, then glanced at Jonathan.“I’ll see you tonight for the play.”
“You can count on it, madam,” Jonathan clipped.
Outside,a bright red-and-white landau waited for them.The footman held open the door, and Elizabeth stepped into the horse-drawn carriage.
“It’s such a lovely day for an open carriage ride,” Tiffany said as she stepped up and took her seat.
“It’s nice to be outside,” Elizabeth commented and then added, “It was getting rather warm inside.”
“I’ll say,” Beau said after instructing the driver as to their destination.“Longdale barely acknowledged my presence.”
“He might not have acknowledged your presence, but he definitely knew you were there,” Elizabeth told him.“He was rather testy today.”
Two splendid white horses pulled their carriage onto one of the tree-lined paths of Hyde Park.The well-manicured lawns were a beautiful shade of green, and poppies and foxglove dotted the landscape.White narcissus bloomed along the path.Every little sprig and bloom shouted that spring had arrived.
They nodded to acquaintances they passed, but didn’t stop until they reached Serpentine Lake.It was a long, curving lake where swans and geese floated along the gleaming surface, peacefully absorbing the sun.
