Nerissa tapped his arm with her finger. “But being fresh and unspoiled, she has no taste for your flirtation, sirrah!”
Lord Heatherington captured Portia’s hand. “That is cruel of you, Miss St. Claire. If we do not flirt, we die.”
Portia tried to tug her hand free. “That is to be absurd, my lord.”
“But so is not to flirt.” His grip on her hand was unbreakable, and he raised it to his lips, watching her closely, almost scrutinizing her. Then, he seemed to dismiss her from his mind entirely as he turned back to flirt with Nerissa.
Portia was distressed by the incident, but even more distressed to realize that now she might as well not be there. She suspected that Lord Trelyn would not approve of this encounter. There was nothing unseemly about the conversation—it was all gossip and badinage—but the atmosphere was wicked.
Was this just flirtation, or something worse?
Portia was no guard, however, to object to Nerissa’s choice of companion, so she just stood by until Lord Heatherington moved on.
As they proceeded down the street, Nerissa said pettishly, “I do hope you will learn to play the game a little, Portia. You will be a figure of fun if you stiffen up every time a gentleman pays you a compliment.”
“I’m sorry. I just cannot find it comfortable.”
“What a prude you are. You will have to practice. How else will you find a husband?”
“I do not want a husband, Nerissa, but if I ever have one, I would prefer a man who does not flirt.”
“He would have to be a dull dog.”
Then, catching Portia unawares, they encountered Bryght Malloren. He was in casual dress again, but without his dog. Portia half expected some dramatic change in him, some open acknowledgement of what had occurred between them, but he bowed as if they were the most casual of acquaintances and introduced his companion, Lord Andover.
Lord Andover, a loose-limbed, handsome blond, seemed far too pleasant to be friend to such a man.
Portia was so absorbed in her thoughts that her wits were wandering. She was caught off-guard when Nerissa said, “Lord Bryght! We have just been saying that Portia must learn to flirt. You are such a master of the art, why do you not teach her a little as we go?”
Portia stared at her cousin, but Nerissa merely smiled, captured Lord Andover’s arm, and turned to walk ahead. Portia had no choice but to follow with the man she most wished to avoid.
Chapter 14
“Relax, Hippolyta,” he said softly. “You are surely safe in my company here.”
She turned sharply, intending to reproach him, but found herself silenced by something almost gentle in his expression.
“So,” he said, easily covering the moment, “Nerissa has taken you up. You are very fortunate.”
Portia hastily walked after her cousin. “After my shame, you mean.”
“No, I do not mean that,” he said with an edge. “I mean that her standing and respectability are just what you need.”
“If you want thanks for having introduced me to my cousin, you may have them, my lord.”
“Your happiness is thanks enough, I assure you.” He was keeping pace with her without difficulty.
Portia knew good manners dictated that she make light conversation, but her mind was blank. How could she talk of the weather to a man with whom she had been so outrageously intimate?
“I hope you are not too much distressed by your adventure,” he said.
The gall of the man! “We will forget it, if you please, my lord.”
“You are always telling me to forget our encounters,” he said somewhat plaintively. “I find myself quite unable to do so.”
“Please, my lord….”
“As you wish,” he said lightly. “Then perhaps I should admit that I have skipped some important lessons during our encounters, and should now teach you how to flirt.”
