As though he could read her mind, Fitz cast her a sidelong glance and said, “Truly, I thank you for your kind words, but do not judge my father too harshly.My mother died when I was thirteen, my brother and sister not much older.Many gentlemen in his position would have left our care to governesses, tutors, and Eton, but Father kept us with him.He holds us to high standards, but he holds himself even more accountable.He is a good man, and I would like to finally see him happy.”
Torn, Caroline bit her lip.“I suppose it would be a bit premature to abandon the experiment so soon.Very well.I am willing to give Lord Alfred another chance.”
“He may surprise us all.He certainly surprised me earlier when he waded into the river to rescue your mother.This, from a man who once lectured me for an hour on the state of my Hessians!”
“The one who has surprised me is my mother.I did not expect her to be so resistant.Only the fact that you acted so swiftly in offering an escort home gave your father a chance to spend more than thirty seconds with her.”
Sidestepping round a slow-moving chaise, Fitz gave a thoughtful hum.“Yes.The park is unfortunately quite large, and it’s easy to avoid people one doesn’t wish to see.What we need is a situation your mama cannot escape so simply.”
“I had hoped that after being reacquainted in a way that reminded them of their first meeting, we could simply turn up at the same balls and your father would pursue her.But now what?”Caroline frowned.“That feels like leaving a great deal to chance.And I admit, I do not relish the prospect of subjecting myself to an endless round of parties as dull and silly as the one last night.”
“Oh come, I can’t have you abusing ourcharminghostess so.”Fitz’s grin was infectious.He waggled his brows.“Some parts of last evening were dashed exciting, in my view.”
Caroline cocked her head, considering.“Yes, I quite liked the kissing.But I don’t believe it would be wise to do any more of it.It’s very distracting.”
“Just as you wish, of course,” Fitz replied courteously, and Caroline felt strangely deflated.Not that she wished for him to make a fuss and argue that they ought to embark on some passionate affair when it was clearly a terrible idea, but for him to agree so readily to never kissing her again…
Evidently noticing her frown, Fitz adopted a solicitous tone.“Fear not, Miss Quick.I believe I have a solution to our current difficulty.Leave it with me.”
He flashed that smile again, the one full of mischief and shared secrets and the kind of intimacy Caroline had never experienced in her many travels with her parents.
Caroline noted the racing of her heart and the prickle of awareness deep in her body, and she began to worry that there was no neat solution to the difficulty she currently faced.
ChapterFive
Fitz had a plan.
It was a very good plan, he thought, especially for someone who rarely bothered to make a plan of any type.Fitz tended more towards the leaf on the river philosophy of life, letting the currents and eddies swirl him to and fro without worrying overmuch about the ultimate destination.
He was inspired, however.By Miss Caroline Quick and her dedication to their scheme—knocking her own mother into the Serpentine!—as well as by the fact that it already appeared to be working upon his father.In the evening following their “chance” encounter with the Quick ladies at Hyde Park, Lord Alfred had been uncharacteristically subdued.Contemplative.Pining, perhaps?
How so ever one characterized it, Father had ignored Fitz over dinner instead of lecturing him on his deficiencies and the necessity of settling down—a marked improvement.
There was no doubt about it, Miss Quick’s scheme was a goer.
That was not Fitz’s only inspiration, however.If he were forced to be honest, he would have to confess it wasn’t even his primary concern.
Miss Caroline Quick and her delectable mouth.Her slim, supple limbs and bright, forthright manner.
Her easy dismissal of future intimacies between them.
Oh, Fitz had plans, all right.
“And you are certain Lady Quick and her daughter will form part of the party at Thornecliff?”
His father’s abrupt question from the other side of the carriage nearly started Fitz into an unwary grin.Schooling his features to bland unconcern, he affected as bored a tone as he could muster.“I’m told so.”
“Not her sort of crowd at all,” Father muttered, glaring out the window at the gently rolling hills of Buckinghamshire.“But I suppose she has been absent from England for a good many years.Doubtless she is unaware of our host’s…reputation.”
Being entirely aware of the Duke of Thornecliff’s reputation given that Fitz had taken enthusiastic part in most of the escapades that had resulted in his best friend being known as the worst libertine and rake in the whole of England, Scotland and Wales, Fitz cleared his throat.“Remember, Father, Thorne will not actually be present.His sister, Lady Rosalie Maitland, is throwing the house party in his absence.With her friend, the Countess of Winterbury.There will be several gentlemen from your club there.It will all be very respectable and sedate, I am sure.”
He wasn’t.In fact, he was counting on it.
Miss Caroline Quick thought his world boring, did she?Well, life in the beau monde wasn’t all ratafia and quadrilles.And once he got her away from the constrictions of Almack’s and amongst his friends, who knew how to have a good time, well.Fitz thought they might revisit the topic of kissing.And other things.
Not that he would go so far as to actually ruin the girl, he promised himself, cracking the window of the carriage for a bracing blast of fresh country air.Of course not.He was going to all this trouble toavoidbeing marched down the aisle; even Fitz wouldn’t be fool enough to let himself in for a forced wedding to a girl he’d compromised.So he wouldn’t compromise her.Easy.
But he would touch her again.
