She’d read about kisses that were full of sparks or fire. This had…none of that. Daniel was cold. His lips were…wet. Slimy almost. It brought to mind kissing a fish. Louisa had never kissed anyone before, but surelythatwas not what it was supposed to be like.
When he pulled back again, he smiled at her. “There. Now we’ve accomplished that.”
She smiled back, but inside, she was struggling not to panic.
Chapter Eight
The Duchess of Buckingham was a consummate host, even though her husband was fairly useless. Fletcher had gone to Eton with Buckingham and found him entitled and arrogant, the sort of man who came from a long line of dukes who lived off their family’s fortune and good name without needing any particular skills or ambitions. But he had succeeded in marriage, because his wife was widely beloved by thetonand she threw a good party.
Fletcher circulated on the periphery of her garden, where several of his social peers partook of the fine spread of food placed on tables about the duchess’ garden or sat on strategically placed chairs and indulged in conversation.
Lord Harding’s daughter, whose name Fletcher could not remember, stood with a friend sipping lemonade toward the middle of the garden. Fletcher knew she was about twenty years old, pretty with dainty features, fond of the color pink, and also that she had a reputation for being interested in science and mathematics. Her father tinkered with telescopes, and Fletcher had heard she also knew quite a bit about astronomy, so he had a thought to engage her in conversation. Perhaps it would cover the scent of his desperation to get to Louisa.
But before he could make his way across the garden, Louisa paused before him, because of course she did.
“You look like a cat who has spotted a mouse,” Louisa said.
“I intended to go speak with Harding’s daughter.”
“Eliza?”
“Eliza!Yes, that is her name.”
“You wanted to go talk to a woman whose name you do not know?”
“I wanted to talk to a pretty lady whom I’ve heard has a few intellectual pursuits.”
Fletcher could sense that he was about to be mocked, and indeed, Louisa said, “Intellectual pursuits.”
Truth be told, Fletcher was not completely certain what he was doing. Did he intend to pursue Eliza Harding? No. Start a conversation? Yes. Marry? Definitely not. The way Louisa was staring at him now made him think he could possibly make Louisa jealous, though. Or test her a bit to see if she had feelings for him the way he had feelings for her.
So he said, “Hypothetically, if one were desirous of pursuing a courtship with an intellectual equal, she is a fine specimen, no? Pretty. Knows about stars and things.”
“Stars and things.”
“I’ve never studied astronomy, but I did read a book last year about constellations and Greek mythology. Fascinating stuff. So I had a thought to strike up a conversation with Lady Eliza.”
“Whose name you did not know until a few seconds ago.”
“I’m terrible with names and faces. You know that.” He smirked at her. “What’s it to you, anyway? Now that you are headed for wedded bliss, should I not pursue happiness for myself?”
“Of course you should, I suppose, I just…” She looked toward Eliza. “No, never mind.”
“Never mind?”
Louisa swatted a fly away from her face. “I just came over here to make small talk.”
“Is your fiancé here?”
“Yes, but I’ve lost him. He was speaking with Devonshire about the mechanics of erecting a hedge maze at his country estate, and there was a detailed explanation of the exact species of hedge or some such and I lost interest.”
“So in truth, he lost you, since you wandered off.”
She sighed. “I am not opposed to hedge mazes, but I do not care to know how they are made.”
“I’ve never given it a second’s thought.”
She smiled. “That is what I like about you, Fletcher. So few thoughts in your head.”
