Lyndsey smiled. Prissy’s lovely face was all aglow with excitement – and maybe a touch of perspiration on her forehead – and her blue eyes sparkled. It made Lyndsey’s heart swell with happiness to see her sister this way. Many times during last night’s party as Lyndsey had watched her sister, she’d wondered if Prissy wasn’t infatuated with the earl. Collin would be blind not to notice the way Prissy watched him and blushed whenever he talked to her. He’d also have to be blind not to notice that Lyndsey had never once blushed in his presence, nor had her eyes danced with the thrill of his attention.
During their ride to Hanover Hall, Priscilla sat in the coach across from Lyndsey, and nervously wrung her hands in her lap, almost to the point of digging them into her belly. It appeared that her sister had developed a nervous stomach. Her forehead had a slight sheen, and her cheeks were pinker than usual. Lyndsey had never known her sister to get worked up in this way, and she had to stop herself from laughing out loud.
“Lyn,” Prissy said, breaking the silence, “what do you think of Lord William?”
Lyndsey sucked in a quick breath. Had she read her sister’s actions the wrong way? Was she having these feelings for Adrian and not Collin? Or perhaps Priscilla had just noticed Lyndsey’s attitude whenever that scoundrel was around, and she’d wondered about it.
Lyndsey swallowed, trying not to show her sister exactly how she felt about him. Until she could come to terms with her own feelings, she wasn’t going to share them with anyone.
“What do I think?” Lyndsey laughed uncomfortably. “Pray, sister dear, am I supposed tothinkanything about him?”
Priscilla shrugged. “He is very handsome.”
Lyndsey’s heart sank a little, wondering if Prissy really did like Adrian more. “Yes, he is handsome, but he knows it. I don’t approve of men who think they can charm women just by smiling at them.” And yet, she still enjoyed the way her knees grew weak when he smiled at her.
Prissy’s eyes widened. “He’s already tried to charm you?”
Lyndsey silently groaned. She really needed to think about what she was going to saybeforesaying it, especially when it was about Adrian. “We had a short conversation last night.”
“Yes, I noticed.” Prissy grinned. “And from what I could see, the man is already taken with you.”
Heat slowly crawled up Lyndsey’s neck. She cursed her body’s weakness. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him? And especially, their kiss, and the way he’d held her so tenderly while on his horse? “The man is a professional flirt and hands out his compliments too easily. But I don’t believe a word that comes from his mouth.”
“Why?” Prissy narrowed her gaze. “I don’t understand how you are able to judge him so harshly when you’ve only just met him.”
She really should tell her sister exactly how well she knew Adrian, but that would lead to her sister asking questions. Lyndsey wasn’t prepared to answer.
Lyndsey shrugged. “I feel I’m a good judge of character, and I think he is entirely too conceited.”
Priscilla laughed. “Oh, Lyn, you are too harsh. Have you not forgotten how he raced off after you when your horse ran away? And when he brought you back, I noticed the way he held you and lifted you off his horse. You were probably too upset over what had happened to notice, but he had a different gleam in his eyes whenever he looked your way or spoke to you.”
Lyndsey’s thoughts stalled. Hadeveryonenoticed Adrian paying certain attention to her? Had Collin noticed, too? But then, she realized the tone of her sister’s voice seemed strained. When Lyndsey peered into Prissy’s eyes, they appeared glassy as though she was fighting back tears.
Oh, dear!Maybe her sister was infatuated with Adrian and not Collin.
Jealousy had never been something Lyndsey experienced before, especially when it came to her younger sisters, but strangely, at this moment, the emotion clutched her chest. What were the chances Priscilla had already set her sights on the younger brother?
Lyndsey gripped her hands tightly together on her lap, and stared out the window. The coach was slowing as they reached the front of the manor. Would she be able to remain composed in front of everyone if Prissy started flirting with Adrian?
She must. There was no other choice. Neither could she allow Adrian to think he’d been able to break her heart twice since meeting him.
