When Collin reached them, she stopped and curtsied. “My lord, I must say that you are very talented on the pianoforte.”
“I thank you, Miss Hartwell.” Collin smiled widely. “I see my brother has been keeping you company this evening.”
“Yes, he has.” She glanced at Adrian. “I have been trying to convince your brother that I am not talented like my younger sister, but he doesn’t believe me.”
Collin folded his arms and cocked his head. “Now you have me interested as well.”
“Well, I’ll let you know now that I do not perform in public.”
An idea popped into Adrian’s head, and he grinned. “Then perhaps tomorrow, when you and your sister come over, you shall prove to us what talents you don’t possess.”
Collin’s eyes widened. “You and Miss Priscilla are coming tomorrow?”
“Yes, dear brother. I have invited the two Hartwell sisters for a tour around our estate, and while they are here, we shall have a luncheon prepared.”
“That does sound like a very entertaining afternoon.” Collin’s eyes gleamed. “I now find myself wishing this evening was over, only so tomorrow could get here quicker.”
Satisfied with his plans, Adrian rocked back on his heels, grinning. For once, he and his brother shared the same enthusiasm. If only there was a way for Adrian to get Bridget alone tomorrow. All he needed was a few moments, and then his day would be complete.
Little by little, he was wearing down her resistance. At least she didn’t appear to loathe him anymore, and because he could make her laugh, the future appeared more promising.
One way or another, he needed to show her what a good man he was. Strangely enough, the more he was with Bridget, the more he wanted to become the man she deserved.
*
Bridget couldn’t understandthe anticipation filling her as she hurried through her chores the next morning. In the back of her mind, she tried to think which day dress she should wear, since she only had a few that were nice enough to wear in front of titled lords. She was half tempted to borrow one of her younger sister’s dresses, but then the garment would fit very snugly over the bosom. Perhaps if she could still breathe, it wouldn’t matter how tightly the gown stretched across her chest.
Once she realized where her thoughts were heading, she scowled and pushed them out of her head. Why was she feeling so anxious about today’s visit with the earl and Adrian, especially when she’d never gotten this excited about seeing them before?
It disturbed her greatly that her heart fluttered every time she thought of Adrian’s handsome face. And that her body tingled every time he touched her. Last night was a prime example of how weak she was in his presence. But since that afternoon when he and Collin had taken her and Priscilla riding, she had seen an entirely different man.
She stared sightlessly out across the yard, while her mind filled with wonderful images. Whether she wanted to believe it or not, he had intrigued her by asking her for help in finding clues to what had been happening to him and Collin.
The question was… did Bridget really want to help them solve the mystery, or was she attending their luncheon just to see Adrian’s twinkling hazel eyes that stared at her with so much emotion? Was her sole reason for going because she knew he would do all he could to stand by her, or touch her arm? She was sure he could tell his nearness made her weak in the worst way. Then again, that was probably why he continued to do that to her. He must enjoy affecting innocent women.
When Bridget made it back to the house to wash up, Priscilla was already getting ready and chattering nonstop. She didn’t stop talking about the previous night and how much she had enjoyed playing the pianoforte and visiting with the earl and his aunt.
Bridget smiled. Her sister’s lovely face was aglow with excitement—and maybe a touch of perspiration on her forehead—as her blue eyes sparkled. It made Bridget’s heart swell with happiness to see her sister this way. Many times, during last night’s party, she’d wondered if Priscilla 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 would also have to be blind not to notice that Bridget never once blushed in his presence, nor had her eyes danced with the thrill of his attention. Not like Priscilla’s.
During their ride to Hanover Hall, Priscilla sat in the coach across from Bridget and nervously wrung her hands in her lap, almost to the point of digging them into her belly. It appeared that the poor girl had developed a nervous stomach. Her forehead had a slight sheen, and her cheeks were pinker than usual. Bridget had never known her sister to get worked up in this way, and she had to stop herself from laughing out loud.
“Bridget,” Priscilla said, breaking the silence. “What do you think of Lord William?”
Bridget sucked in a breath. Had she read her sister’s actions the wrong way? Was Prissy having these feelings for Adrian and not Collin? Or perhaps Priscilla had just noticed Bridget’s attitude whenever that scoundrel was around, and she wondered about it.
Bridget 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?” Bridget laughed uncomfortably. “Pray, sister dear, am I supposed tothinkanything about him?”
Priscilla shrugged. “He is very handsome.”
Bridget’s heart sank a little, and she wondered 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.” Yet she still enjoyed the way her knees grew weak when he smiled at her.
Priscilla’s eyes widened. “He has already tried to charm you?”
Bridget 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.” Priscilla grinned. “And from what I could see, the man is already taken with you.”
