She gasped as guilt seeped through her. Had he figured her out already? Was that why he had such a disdain-laced attitude? “Oh, please tell me you are jesting.”
“On the contrary.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the earl. “We all know the Earl of Hanover will be searching for a wife soon.” His attention returned to her. “It’s up to me, as his penniless cousin, to make certain the woman he chooses loves the earl for himself, not his title and lands.”
Penniless cousin?It was difficult for Bridget to believe him when he acted as though he was the King of England, or at the very least, a prince. “Indeed? Is that the type of woman he really wants? One he can love?”
The cousin remained silent as he studied her face. Within seconds, his grin widened. It surprised her how just a genuine smile could change his whole expression. Dare she admit he was more handsome now? No, his holier-than-thou personality still made him ugly. She must remember that from here on out.
“Is that not what women like yourself want in a marriage?” he asked.
She arched an eyebrow. “Finding a man to love is certainly what I would search for. However, you must be aware how uncommon that is in most wealthy families.”
“Yes, it’s most uncommon, but not unheard of.”
He folded his arms across his chest and rocked back and forth on his heels as his gaze moved around the room. Silence stretched between them, making Bridget very uncomfortable, only because she didn’t want to say anything to bring back the conceited man. She rather liked the one with the sweet smile who didn’t have rudeness spilling out of his mouth.
During the quiet minutes, she studied his handsome profile. A lock of his wavy, light brown hair had fallen across his forehead, but it was his startling hazel eyes that captured her attention. When he smiled, his eyes seemed to melt away her resistance to liking him. But she would not allow his smile or eyes to weaken her in any way.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed her father motioning with his hands toward the earl again. Inwardly, she groaned. It wasn’t wise to forget about her true purpose here tonight. Getting closer to her target was important. As it was, too many people stood between her and the earl at this moment.
“Forgive me,” she said as she turned away from her father, “but I just realized that you have yet to tell me your name.”
When the earl’s cousin’s gaze met hers again, his eyes sparkled with mirth. “I cannot believe we have gone this long without proper introductions. I’m Adrian Collings, the country-bumpkin cousin that visits the earl from time to time.”
Confusion filled her. Why did he make it a point to bring up hisimpoverishedstate, yet his actions were so very incongruous? Was he lying to her? Or was the strange man merely trying to play with her emotions? He must suspect she was only at this party to snag herself a titled, wealthy husband. If that were the case, she would have to thwart his mistrust quickly.
“Do you have a title I should address you by?” She turned slightly and slowly made her way toward the earl, trying not to look too suspicious.
He shook his head and walked with her. “I’m just a commoner.”
“Oh, Mr. Worthington, although I’ve only just met you, I can see that you’re far from beingcommon.”
“Indeed?” He cocked his head, watching her. “Pray tell, what is it about me that makes me stand out?”
“Well, earlier it was your dirt-smudged face.” She chuckled.
His body shook with a silent laugh. “I must apologize for looking so sullied. If I had known there were three lovely visitors on our land—”
“But you didn’t know,” she quickly added. “And we weren’t exactly visitors, since we were trespassing.”
“So, what about now?” He arched an eyebrow. “What makes you think I’m far from common tonight?”
She took a quick peek at the earl. Although he was standing in line with Lady Margaret dancing the reel, his attention was diverted toward Bridget. Her heartbeat quickened. Why was the lord watching her and not his dance partner? Though with his narrowed eyes, he looked more mistrustful than dazzled by infatuation.
“Well, you see,” she said, returning her focus to Adrian, “it is because you went out of your way to visit with me this evening.” Knowing she was in the earl’s direct line of sight, she stopped. Her father couldn’t scold her for not having the earl’s attention now. “After all,” she continued, grinning at Mr. Worthington, “you have your pick of more than enough elegant ladies at tonight’s ball, yet I’m the one you have chosen. And because of that, I’m wondering if you believemeto be one of these farthing-filching women you mentioned earlier, and you are trying to stop me from sinking my greedy claws into your cousin.”
A sudden cough sprang from his throat, and his face reddened. Bridget grinned, knowing she had caught him off guard. But maybe that was the only way to keep him off her husband-hunting trail. She couldn’t have him stopping her—or the earl—from wanting to get to know each otherifthey ever reached that point in the evening.
Once Adrian’s coughing subsided, an all-knowing expression crossed his handsome face, making his eyes twinkle again. He linked his hands behind him, which made his chest appear wider than she first thought. Indeed, he was one fine man—country bumpkin or not. Yet if he really wasn’t the penniless cousin, as she suspected, who was he?
“I must say, Miss Hartwell, that you’re quite outspoken, and that not only surprises me, but it pleases me.”
“Pray, did I say something out of turn, Mr. Worthington? I was merely pointing out the obvious.”
“Obvious?”
She nodded. “Do you, or do you not, think I’m one of those deceitful women? Can you honestly say that you think I would lie to someone to mask my true purpose?”
Chapter Three
