Not an auspicious conversation for Interaction Number Two. Fortunately, he was able to wish her brother a happy day. Since the man was no fool, Lord Chambers correctly guessed Liam’s interest was in Lady Clara. Discreet inquiries into Liam’s character followed within the week. Indeed, if the man had stayed in London, Liam might very well have resolved the matter immediately. Unfortunately, Lord Chambers left for his father’s sickbed too soon for a meeting of suitor to older brother.
Interaction Number Three had him dancing attendance on her at a ball. Except she never arrived. Same with attempted interactions four, five, and six. But by this time, his tracking skills adapted to the urban environment. Certainly, he did not follow her footprints in the dirt, but he was able to learn of her movements from any one of several dismissed servants. Thus he located her at a meeting of the Astronomical Society and again at an Alchemical Investigation lecture.
He charmed her to the best of his ability, but he was sadly uninformed when it came to the composition of comets or the formulae of various compounds. It was unpleasant to be viewed as an idiot. Worse still to be called a Scottish one, as if that made him even more stupid. And though the lady cried foul at such disparagement, she nevertheless lost interest in him when distracted by scientific discussion.
But far from losing faith in his charm, Liam switched to a different plan: cocky declaration.
Rather than bribe another of her ever-changing servants, he waited at her door until she chose to come out. He didn’t ring the bell, but sat upon her front stoop reading the morning paper. If she had better servants, he would be shooed away within a quarter hour. She did not. It wasn’t until nearly noon that she stepped out and discovered him there with a gasp of surprise.
“Lord Loughton?” she cried. “Whatever are you doing here?”
He looked up at her with a smile, taking his time to fold up the newspaper. “I’ve come to tell you that we’re to be married.”
“What!” she cried.
“We are. Your family approves.” He winked boldly at her. “Shall we rush to the bedding or get to know one another first?”
She gaped at him. Indeed, it was perhaps the first time he had seen her rendered speechless.
He straightened up to his full height. Given that he was on a lower step than she was, they ended up nose to nose. He fully intended to take advantage of this position. More than being nose to nose, they were nearly mouth to mouth, and he planned to give her a full kiss. No woman had ever resisted that, and since this was their fifth actual encounter, it was well past time for her to tumble into his arms.
She did, but not in the way he expected. She was leaning close to him, no doubt to complete the kiss, when her heel caught. Her foot twisted, her knee buckled, and she tumbled straight into his arms. She landed with a heavyumph. The lady was not as light as she appeared. But he was strong enough to twist her in his arms such that her headfirst tumble ended up as a backwards collapse against his chest. Then he completed the move by settling her more firmly in his arms such that he could kiss her as passionately as he wanted.
Perfect.
But when he leaned down to claim her lips as his reward, she batted at his face.
“No,” she said. “No, no, no!”
He pulled back. It was that or get a broken nose.
“Och, girl. What’s the matter?” She appeared genuinely alarmed, and all he was doing was cradling her as gently as a babe in arms.
“Stop it!”
Stop what? Stop keeping her from bashing her head on the stone walk?
“Rest easy, lass. I promise you’ll never forget your first Scottish kiss—” He might have said more, but she planted the palm of her hand over his mouth. If he hadn’t flinched at the last moment, he would have lost an eye.
“Let me up,” she grumbled, but he was hardly in a position to help. She’d fallen down the stairs and her feet were well above her head. Besides, he was still trying to get her accustomed to him.
“Calm yourself, lass,” he muttered, because her palm was still over his mouth. Then to tease her, he stroked his tongue across her skin.
“Ugh!” She pulled it back with a grimace.
Damn it, the woman had no ability to flirt whatsoever. Bowing to the inevitable, he helped her adjust her feet. Soon, he set her down on the steps right where he’d been waiting for her. Then he rocked back on his heels as he pondered her indifference to him.
“Is it because I’m Scottish?” Damnation, she’d seemed so open-minded about everything, not at all like the prissy English girls of equal fortune. She discussed castle plumbing in Hyde Park. She attended lectures on chemistry. She was a woman of logic and yet she appeared shocked by the idea that he’d intended to kiss her.
“Yes, of course, it’s because you’re Scottish,” she drawled, the sarcasm thick. “That would be the only reason I would catch my heel and fall.”
“You know what I mean. I’ve had the devil of a time getting your attention. I’m not ugly, and your family approves of me.” That was a stretch. Her brother had not waved him off.
Lady Clara’s eyes widened, and her jaw hardened. “My family approves?” she said, her voice slow.
“Yes, of course they do.” What else was he to say? At least they didn’t disapprove, as far as he was aware.
She straightened her spine so hard he was surprised her spine didn’t crack. “That’s it. That’s why.” Again, her tone implied sarcasm, but he wasn’t completely sure. The woman never acted as he expected.
