If he’d succeeded once, perhaps he might do so again.
He moved closer, the spreading branches of the elm trees above them whispering in the breeze. “That, Miss Templeton, is not an answer. It’s another question.”
“Indeed. Any other gentleman might take it as a disinclination on a lady’s part to pursue the conversation.”
“Nowthatwas certainly a scold. That’s twice now.” It should have irritated him, but instead, an inexplicable urge to laugh swelled in his chest. It was damned odd, given he’d never much enjoyed being scolded before.
“If I did intend it as a scold, Lord Fairmont, I daresay you wouldn’t recognize it as one, being the sort of gentleman who is, I can only assume, unused to being scolded.”
“Even more reason Iwouldrecognize it, I’d say.”
Her lips twitched. “If you do feel scolded, my lord, perhaps it’s less to do with me than with a consciousness on your part of not having behaved precisely as a gentleman ought to have done toward Lord Gilbert.”
“Another set down, and so neatly done, Miss Templeton! I begin to quite admire you. That’s three times now, and all in less than half an hour. I don’t recall ever having been scolded so heartily in my life.”
“Yes, well, be that as it may, it’s not my place to scold you about anything, is it? I beg your pardon for losing my temper with you, my lord.”
“No, don’t take it backnow, Miss Templeton. You were doing so well. I was right on the verge of being properly chastised, I promise you.”
“Forgive me, Lord Fairmont, but I don’t find this as amusing as you do.”
She unwound her arms from around her knees and shifted as if to rise, but he reached out and caught her wrist. “Wait. Please.”
She glanced down at his hand, a faint frown line appearing between her brows. “I’m sure Lady Fosberry must be wondering where I am.”
“It’s alright, Miss Templeton. She sent me to fetch you.” He should have released her at once— it’s what a gentleman would have done —but instead, he kept ahold of her wrist, the throb of her pulse under the pad of his thumb palpable even through his gloves, and seated himself on the ground beside her. “What, precisely, is your complaint about my treatment of Lord Gilbert? I was perfectly civil to him.”
“Civil, yes, but not friendly, my lord.”
Ithadbeen petty of him to leave Gilbert out of the game instead of attempting to rearrange the pairings, but it was as plain as day that Gilbert was developing atendrefor Harriett, and he didn’t want to encourage it.
Not because of Gilbert’s awkward manners, or his questionable taste in clothing, but because he was nearly as naïve and inexperienced as Harriett was. Between the two of them, they were hardly able to tell up from down.
No, a courtship between them was out of the question. When one looked at it rationally, he was doing them a kindness, nipping their infatuation in the bud.
Except it didn’t feel like a kindness. It felt like a slight— an undeserved one —and he didn’t care for the reflection of himself he saw in Euphemia Templeton’s eyes.
“Lord Gilbert is a dear friend of your sister’s, my lord. I thought, under the circumstances, that you might exert yourself, but I may be mistaken.”
“I wouldn’t say that I?—”
“Perhaps all that is required of a gentleman these days is cold civility.”
“I… that’s… I didn’t...” But it was no use. Guilty heat was already creeping up the back of his neck.
She was right, damn it. He’d behaved like an arse.
He dragged a hand through his hair, wincing. He didn’t care for admitting he was wrong, and he especially didn’t care for admitting it toher, but he was a gentleman, by God, and a gentleman acknowledged it when he’d made a mistake.
No matter how badly it stung.
“Very well, Miss Templeton. You’re right. I admit I might have been a bit more welcoming. I should have been more gracious to Lord Gilbert.”
“I’mright? You mean to say you’re agreeing with me?”
Well, there was no mistaking her expressionnow. Her jaw hung open, and her eyes had gone as wide as saucers.
He huffed out a breath. “For God’s sake, Miss Templeton, you needn’t look so astonished. Despite what you may think of me, I am capable of admitting it when I’m wrong.”
