One of her dark eyebrows lifted, though she didn’t deny the first part of my question. “I like rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds. I like large estates, particularly ones with attentive, well-trained servants and well-tuned pianofortes. I like attending the opera or painting in watercolor. If I must be out of doors at this time of year, I prefer it to be with a bowl of pineapple and fresh sorbets.”
My laughter threatened to break loose again. “Pineapple?”
Miss Sharp maintained a smooth expression, which was quite impressive. “Yes. It is my favorite fruit.”
I had seen her lodgings on Milsom street and it was enough to know that her family was not wealthy enough to enjoy the rare delicacy of pineapple—or any of the other things she had mentioned for that matter. I gave her a skeptical look. “Where, may I ask, have you tasted pineapple?”
“On many occasions.”
“In your dreams or in reality?” I asked. I had only heard of a select few people who had ever even been in the same room as a pineapple for how expensive and rare they were.
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“Of lying? Yes.”
Her lips twisted into a smirk. “You asked me what I like besides money, and I have told you.”
“I now understand why you are seeking a fortune so earnestly,” I said. “You desire to fund all of your expensive interests.”
“I would not call my interests expensive. I would call them refined.”
“I see. Well, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. If I may be of any assistance in granting you a fortune, please let me know.” I put a slight edge of flirtation in my voice, then waited, hoping Miss Sharp had noticed.
Her gaze shot up to my face, and she stopped walking. Her aunt and Frederick hadn’t noticed our abrupt pause, turning the corner up ahead. Miss Sharp planted one hand on her hip, the other still carefully balancing her parasol over her shoulder as she turned to face me. “Would you care to explain to me what you are playing at?”
“What on earth do you mean?” I raised my eyebrows.
Her voice lowered. “I know you are not actually trying to court me.”
“Are you accusing me of something?”
“Yes.”
I tipped my head down an inch. “Of what, exactly?”
“Lying.”
I laughed, but her scowl didn’t waver. “What you must understand, Miss Sharp, is that I don’t court women unless I have developed a deep interest in them. You have intrigued me. Nothing more. At least not yet.” I scoured her face with my signature flirtatious smile, admiring each lovely feature.
She blinked up at me, a hint of redness flushing the centers of her cheeks. Had I rendered her speechless? I would have never thought that possible. She released a huffed breath, striding ahead several paces without me. “I don’t believe you.”
I caught up to her just as she rounded the corner toward a small pond. Several ducks bobbed on the surface. “I asked you to dance at the assembly yesterday,” I said. “I arrived at your door with flowers this morning. What about my actions have caused you such disbelief?” When I offered my arm again, she snatched it grudgingly.
We walked in silence for several seconds before she said in a calm voice, “I shall only believe your intentions are genuine if you manage to obtain a pineapple for me.”
I laughed in the back of my throat. “You cannot be serious.”
She cast me an innocent look. “With your resources, it shouldn’t be so very difficult.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m nearly certain that even the Prince Regent struggles to obtain pineapples from time to time.”
“Are you claiming that you don’t actually have money?”
“I do.” My voice was too defensive. “Loads of it.”
She raised an eyebrow. “In your dreams or in reality?”
I groaned, but a laugh mingled with the sound. Little did she know that I did not, in fact, have a great deal of money.
