Page 6 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)

Harrison turned away from her home and continued walking with no particular destination and at a loss with what to do with himself now.

He had an obsession and her name was Miss Perdita Valentine.

But why?

She was not at all like the usual women he preferred to spend his time with, yet her smile warmed him as did the happiness in her blue eyes.

Perhaps it was because he had never been in the presence of someone at complete peace and contentment.

It also did absolutely no good to become attached to her. Except, had they just not established that they were friends?

With that thought, he chuckled. He’d never been friends with a woman. Not a true friendship where they were companions and shared confidences as one did with a male friend. But, if he could not have a courtship, as it would be unwise, Harrison truly wanted that friendship.

With a sigh, Harrison paused at the intersection and looked about then frowned. He was on Piccadilly near St. James. How could have walked through half of Mayfair and not noticed anything else around him?

“Harrison?”

He turned to find his sister, Olivia, coming up from behind. Beside her was their sister-in-law, Elaina.

“When did you arrive in London?”

Olivia demanded.

Guilt rushed through him because he had not called on his family. Worse, he had assumed they were in Cornwall, but given it was the Season and Olivia was nine and ten and on the marriage mart, he should have realized they were in Town.

“A few days.”

He did not dare tell them that he’d been in London for a sennight or he would never hear the end of it.

“A few days!”

Olivia nearly screeched. “If I had not called out to you, would you have even bothered to call on us before you sailed again?”

she demanded.

“Yes. I would have.”

Once he remembered his family was in London.

“Please, come to dinner tonight,”

Elaina requested.

“Yes, of course.”

He really should spend time with this family.

“Good!”

Olivia reacted. “I expect you not to absent yourself from us because we do not see you nearly enough.”

“We will see you at seven,”

Elaina said. “Tristan will be happy you are back.”

She then pulled Olivia away to continue to their destination. Only Olivia looked back and waved a finger of warning at him that he had better not disappoint them.

Harrison had no intention of doing so.

“We are to attend a musical performance this evening,”

Rosalind announced as she descended the stairs.

“If you would like,”

Perdita forced a smile. She had not particularly enjoyed the two musical performances that she had attended thus far this Season.

“We cannot attend the musical,”

Felding said as he came from the library. “My ears could not withstand such torture a third time in one Season.”

Perdita covered her mouth to muffle her giggle.

“Besides, it is likely the only men who will be there are spouses of wives who dragged them there, or gentlemen already so infatuated with the misses that their ears are deaf to off-key and flat notes.”

“That is not true,”

Rosalind laughed.

“Ah, but it is and if it is your intention to seek a husband for Perdita, you will not find one there so we shall not attend.”

“Please cease trying to do so. Be satisfied that Bianca is settled and so too will be Isabella. Further, I am quite happy as I am.”

“Westbrook House is all well and good,”

Rosalind said as she linked an arm with Perdita and drew her into the front parlor then rang for tea. “But I would like to see you settled.”

“I do not need marriage for such.”

“She does seem happy,”

Felding offered and Perdita was grateful that he was on her side.

“Perdita has been happy nearly every day since birth,”

Isabella commented as she glided into the parlor. “Rarely cross and when she is, it does not last long.”

“I appreciate our good fortune,”

she answered.

“Yes, but I would like to see her happy and settled,”

Rosalind insisted.

“I do not believe she needs your assistance in that matter.”

Felding smiled.

“Thank you, Lord Felding.”

“Especially since a certain captain has developed an interest in her.”

She was afraid that her family would suddenly see Captain Trent as a potential husband, but she had not expected it to be Felding. “He is a friend. That is all.”

“It could develop into more. You have not known him for so long and friendship is an excellent way to start a future,”

Rosalind offered.

“He will be gone soon, remember. Let it be,”

she insisted and looked to Felding. “Where are your sisters? I have not seen Penelope or Patience recently. They do still live here, do they not?”

“They are making friends and avoiding courtships. No different than earlier Seasons,”

he grumbled.

Felding had three younger sisters, none of which were in any hurry to marry.

“I do not know who is more resistant to matchmaking, Felding’s sisters or my own.”

Rosalind glared.

“You have had greater success,”

Perdita reminded her cheerfully. “You have managed to rid yourself of two, while he still has all three. Be satisfied with that and let me be until he catches up,”

she suggested before taking a sip of tea. “Should not Uncle Osborn and Aunt Mary be arriving this afternoon? Therefore, you should not worry about me and concentrate on planning a wedding for our sister.”

With any luck, Rosalind would turn her mind to other matters and forget that Captain Trent existed.

“Not shouldn’t be, but we are here.”

Perdita nearly jumped from her seat at her aunt’s voice. After setting her teacup and saucer aside, she rushed to embrace them each. Oh, of all the people she loved, sometimes she was certain that she loved them most for they had saved her and her siblings and she would never be able to repay them.

“Now let’s finish planning a wedding,”

her aunt insisted. “Also, send for the groom so that we can meet him.”

“I will have a message delivered,”

Isabella said as she rose and walked to the desk.

“Two sisters wed, Perdita, is it not your turn to find someone?”

her aunt asked.