Page 38 of The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2)

“That is a good point,” she said. “Mostly we are glum and mope around for what might have been.”

“Somewhere along the way, we lost the joy, the fun, that we used to have when we were together.” The thought saddened him. There was a time when being with Naila was exhilarating beyond anything he’d ever experienced.

“But we are just friends now,” she pointed out.

“Shouldn’t friends also know fun and joy when they meet?”

She considered that, her face pensive, a little wrinkling of her forehead. He sighed internally. Would he ever not find her completely adorable? “I suppose you are right,” she acknowledged. “We used to laugh a lot.”

He nodded. “We did.”

“So?” she asked abruptly. “Are you courting Miss Turner?”

He blinked, once again taken aback by the question. “I am getting to know her.”

“I understand you went rowing together.”

Was Naila checking up on him? “We did.” His day was improving by the minute. “She is an experienced rower. Her technique is excellent.”

“Good for her,” she responded. “You are aware that she is very wealthy?”

“Surely you know that I’m not interested in Catherine Anne’s money.”

“Catherine Anne?” Her brows went up. “You are on a first-name basis.”

“Why this interest in who I am courting?” Although he was beginning to have a pretty good understanding of what was going on here. Naila was jealous and barely going to the trouble to conceal her true feelings.

A thrill shot through Hawk. Naila still cared for him.

Even after all these years. Despite the prolonged lack of contact and ocean-wide distance they’d put between them.

Realizing that Naila still had feelings for him galvanized Hawk.

Did that mean it wasn’t too late for them?

Trying to forget Naila certainly hadn’t worked.

Maybe it was time for Hawk to be honest with himself.

To admit that his feelings for Naila were not the boyish yearnings he’d once pretended they were.

The reality was that Naila still appealed to the man Hawk had become.

He released a long breath. What a relief it was to finally acknowledge his true feelings. The question now was whether he was capable of letting the past go. Could he allow himself to be happy at last?

“So you are courting her,” Naila pressed.

“I didn’t say that. But Catherine Anne, Miss Turner, is a pleasant companion.” He delighted in watching irritation ripple across Naila’s lovely face. “She is smart, enterprising, engaging,” he added.

“My purpose in inviting her to attend my salons was not to match her with a wealthy lord,” she informed him in an agitated tone. “I want her to wed an impoverished lord with a home of historical significance that needs saving. That is the entire point of this endeavor.”

He suppressed an urge to grin. “Maybe Miss Turner has other plans for her future.”

“And maybe you do as well.”

He shrugged. “Time will tell.”

“It certainly will,” she shot back.

“What will time tell?” Catherine Anne asked as she approached the food table.

Hawk greeted her with a genuine smile. “Time will tell how many successful matches Miss Darwish’s salons will produce.” He bowed to both ladies. “If you will excuse me, I must see to my other guests.”

Catherine Anne watched Hawk cross over to join a group that included Raya and the duke. “Did he say anything about me?” she asked.

“What?” Naila was busy mulling over the conversation she’d just had with Hawk. The exchange was reminiscent of their interactions in Philadelphia. Clever banter tinged with humor. They used to have so much fun together. She’d missed that part of their relationship a great deal.

“I asked if the earl said anything about me.” Catherine Anne regarded her expectantly. “I noticed you chatted with his lordship for quite a while.”

“Oh, ah, yes,” Naila responded even as acid burned in her chest. “I asked him how your rowing outing went and he said you are an excellent rower.”

She beamed. “He did appear impressed by my endurance. We rowed for almost two hours.”

“Really?” Naila understood that rowing was hard work because it required the use of every muscle in the body. She herself probably wouldn’t last thirty minutes, much less two hours.

“I wonder if I am his type of woman.” Catherine Anne kept her eye on Hawk as he circulated among his regatta guests. “Papa says men have types. Do you happen to know of any other young lady he has shown an interest in? Did she look like me?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say.”

Did men have a type? Maybe Hawk preferred strong, athletic women over someone soft and curvy like her. There were certainly other heiresses at her salons with fuller figures, yet lithe Catherine Anne was the one who’d caught Hawk’s attention.

Naila sighed. She shouldn’t care but she did. A great deal. Far too much for her own good. After Catherine Anne returned to her table, Guy Vaughan came over. “I hear you can take credit for two more successful matches.”

Guy was referring to the recent news that Chicago oil heiress Ellen Goelet had just become engaged to a baron whose Tudor home was in dire need of repair. The two had met because of Naila’s pamphlet.

And it was rumored that the father of Boston department store heiress Alberta Work was drawing up a marriage agreement with the Earl of Heresford, whose limited financial resources meant he struggled to upkeep the baroque-style family castle in Hampshire.

Naila had introduced Heresford and Miss Work at the very first salon she had hosted in London.

Getting Heresford married had remained a top priority for her.

“It is exciting,” Naila acknowledged, happy to be talking about something other than Hawk’s interest in Catherine Anne. “I am thrilled more structures will be saved.”

“It will be interesting to see if Heresford makes it to the altar,” Guy remarked.

“Why?” Naila asked. “Is he known to be marriage shy?”

“Heresford is an impulsive sort.” Guy sipped his drink. “Scandal often follows the man.”

“I certainly hope he won’t do anything to jeopardize his future,” she said. “Surely he realizes he needs to make a financially advantageous marriage to be able to save his home.”

Guy chuckled as he wandered over to get some food. “I see you are all business, Miss Darwish, not unlike your sister, the duchess.”

Naila did not see herself that way. But she was grateful she had the pamphlet and her restoration project to keep her busy. She needed the distraction. With each passing day, it became harder to push thoughts of Hawk from her mind.