Page 105 of The Secret of Flirting
When they were done, Clarissa sighed and glanced around at her friends. “Well, ladies, now that Lord Fulkham gained himself a wife all on his own, we need a new bachelor to help.”
Hart had the misfortune to walk up just in time to overhear his cousin’s remark. When all the ladies turned their gazes on him, he held up his hands. “No. No, no,no. Not me. Set your sights elsewhere, ladies.”
Gregory laughed. “You’d better run, then, Hart. Otherwise...”
That was all the warning Hart needed to make a quick about-face and head in the opposite direction. The gentlemen laughed.
“With these ladies nipping at his heels, he’s as good as married already,” Jeremy said.
“His goose is cooked,” Niall said in agreement.
“Might as well put the shackles on his legs himself,” Warren said.
His wife eyed him askance. “You don’t consideryourselfshackled, do you?”
Warren blinked. “No, not me. Certainly not.” He glanced toward the orchestra in a panic. “They’re starting up a waltz. Shall we, my dear?”
That seemed to mollify Delia, for she let him lead her away. The others drifted off, too, obviously drawn by the chance to dance entirely alone with their spouses instead of in the usual country dances.
Only Gregory and Monique remained. She leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I like your friends.”
Friends. He actually had real friends, who came around not because they needed his help in some scheme, but because they liked him. How gratifying.
He finished his punch and set the glass on a nearby tray. “I think they’re all quite mad.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “But a little madness never hurt anyone.” Then she sobered, and her gaze went to where her grandmother was now dancing with the count.
Gregory took her hand. “Your grandmother seems to be settling in here very well. My mother is growing quite fond of her.”
A frown crossed Monique’s brow. “I still wonder sometimes if she would be happier in Chanay.”
“Without you there? I doubt it.” He squeezed her hand. “But if you wish, we could take her there. Now that Danworth’s trial is over and he’s been sentenced to hang for conspiracy to commit murder, I daresay I could get away for a few weeks. And I’m sure Princess Aurore and Lady Ursula would be delighted to have you for a visit.”
“I would love to see them, too.” She gazed up at him. “You wouldn’t mind going? To be honest, I don’t know how much longer Grand-maman has. Lately she’s been talking about Grandpapa as if he is right there with her.”
A lump stuck in his throat. “Perhaps he is. When you love someone, being apart is the worst punishment of all. I know that if I were here and you had gone on to the great beyond, I would pray to see your ghost every day, even if it meant I was insane.”
Her eyes filled with a love that swelled his own heart. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Then she broke into a teasing smile. “Although this talk of ghosts makes me wonder if you haven’t been reading a bit too much ofHamletlately.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You do realize it’s the greatest play ever written by Shakespeare.”
She laughed. “Forgive me, sir, but the greatest play ever written by Shakespeare isMuch Ado about Nothing. And to quote his finest male character, Benedick, who can be almost as somber a fellow as you at times, ‘Come, come, we are friends: Let’s have a dance now we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives’ heels.’ ”
“Wait a minute, I thought the line was, ‘Let’s have a danceerewe are married.’ ”
Striking her bosom in mock surprise, she said, “Why, Lord Fulkham, youhaveread a comedy or two.”
He smirked at her as he quoted, “ ‘Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no fibs.’ ”
It was rather satisfying to watch her jaw drop. “You said you’d never seen or readShe Stoops to Conquer!”
“Three years ago, no. But after a certain female handed me my pride on a platter, I thought it might be prudent to give it a go.” He bent to whisper, “Just in case I ever happened to see her again.”
“And you waited until now to tell me this astonishing tidbit?” she cried.
“The secret of flirting, my dear, is never to let on how much you like someone until you’ve secured them. Everyone knows that.”
Then, while she was laughing, he led her to the floor.