Page 20 of The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere
“What are you doing here, my lord?” The duchess had promised he was safely tucked away at his country estate in Surrey, and would remain there for the season. Why, then, was he hiding in the shadows, leaping out at innocent passersby and smashing their precious preserves to bits?
“Perhaps I came here to see you.” He slouched against the wrought iron railing that led to the front door, one arm draped carelessly over the top of it. “Perhaps I missed you, and longed to see your face again—”
Georgiana held up her hand to silence him. “Somehow,I doubt that.”
“Why should you doubt it?” He pressed a hand to his chest. “You wound me, Miss Harley.”
No, but I’d like to.
Georgiana knew she didn’t have the sort of face that inspired surprise visits from handsome earls, and she had no desire to listen to Lord Haslemere’s flirtatious nonsense. “It’s not my face that’s brought you all the way from Surrey.”
His dark eyes flicked over her, a frown marring his handsome features. “Your face quite haunts me, I assure you. I even dream of it, on occasion. Fierce brown eyes, pert nose,scolding lips.”
Georgiana snorted. He was mocking her, of course. If he was as enamored of her face as he claimed, he’d know her eyes weren’tbrown. “Well, you’ve seen it now, so do feel free to leave again.”
Nothing could possibly interest her less than Lord Haslemere’s scandalous comings and goings, of course. She was only surprised she hadn’t heard he’d returned to London. The man couldn’t stir a step without half of England knowing of it. Thetonawaited his every move with such breathless anticipation, evenshecouldn’t avoid hearing about him.
A slow smile curved his lips. “Oh, I’m not leavingyet, princess.”
Princess?Georgiana gave him an incredulous look. “Did you just call meprincess?”
He paused, as if deciding whether or not the words had come from his lips, then shrugged. “I believe I did, yes.”
“Why?” It wasn’t what she meant to say, or notallshe meant to say, but for the first time in as long as Georgiana could remember, her sharp tongue failed her.
He let out an impatient sigh. “I haven’t the faintest idea, unless it’s that you have an untouchable air about you. What does it matter? The point, Miss Harley, is I have some delicate busines that will keep me in Londonfor some time.”
Georgiana crossed her arms over her chest. “Delicate business, my lord? Is there a wager that needs laying, or a mistress who requires jewels? The mind boggles at thepossibilities.”
“Ah, there’s that sharp tongue.” He straightened from the railing and sauntered closer. “Now I hear it again, I do believe I’ve missed it even more than I missed your face. I do like a lady who knows how to wield her tongue.”
If she didn’t know it to be impossible, Georgiana would have sworn he was staring at her mouth. Except, of course, itwasimpossible. “That surprises me, Lord Haslemere. From what I’ve heard, you’ve tamed half the tongues in London.”
His eyebrows shot up, then he threw his head back in a hearty laugh. “Have you been listening to the gossip about me? Shame on you, Miss Harley. I thought you were above all that.”
Georgiana scowled at him. She didn’t know why he was wasting his charm on her, but his teasing wouldn’t get him anywhere. “One can’t avoid hearing the gossip about you, my lord. There’s simply too much of it. Now, if you’d be so good as to be on your way—”
“No, I’m afraid I can’t leave quite yet.” He stepped in front of her when she moved to brush past him. “You see, Miss Harley, I’m curious about something, and I’m hoping you canenlighten me.”
“Me?” Ah, now it was starting to make sense. He was flirting with her because he wanted something. She didn’t bother to ask what it was. It didn’t matter, because she wouldn’t give it to him. “Nothing would please me more than to help you, Lord Haslemere, but as enlightenment requires humility, I’m afraidit’s hopeless.”
She made to sweep past him again, her nose as high in the air as a lady with quince preserves splattered on her hems could manage, but he caught her arm and turned her to face him before she could escape. “Oh, but I have unerring faith in you, Miss Harley. If anyone can commandme, it’syou.”
Command him?Georgiana never permitted herself to blush, but to her horror, she felt her cheeks heating. “Very well, my lord, since you insist on it. I command you to leavehere at once.”
“Not just yet. Not until you answer my questions,Miss Harley.”
He stepped closer, close enough that it was impossible to avoid his eyes. Georgiana had been doing her best to keep from looking at him, because looking at Lord Haslemere was rather like looking at the sun. He burned one’s retinas long after they’d averted their gaze.
But when she did risk another glance at him, she noticed something she’d overlooked before.
Lord Haslemere affected a certain casualness in dress, a Bohemian flair that was much imitated among the fashionable gentlemen of theton. He even had a cravat knot named after him—theHaslemere—which was, as far as Georgiana could tell, a clumsily tied cascade knot, with the falloff-centered.
Not that she cared one whit about Lord Haslemere’s fashion choices. Not at all. She’d simply…stumbled across the information somewhere.
Tonight, however, he was in evening dress. Every thick, silky lock of his auburn hair was in place, every fold of his cravat terrifyingly symmetrical, his coat and waistcoat impeccably tailored, his glovesspotless, and…
Her eyes widened. A black masque was dangling from his fingertips.
