Madcap Miss

Felicia felt her cheeks burn and wished for a moment that Becky had returned to Waverly with her instead of allowing Scott to escort her to her father’s home. Now, here she was all alone with the duke, which is just what she wanted, and yet … she felt absurdly and suddenly shy.

To compensate she began chattering about nonsense, about her youth, about absurdities, and all at once he said, “Guardian be damned!”

The next thing she knew she was in his arms.

She responded by putting her hands to his shoulders to receive his kiss. It was tender, it was ferocious, it was erotic, and it completely swept her into a wave of emotion.

“Glen!” Daffy said boldly, and the two broke guiltily apart. She eyed them. “I won’t ask the ridiculous. I won’t censure. I am not a fool. However, you will not do this in my home, under my eye.” She nodded to Felicia, who saw a sure twinkle in her ladyship’s eyes as she told her, “Time for er … bed.” She turned to her brother. “I should like a word with you, Glen.”

Felicia lowered her head and then raised it again as she stepped up to Daffy and whispered, “Did you never kiss Freddy like that before you were … committed?”

“Of course I did—what is that to say to anything?” Daffy answered, her lips twitching.

“Everything,” Felicia twinkled, not at all remorseful or ashamed. She looked back at the duke and added, “And, yes, guardian be damned!”

He burst out laughing, and she heard him say, “Daffy … there is nothing for it, you know but to admit that, yes, I am taken with my ward.”

She hesitated just outside the door, out of sight to hear, “Well, that may be, but now we must end your guardianship officially and make sure no scandal is instigated that would hurt Felicia. Are we clear?”

“I have been clear on that point for the last two months!” her brother snapped.

On that last, and smiling brightly, Felicia made her way up the stairs to her room. Ah, yes, she thought. The night had been perfection.

* * *

James Reinhart looked quite dashing, what Felicia had learned was called de rigueur when he walked into the morning room and bowed a greeting.

Scott, who had been attending Becky stared for a moment, his eyes narrowing, and Felicia saw at once that her friend did not care for the newcomer. Not one bit. She was surprised by this, for although she was not taken in by Reinhart, she did find him an entertaining and pleasant person.

She smiled a welcome while Becky merely nodded at him. What was this? Did Becky not like him either? To compensate for her friends’ coolness to Reinhart she said warmly, “James. Good morning to you.”

He took her ungloved hands into his large ones and brought her fingers to his lips as he bent. He whispered for her ears, though she rather thought both Scott and Becky heard him, judging from their expressions, “You ravish me with your eyes and make me your obedient servant.”

Felicia laughed. “Nonsense. Hoyden is what they call me around here, not ravishing, but do sit … I will pour you a cup of tea.” She reached over and removed the warmer from the teapot and did just that.

“Hoyden? Now that is nonsense.” He turned to Becky and said, “Good morning, Miss Wilson.” He nodded at Scott. “Hanover.”

Each murmured the same in return, but Felicia was uncomfortably aware that both her friends did not approve of the gallant.

He sipped his tea while standing and said purposely, “Felicia … I rather thought you might join me this morning for a ride in the park. My curricle and four are outside, and I don’t like to keep them standing too long. Do say yes.”

“Your matched four?” Felicia was excited about this; she had heard about Reinhart’s famous matched four. “Yes, I should like that above all things.”

Becky said softly, “You know Lady Daphne will be down soon and means to take us shopping.”

“Yes, yes, but we won’t be that long, will we?” she asked of Reinhart.

He laughed. “If you like, I shall just take you for a turn about the square.”

“Your tiger, no doubt, is with you?” Scott asked on a reserved note and Felicia turned a glare on him. Was he playing at guardian as well? Just what was this?

The duke stepped into the morning room at this point, and Felicia advised him that she was going out for a turn around the square. He made no objection as she ran out of the room to fetch her cloak, but he then turned to Reinhart and asked, “Tell me, James, you don’t often take out your grays this early in the morning, do you?”

“No,” agreed James, “I don’t.”

“I take it this is a special occasion, then?”

“Indeed, any moments I can steal with … er … your ward, are special to me,” Reinhart replied glibly.