“Oh, it must run in the family. Sophia did the same thing. Why do you think I had to go to the land of the fae to bring her back home? Hardheaded woman.”
“Claire is too.”
“Claire, is it?”
“Yes, it’s Claire.”
“So, you’re already on a first-name basis?”
“She usually calls me a dolt, honestly.”
Robin threw his head back and laughed. Loudly. “It’ll all turn out for the best.” He clapped Finn on the shoulder.
“How so? She declined my proposal.”
“We need to make a plan.”
A plan. Yes, that was what they needed. A plan.
Nineteen
Blast and damn. She should have known he would be there. That he would come to this event. Finn was across the ballroom from her, tucked neatly behind some potted palms with a yellow-haired nymph of a woman he’d just danced with. Did he prefer blondes? Claire picked up a curl from her shoulder and lifted it to look at it more closely. Perhaps he did like the fair-haired.
Claire wished she’d worn a different color of gown. The nymph was stunning in pink. Claire should have worn a pale green dress to match her eyes, instead of white. Something with a swooping neckline that showed more of her décolletage than she’d ever shown before. She glanced down at her almost-virginal gown and grimaced. She couldn’t compete with the women of Finn’s acquaintance. Why did this matter? There could be no future between them, no matter what.
“Hullo, Claire,” a low voice said by her ear. Claire steadied herself. The sound of his voice skimmed over her skin and made her bite back a shiver. Would he always affect her like that? She hoped not. He’d been scarce since the night they’d stepped back through the painting. It had been a sennight since she’d been this close to him. Since she’d looked into his sky-blue eyes.
“Lord Phineas,” she said. She acknowledged his presence with a small nod in his direction. “What brings you out from behind the potted palms?”
She’d wanted to march across the room, grab the chit by her hair, and fling her outside of Finn’s reach. A lazy grin quirked at the corner of his mouth. “The palms don’t hold as much interest for me as you do, darling.”
Her heart tripped a beat. Darling. An endearment from this Phineas Trimble was as commonplace as the light skirt he’d been talking with behind the palms. “You can put your silver tongue away, my lord. It’s not enough to get my attention.” Not tonight. Not when all of her family was in attendance.
He leaned down close to her ear and said softly, “If I got my silver tongue anywhere near you, I promise I’d have your complete and undivided attention.” His breath teased the shell of her ear and a shiver crept up her spine. He chuckled lightly at her response.
“Did you enjoy your time with the chit behind the foliage? Did you learn anything about her? Aside from whether or not her breasts fit your hands?” Claire heaved a sigh.
“Are you jealous, Claire?” He made a tsking sound with his tongue.
Was she? Dreadfully and completely. Yes.
“Jealous?” She forced a laugh from her lips, although it was the last thing she felt like doing. “I have had you in my bed, my lord. It’s not an event I have any desire to repeat.”
Finn’s lips pressed together tightly. “Shhh. It wouldn’t do for anyone to find that out. You’re supposed to be Ramsdale’s very wealthy, very innocent, very complacent daughter.” He shrugged and cocked his head to the side. “The wealthy part is true, at least.”
She was Ramsdale’s daughter, though this was the first time she’d been in their home, and she’d met their other children for the first time on this night. They had two daughters and a son. The reception had been somewhat lukewarm by the boy, but the daughters had been overjoyed at getting two new sisters and a brother.
“You are lovely tonight.” He said it quickly and quietly, as he nodded to an acquaintance and kissed the hand of a lovely lady who had the audacity to lay one upon his arm in passing.
Claire held back a snort. “I bet you say that to all the ladies.”
“I don’t ask all the ladies to marry me, though.” Claire’s belly dropped toward her toes.
He waited for her response during the pregnant pause. “I could just announce to one and all the nature of our relationship.” He bobbed his head from side to side, like he was weighing his options. “I wouldn’t even have to announce that I have been inside you.” He leaned close and chuckled at her flinch. “I could just ask you to dance two or three times. Or touch your arm inappropriately. Or drag you out into the garden for a nice, long walk.”
“Try it and see what happens.” She ground her teeth together so hard that he could probably hear them. But a tiny little part of her thrilled at the idea of having her will in this matter taken away. Then she could just be free to enjoy courtship and marriage. Until the baby arrived, that is.
“Don’t tempt me,” he warned.