The Rise and Fall of Reginald Everheart by Victoria Alexander

Author:Victoria Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2017-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

DULCIE WAS ALREADY in the library, sketching the indecent baboon, when Michael arrived. She was spending entirely more time with this illustration than one would think necessary. He could have been here much earlier, it wasn’t as if he had slept, but it was impossible to get their exchange last night out of his head.

Was he really a coward when it came to matters of affection? Was his adherence to his principles nothing more than a way to avoid entanglement and possible heartbreak? Didn’t she realize keeping his distance from her was the hardest thing he had ever done?

Of course not. How could she possibly know how he felt about her? He’d been extremely vigilant in keeping his feelings to himself. Aside from a moment last night when her gaze had caught his unexpectedly and then another where he had come very close to kissing her, he’d managed to avoid letting his feelings show in any way. It wasn’t easy but kissing her would have been a dreadful mistake. One kiss with Dulcie Middleworth would surely lead to another and then he would be lost. Better not to know exactly what he was missing.

And, when it came right down to it, he had no idea how she might feel about him. Did she really think his determination to avoid involvement with a woman was stupid and lacking in courage? Were her comments prompted only by her enjoyment of a good debate or was there more to it? She did call him Michael after all. Was it a mere slip of the tongue or something much more significant?

He stopped at his usual table and she glanced at him with a smile one could only call radiant. His heart sped up. The least he could do was say good morning. Good morning was not a commitment. He was halfway across the room before he realized he was grinning like an idiot. He sobered immediately. Perhaps he was indeed a coward but he still believed avoiding romantic entanglement to be best for all concerned. Now, he simply had to make that clear to Dulcie. And apparently to his rebellious heart, as well.

“Good day, Mr. Shepard,” she said brightly, rising to her feet, the faint, delightful scent of exotic flowers and spice drifting past him. Her blue eyes twinkled with welcome.

“Good day, Miss Middleworth.” Good God. He had no idea what to say now. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t practiced any number of things in the long, sleepless hours of the night but at the moment absolutely nothing came to mind. All he could do was stare like an idiot. “Fine weather we’re having.”

Amusement flashed in her eyes. “Indeed we are.”

“Miss Middleworth.” He drew a deep breath. “About last night...”

“Lovely evening don’t you think?”

He nodded. “Yes, it was but—”

“You should join us again sometime.”

“Perhaps but...”

“Yes?” She smiled up at him.

“I think we should talk about last night. About, well, you and me.”

Her brow rose. “You and me?”

“I thought perhaps you might have gotten the impression.

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