Mr Fairfax, Mr West and the Meet Cute: Love, Austen #0.5 by Anyta Sunday

Author:Anyta Sunday [Sunday, Anyta]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Luncheon was freeform and casual, a light spread of bread, cold cuts and cheeses—and most appreciated, coffee. West had been busy for the last three hours, and while Josh had enjoyed walking the grounds, and the needlework lesson, something about it had felt . . . lonely. He’d looked forward to a little brush with company to go with his sliced beef and cheddar, but when Professor Paisley excused herself from the table, he found himself with no buffer against Cassius and Wally.

He invested his attention wholeheartedly in selecting fruit for his plate and hoped rescue would materialize.

With relief, he saw West coming into the room surrounded by guests of another party. But they dragged him, laughing and giggling, to their end of the table. Dread crept through Josh as he fought not to look at Cassius’s expression. It didn’t take long.

“Your fiancé didn’t so much as glance at you,” Cassius said, popping a grape into his mouth.

Josh heated. “It’s a game. Amongst the guests, we’re roleplaying. Currently he doesn’t like me much. The whole Wickham bit.”

“Or work simply trumps you. Huh. Maybe you are well suited.”

Josh took a sip from his cup to swallow down the sting. “He’s busy. He probably hasn’t even seen me.”

Cassius glanced down the long table. “Excuse me, gentlemen, ladies. I’m curious how many of you will be riding this afternoon?”

“They’re expecting rain,” someone said. “So it’s shifted to tomorrow after breakfast.”

Cassius grimaced, but the fate of the riding expedition wasn’t the point.

The point was that West was now looking down the table. He had most definitely seen them.

Josh drained his coffee.

West winked and Josh opened his mouth to say something inspired, hopefully, but at that moment the woman to West’s right spilled her coffee between them. West laughed it off, throwing his napkin over the puddle.

Cassius’s eyes narrowed on Josh. “How about we make this interesting.”

Josh frowned.

“Horse riding tomorrow. A race. If you win, I’ll come clean that this entire weekend was your idea. If you lose . . . You come clean about . . . not really loving that dude at all.”

Josh ground his teeth. “My fiancé’s name is Mr West.”

Cassius smirked, and if ever there were a villain, maybe it wasn’t Josh. Maybe it was his ex. Or at the very least they tied for the place.

The impulsive desire to duel rose up in Josh. He wanted to win. He would win, for West.

He opened his mouth—

“Josh.” West stood abruptly and strode to his side. He spoke low, privately. “Please. I have to prepare for the ball all day tomorrow, and I think you’ll find any kind of race would be considered reckless behaviour. It could lead to your being asked to leave.”

A distant bell rang, and West cursed softly. He turned toward the guests. “Excuse me ladies, gentlemen. I have duties to attend.” He met Josh’s eyes and walked off.

“So?” Cassius said. “Are we on?”

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