The Earl Not Taken by A.S. Fenichel

Author:A.S. Fenichel [Fenichel, A.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2020-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Why it should bother Poppy if Rhys had avoided being alone with her since their talk, she couldn’t say. However, each time during the week of picnics, dinners, dancing, and card playing that he made an excuse to be out of her company, the ache in her chest grew more unbearable.

Even as the dinner party broke up and made their way into the grand parlor for dancing, Poppy noted how Rhys escorted Aurora rather than let Garrett Winslow take her in.

Keeping her chin up was not easy, but in this case, he was the wiser of the two of them. If they were seen too much in each other’s company, people would begin to talk. Gossip of that kind would never do.

Poppy swallowed down the emotion forcing its way into her throat. She didn’t want Rhys. He was her friend and had been a kind and thoughtful lover, nothing more. Keeping up her resolve was becoming harder and harder as the house party continued. Seeing him daily but not knowing his thoughts or hearing his laughter gnawed at her.

The parlor’s stately furniture had been pushed aside and the rug rolled up to afford a large space for dancing. The dark wood on the walls and coffered ceiling gave the same formal feel as Faith’s parents with no room for diversion.

Taking a seat behind the pianoforte, Mercy played a lively reel. Mercy had a knack for the ironic and had probably picked the country dance with the purpose of annoying the lord and lady of the house. It was delightful and inappropriate, and no one would say a word about it. She was quite brilliant.

Faith dragged Poppy to the center of the room and pushed her toward Rhys, who bowed as he consented to dance with Poppy while Faith danced with Garrett.

Garrett laughed. “I suppose we have our marching orders.”

“It would seem so,” Rhys said, offering Poppy his arm.

Garrett gave a mock bow. “Faith is by far the most charming general a man has had to take his commands from.”

Blushing, Faith smacked his arm with her fan. “Stop teasing. The music is about to start.”

They made the first pass, and Poppy bit her tongue.

On the second, Rhys broke the silence. “You have something on your mind, my lady?”

“You have been avoiding me.” She wanted to sound aloof, but it came out petulant and hurt.

His step faltered. “I have done exactly what you asked.”

Had she asked him to keep his distance? She’d wanted to avoid gossip. Oh Zeus, she’d become an imbecile after all her efforts to keep her head. “I supposed you did.”

Nicholas leaned against the wall with a glass of brandy and watched. If he was jealous, he showed no signs; however, as soon as the reel was over, he strode over and claimed Faith for a waltz.

Poppy curtsied without looking into Rhys’s eyes and turned to walk away.

He wrapped his hand around her wrist, halting her. “One more will not make the gossips in this small crowd crazed, Penelope.

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