The Imagined Attachment by Holli Jo Monroe

Author:Holli Jo Monroe [Holli Jo Monroe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brillig Press
Published: 2022-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Phillip sipped his drink and half-listened to the gentlemen conversing around the table. It had been another successful dinner full of lively conversation and good food, but Phillip was unsettled. He knew the source of his disquiet but not how to dispel it. He could not stop thinking of Miss Brooke and her unexpected visit to the library that afternoon.

She had often been in his thoughts but always as a problem to be solved. Now the problem was his attraction to her. He could no longer deny the strong pull to her as they stood close or when their hands brushed. Phillip had been attracted to women before, but none of them had been his near neighbor, in love with his brother, or so totally uninterested in him.

“I must say, Ashburn.” Farthing pulled him from his abstraction. “The party has been a success.”

Phillip tipped his glass in acknowledgment. “I believe all of the credit goes to Lady Ashburn.”

“To Lady Ashburn,” Farthing said in a raised voice. The toast was repeated around the table. Farthing finished his drink, put down the glass, and regarded Phillip.

“What?” Phillip asked.

“I was just wondering when I might toast the new Lady Ashburn.” Farthing gave a slow grin as Phillip rolled his eyes. “I am merely reminding you of your responsibility to produce an heir.”

“I have an heir.”

Richard scoffed. “The Prodigal doesn’t count.”

Phillip ignored the comment. He was grateful no one else seemed to be listening to this nonsense. All were deep in their own conversations.

“I didn’t take you for one of those men that insist on seeing all their friends before the parson.”

“I only want to see you happy and, in my experience, a good wife is a sure way of securing happiness.”

“And in my experience, a good wife can be deuced difficult to find.”

“You have not been properly looking, or perhaps you are too blind to see her.”

Phillip took another drink. What had come over Farthing? He had never cared that Phillip took no interest in the marriage mart. Who was he too blind to see? Miss Brooke came unbidden to his mind and he pushed the thought away. Farthing did not understand the situation. Miss Brooke was not a candidate for Lady Ashburn.

“Farthing, you were fortunate to find a woman eager to accept your hand. Not all of us are so lucky.”

His friend chuckled. “Ashburn, you are a baronet, with an estate, a house in town, and a kind and steady character. Any woman would accept your suit.”

“I beg to differ with you, my friend.”

He could think of at least one woman who would not accept him. Miss Brooke hadn’t the slightest romantic interest; she wasn’t even sure she enjoyed his company. It didn’t matter that with each conversation he found more to admire. She was foolishly attached to Daniel.

He pushed away his glass. He was turning maudlin.

Farthing frowned as Phillip stood. Most of the other gentlemen rose to follow him to the drawing room. Mr. Poole and Mr. Talbot stayed, deep in conversation about canals and investments.

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