The Rapscallion's Romance by Tabetha Waite

Author:Tabetha Waite
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tabetha Waite
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Dinner was an extravagant affair as countless, mouthwatering dishes were brought out and set before the guests. Fallon counted at least six courses, but it could have been sawdust for how much she enjoyed it.

If Locklyn’s presence beside her wasn’t enough to keep her on edge, Atticus and Josephine’s disturbing proximity from across the table was worse. As much as Fallon tried to ignore them, she couldn’t stop her gaze from straying that direction. On occasion she would clash with that obsidian stare and quickly glance away, fearing that he could see the torment she was feeling inside. If eyes were the windows to the soul, no doubt her personal despair was reflected there.

Her fingers tightened around her wineglass. She had been deluding herself to imagine that Mr. Clare would ever look at her as more than someone to pass the time. She’d been naïve to believe in a fantasy that might include him. Naturally, Josephine was the right choice for a wife, for her lineage was impeccable, while Fallon herself had become a fallen woman who had given her innocence to a notorious bandit.

With a frustrated sigh, Fallon laid down her knife and fork and gave up any further attempt at trying to consume her meal.

She wasn’t sure what made her glance down the crowded table. Perhaps it was because she could feel someone staring at her. She spied a middle-aged gentleman dressed to the nines with thick brown hair that complemented his green eyes. At any other time, she would have been embarrassed to be found observing him quite so openly, but he had no such compunctions as his focus remained steadily on her.

She finally glanced away, but continued to be unnerved by his perusal. It was almost as if he had been trying to place her from somewhere, but she was quite sure they had never met before. Leaning over to Eliza, who had a break in her conversation with a woman seated across the table, Fallon asked, “Who is that man seated about halfway down?” She explained his appearance without having to actually point directly at him.

Eliza’s gaze flickered that direction and after a moment, awareness dawned on her cousin’s face. “I want to say his name is Isaac Reading, one of the men Brendan’s father attended university with, but I can’t say for sure.” As an afterthought, she lifted a dainty brow. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” Fallon waved a hand. She didn’t want her cousin to think there was a reason to be concerned when Fallon was sure she was merely overreacting.

Eliza gave her a look that said she wasn’t entirely convinced of her reply, so Fallon was thankful when her attention was captured by another guest and she couldn’t probe her further.

After dinner, Fallon returned to the ballroom, while her aunt and Martina moved off to speak with some fellow matrons, although Locklyn remained firmly at her side. However, before he could monopolize all of her time, the unnerving man from the table was suddenly standing before her.

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