Alice scoffed at the thought, turning down the hallway where the library was. The Marquess was quite daft if he believed any of his charming little comments would woo her. He didn’t know the pain she’d had to endure watching her father suffer. And even if she hadn’t gone through all that, a rake such as he was the very last person Alice would be interested in.
The thoughts ran through her head as if she was trying to convince herself of that fact, which only bothered her more. Her annoyance reached its peak when she made her way to the library, but the moment she entered the room and spotted the Marquess standing by one of the bookshelves, it transformed into irrational anger.
Her first instinct was to step away from the door and leave before he noticed her, but that option was thrown out the window when Lord Erlington glanced up from the book in his hand and spotted her. That infuriating smirk stretched across his lips in the next instant. Alice was still grappling with whether she should leave.
“Don’t mind me, Lady Alice,” Lord Erlington called to her. “I don’t intend on bothering you…as long as you do not mind being in here without a chaperone.”
Her spine straightened. Even though she recognized the challenge he was throwing out, she couldn’t stop herself from taking it. “It is my Manor,” she snipped. “I should be able to go wherever I wish.”
“Ah, that you should.” Lord Erlington didn’t move from his spot. He swept his arm to the side. “Then, please, forget that I am here.”
It would be far better if you’d simply leave. Alice swallowed the words, reminding herself that while she might not like him, there was a limit to how rude she could be. It was already bad enough that she was stepping into the room and closing the door behind her even though there was no one to chaperone.
It was a bit petty and foolish, she knew, to stubbornly remain here, but she’d chastise herself about that another day. For now, she made her way over to the desk sitting to the right of the room and proceeded to collect a few sheets of paper before sitting.
The letters she would write would be sent to a few friends she’d known for years, but right now, Alice couldn’t recall a single one of their names. The quill pen in her hand stalled over the paper and try as she might to focus, all she could think about was the fact that she was hardheaded enough to remain in the same room as the very same man she’d wanted to banish from her thoughts.
“Perhaps you could begin with ‘Dear’ and the name will come to you afterwards?”
Alice’s heart leaped into her throat at Lord Erlington’s voice behind her head. She kept herself incredibly still, refusing to let him see how much he’d frightened her. She somehow knew that was what he was hoping for—a reaction out of her. She’d give him none of it.
“Were you not reading, My Lord?” Alice asked, her hand still poised over the blank sheet of paper. Determinedly, she began to write the salutations, scribbling the name Elizabeth though she didn’t know anyone by that name.
“I was, but then I found something else to occupy my attention.” Lord Erlington perched comfortably on the edge of the desk. “Elizabeth, hm? Is it Lady Elizabeth of Fenley? The daughter of the Earl?”
Alice looked up at him, wary. She ignored the sliver of relief that she wouldn’t be forced to continue writing nonsense in order to save face. “And what if it is?”
Lord Erlington’s sky-blue eyes glistened with mischief. “I’ve made her acquaintance before. She’s quite a nice lady, though she does have a tendency to chatter on about nonsense.” He sighed, shaking his head. “It is a pity, really. Her Father did not fancy me.”
Alice returned her attention to the paper, disgusted. “I’ve always known Lord Fenley to be a very wise and prudent man.”
“Because he’s made such headway in the textile industry?” Lord Erlington asked innocently.
Alice tightened her grip on her pen, but that was the most of her annoyance she was willing to show. “Because he made sure his daughter didn’t marry a rake who likes to boast about his conquests to other ladies,” she stated without remorse.
Lord Erlington rested the book that was in his hand on the table with a sigh. At a glance, Alice caught sight of the title.
‘On the Force of Percussion’? He is interested in the works of William Wollaston?
“Boast might be a bit of a strong word, My Lady,” Lord Erlington was saying. Alice pushed the question to the back of her mind, looking at him once again. “I simply wanted to point out the unordinary connection we already have, considering we know the same people.”
Alice studied him for a moment, contemplating revealing the fact that Elizabeth was simply a name she’d come up with on the spot to save her some embarrassment, but decided against it. Instead, she said, “Let me guess, Lord Erlington. You wished to comment on this small, unimportant coincidence that we happen to share, thinking it will aid in warming my heart to you.”
Lord Erlington raised his shoulders slightly, that look of enchantment and mischief never too far from his features. “I’d only hoped we could put our differences aside and find common ground.”
“I see.” She leaned closer to him, ignoring the traitorous skip of heart beat as she rested her elbows on the table, laced her fingers together, and rested her chin on top. “Then allow me to make another guess. Somehow, by some twist of fate, another coincidence shall rear its head, such as the fact that you are reading one of my most well-loved scientific publications within this library.”
His lips twitched as he glanced down at the book. It looked as if he was holding back a smile as he said, “A coincidence or two is hardly anything worthy of note, My Lady.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” she nodded, but her tone was utterly cool. “But then when the third, then fourth-chance connection comes along, is it not expected of me to think, ‘Well, perhaps we truly met by fate?’”
This time, Lord Erlington huffed a laugh. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you truly thought that way?”
Alice gave him a deceptive smile, coming to a stand. “Unfortunately for you, Lord Erlington, I’ve already seen right through your quite simple-minded plan.”
“Is that so?” he asked with a single brow lifting.
“Perhaps you would be better suited spending your time elsewhere, My Lord,” Alice stated. She stepped out from behind the desk, but stopped to give him a withering look. “But you’re wasting it with me.”
