“Mayhap a kiss will take the place of the memories this brooch holds.”
The young lady blinked, her face flooding with color before she wrenched her hand away from his. Her feet took her directly back to her carriage and, not allowing himself to linger, Felix climbed back upon his horse, and with a wave to his men, rode away from the carriage. He turned his head for a moment and looked back at the young lady. She had not climbed into the safety of the carriage as he had expected but was instead standing beside it, one hand on the door, her eyes locked upon him. He could not imagine what she was thinking. No doubt she was very angry with him indeed, and deeply upset at the loss of her brooch, but Felix did not allow himself to ponder any rising guilt. He would return the brooch to her somehow, for it was not the value of the items he craved. Rather, it was the excitement, the anticipation, the sheer enjoyment of riding wild, of stopping those making their way to London, and engaging with their reactions.
Certainly, I was not disappointed with this particular young lady!
The wind in his face, Felix allowed himself a broad smile. She had been the most delightful company. Even though she had been displeased with what he had done, he had enjoyed every moment of being with her. The kiss had been entirely unplanned but, all the same, he had reveled in it. Turning his head away and urging his horse forward, he allowed his thoughts to linger on the young lady, realizing that he had not discovered her name.
That was to be his task, then. Once he was returned to being a gentleman of society, he would make it his task to find the young lady again and obtain an introduction to her.
* * *
“It appearsto me as though you have been a little more contented these last few days.”
Felix looked at Lord Bramwell sidelong, then shrugged.
“Mayhap I am,” he answered, giving no real explanation for why such a thing might be. “Or mayhap I am simply putting on a show for you, so that you will not complain about my dulled spirits.”
Lord Bramwell chuckled.
“You know as well as I, that would not work.” He lifted his chin. “I can always tell when you playact, given that we have known each other for so long. In truth, since we are almost always in company during the Season, I believe that I can tell precisely how you are feeling and whether or not you put on a pretense.” Tipping his head, he smiled, his eyes glinting. “So you may as well tell me the truth.”
Felix shook his head. That was the last thing he was about to do. He could not exactly confess to his friend that, on occasion, he became a highwayman, and therefore, some of his days were spent on the outskirts of London, trying to find as many carriages and unsuspecting ladies and gentlemen as he could.
“I will not tell you, I am afraid.”
“Then it must be a lady.”
Lord Bramwell nudged him hard, and Felix laughed, seeing his friend grin.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, because you do not want to tell me the truth. Therefore, I am certain it is a young woman who has captured your attention. In recognizing this, you now are at a loss about what to do, even though you are a good deal more contented.” Lord Bramwell turned so that he faced Felix straight on, blocking out his sight of the ladies and gentlemen as they danced the cotillion. “As I have guessed the source of your contentment, will you not tell me who it is?” Felix opened his mouth to say that no, he was not at all enamored of any particular young lady, only to recall the young woman from whom he had taken the brooch. He had been searching for her for over a sennight and had not discovered her as yet, which was, much to his chagrin, rather frustrating. This pause appeared to be more than enough for Lord Bramwell who immediately threw his head back, laughed aloud and then jabbed one finger into Felix’s shoulder. “I knew it.” His eyes sparkled and Felix groaned, closing his eyes, and rolling his head back. “You will not tell me, I see, but I am certain that I am correct.”
I must find a way out of this conversation.
Pausing, Felix twisted his lips for a moment and then let out a long and heavy sigh.
“I will confess Ihavenoted someone of late.”
“Is it because of her beauty? Because of the way she entrances you?”
The mirth in Lord Bramwell’s tone had Felix chuckling but he shook his head.
“No, you must understand me. There is a young woman I have considered of late, but it is not because she is fair of face, or of excellent character. Rather, it is because I find her so very forthright and therefore distinct from every other young lady.”
“Oh.” At this, Lord Bramwell’s face fell, his smile disappearing. “So you think her different rather than of any particular beauty? That does not mean your heart has been taken, then.”
Relief pooled in Felix’s stomach.
“Certainly not! I consider her, not because I have any intentions of matrimony, nor even of courtship, but because she is very different from every young lady in London.” Chortling, he put one hand on his friend’s shoulder. "However, she is not of marriageable material… not even to a gentleman such as I!” This last part was not at all true, for he was quite certain that the young lady would bemorethan suitable for matrimony, had he the intention of chasing her, but he did not want Lord Bramwell’s questions to continue. He was hiding a good deal from him already, so what would be a little more? “Have you thought to pursue any particular young lady yourself?” His eyebrows lifted in question as Lord Bramwell frowned. “After all, you were the one speaking of thinking of such things. Is there anyone who has captured your attention as yet? Shall I hear banns called very soon?”
“If there is, I shall not inform you.” Lord Bramwell lifted his chin, his eyebrows low, eyes dark. “Mayhap I shall not even introduce any young lady I consider to you, given that you mock the very idea of matrimony!”
“I do not mock it,” Felix answered, quickly. “It is not something I am considering and if you seek to, then I swear to you, I shall not say a word against you.”
Putting one hand to his heart, he grinned back at his friend, but Lord Bramwell only rolled his eyes. Inwardly triumphing over the fact that he had managed to keep the secret about his highwayman ways, as well as about the young lady, entirely to himself, Felix turned his attention back to the other guests in the ballroom.
What if she is here this evening?
