A Curious Heart (Love Vine: A Regency Series) Read Online Free
Author: Diane Davis White
often—he stirred her in ways no man had ever done.
Lady Alana fell under his spell, no matter her intentions not to do so. Foolishness, she told herself sternly, simply foolishness. No matter the attraction, he was not for her.
However, each time she heard his voice, Lady Alana caught herself straining to hear the anecdote with which he entertained his dinner partner. Her ears were tuned to his speech and her heart beat the faster at the sound.
So diverted was her attention, she ignored her dinner partner and Sir Gordon admonished her lightly for her lapse.
Chapter Three
~~
Lady Alana stood next to her nephew, foot tapping subtly beneath her gown in time with the lively reel. She plied her fan, a beautifully hand-painted object from the Orient, waving it back and forth in a languid motion. Her gaze followed Rothburn as he moved around the floor with Lady Eleanor. It did not seem to Lady Alana that the pair had much to say, nor were they entirely engrossed with one another, a hopeful sign.
Hopeful? Whatever was she thinking? Lady Alana admonished herself for such foolishness. She had no interest in the relationship between this man and the woman he was purported to eventually wed. Why should she care if the couple looked indifferent to one another?
This train of thought did not preclude the self-deluded lady from scheming to get a dance with the Earl. Perverse behavior for one who had schemed not to dance with him just two nights before.
"Striking pair, eh?" Sir Gordon, who also watched the couple, gazed at Lady Eleanor, unaware of the longing that lurked in his stare. Nearly sick with his pain, Sir Gordon turned away at last from the sight of the woman he loved in the arms of his best friend.
"They will most likely be wed and have an heir for Rothburn this time next year." His voice was rough with an unnamed emotion as he continued, trying for light banter, but failing completely. "Wonder if we shall be invited to stand as god parents?"
"Oh, I don't know. Rothburn does not look eager. Nor does Lady Eleanor." Alana glanced sideways at her nephew and was not fooled by his attempt at casualness. She sensed his frustration. "Why don't you ask Eleanor for a dance? Surely, if you presented an obstacle in the form of your own suit, she might just give you consideration."
"Suit? My dearest Alana, surely you are aware that it would be most inappropriate for a man of my station to pursue such as she." Dropping all pretense of indifference in the face of Alana's obvious awareness regards his feelings, Sir Gordon could not help the expectant note in his voice.
"Are you saying that my mother's marriage to your grandfather was unsuitable?" Lady Alana's voice held a hint of slyness and her straight-forward gaze disconcerted Sir Gordon.
He blanched at her words, his eyebrows rising nearly to his hair line, and parried her comment neatly. "And are you insinuating that I might undermine the marriage plans of my best friend?"
"Never say so. I was only implying that you are surely as suitable as your grandfather—in fact, more so. You have greater wealth than he had when he wed Lady Grace." She looked keenly at Sir Gordon's eyes. Eyes that spoke volumes of hope and at the same time, deep despair.
"Besides," she added for good measure," as I said, neither your friend nor his dance partner appear particularly enthralled with one another. This is an arrangement of his mother's, as everyone is aware. Why don't you talk to Rothburn? He might just be willing to step aside if you tell him how you feel."
She then added the final argument, doing so with a relish that spoke volumes regarding her own sentiments, "Nothing official has been set in their arrangement as yet. Until Rothburn actually asks and she accepts, the field is open, I should think."
"Yes, well, perhaps you are right. Goodness knows I've been trying to hide my feelings for some time, but if you can see through me, perhaps others can. Wouldn't do to become a
Lady Alana fell under his spell, no matter her intentions not to do so. Foolishness, she told herself sternly, simply foolishness. No matter the attraction, he was not for her.
However, each time she heard his voice, Lady Alana caught herself straining to hear the anecdote with which he entertained his dinner partner. Her ears were tuned to his speech and her heart beat the faster at the sound.
So diverted was her attention, she ignored her dinner partner and Sir Gordon admonished her lightly for her lapse.
Chapter Three
~~
Lady Alana stood next to her nephew, foot tapping subtly beneath her gown in time with the lively reel. She plied her fan, a beautifully hand-painted object from the Orient, waving it back and forth in a languid motion. Her gaze followed Rothburn as he moved around the floor with Lady Eleanor. It did not seem to Lady Alana that the pair had much to say, nor were they entirely engrossed with one another, a hopeful sign.
Hopeful? Whatever was she thinking? Lady Alana admonished herself for such foolishness. She had no interest in the relationship between this man and the woman he was purported to eventually wed. Why should she care if the couple looked indifferent to one another?
This train of thought did not preclude the self-deluded lady from scheming to get a dance with the Earl. Perverse behavior for one who had schemed not to dance with him just two nights before.
"Striking pair, eh?" Sir Gordon, who also watched the couple, gazed at Lady Eleanor, unaware of the longing that lurked in his stare. Nearly sick with his pain, Sir Gordon turned away at last from the sight of the woman he loved in the arms of his best friend.
"They will most likely be wed and have an heir for Rothburn this time next year." His voice was rough with an unnamed emotion as he continued, trying for light banter, but failing completely. "Wonder if we shall be invited to stand as god parents?"
"Oh, I don't know. Rothburn does not look eager. Nor does Lady Eleanor." Alana glanced sideways at her nephew and was not fooled by his attempt at casualness. She sensed his frustration. "Why don't you ask Eleanor for a dance? Surely, if you presented an obstacle in the form of your own suit, she might just give you consideration."
"Suit? My dearest Alana, surely you are aware that it would be most inappropriate for a man of my station to pursue such as she." Dropping all pretense of indifference in the face of Alana's obvious awareness regards his feelings, Sir Gordon could not help the expectant note in his voice.
"Are you saying that my mother's marriage to your grandfather was unsuitable?" Lady Alana's voice held a hint of slyness and her straight-forward gaze disconcerted Sir Gordon.
He blanched at her words, his eyebrows rising nearly to his hair line, and parried her comment neatly. "And are you insinuating that I might undermine the marriage plans of my best friend?"
"Never say so. I was only implying that you are surely as suitable as your grandfather—in fact, more so. You have greater wealth than he had when he wed Lady Grace." She looked keenly at Sir Gordon's eyes. Eyes that spoke volumes of hope and at the same time, deep despair.
"Besides," she added for good measure," as I said, neither your friend nor his dance partner appear particularly enthralled with one another. This is an arrangement of his mother's, as everyone is aware. Why don't you talk to Rothburn? He might just be willing to step aside if you tell him how you feel."
She then added the final argument, doing so with a relish that spoke volumes regarding her own sentiments, "Nothing official has been set in their arrangement as yet. Until Rothburn actually asks and she accepts, the field is open, I should think."
"Yes, well, perhaps you are right. Goodness knows I've been trying to hide my feelings for some time, but if you can see through me, perhaps others can. Wouldn't do to become a
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