Free Gareth: Lord of Rakes by Grace Burrowes Page A

gulped back tears, and her voice became small and hesitant. “Are you all right?”
    Felicity took one more slow, deep breath and pulled out of the stranger’s arms.
    “I am fine, Astrid, if a bit rattled. We must thank this fine gentleman for his timely appearance.” She drew Astrid back with her as she stepped away from the man who had been holding them both. “Sir, I don’t know why I exhibited such an inconvenient sense of indecision, but I do owe you my thanks.”
    Her voice shook, her knees felt unreliable, and she had the odd wish that Gareth were there to cling to.
    “No thanks needed, ladies. Some fool trying to impress the world with his blood stock, no doubt.”
    The gentleman—his dress proclaimed him as such, as did his diction—was blond, tall, and handsome in a severe, Nordic way. Felicity guessed his age as a bit older than her own. He was at that time in life when a man passes from being merely handsome into the realm of true attractiveness.
    “Miss Felicity Worthington.” She introduced herself with a curtsy, though it was not strictly proper. Being nearly run down by a horse rather put proper somewhere in the middle of the pond. “And this is my sister, Miss Astrid.” Astrid followed suit with a polite bob of her head.
    “David Holbrook, at your service. I would gladly escort you to either your carriage or your residence, if you could suffer the company.” Mr. Holbrook’s smile did not make him more handsome so much as it made him wonderfully human, suggesting bottomless depths of benevolence and charm, all the more startling for the otherwise stern aspects of his countenance.
    Felicity spoke at the same time as Astrid.
    “I don’t think that would be necessary…” from Felicity, but hardly audible over Astrid’s “That would be most appreciated!”
    As Mr. Holbrook offered them each an arm, Felicity tried to puzzle out what in his expression was so remarkable. She would certainly know if she had seen him somewhere before, and yet, he looked familiar.
    “You are noticing my mismatched eyes,” Holbrook said. “I’ve been told that in more superstitious times, having one blue eye and one green eye might have cost me my life, being a mark of the devil and so forth.”
    “If they are a mark of the devil,” Astrid cut in, “they are quite beautiful nonetheless. I should die for one gorgeous blue eye and one delectable green eye.”
    “Astrid, you do not comment on the appearance of a gentleman of recent acquaintance!” Felicity admonished, though Astrid’s lamentable audacity routed the last of Felicity’s physical unsteadiness.
    “Oh, Miss Worthington, can’t we allow her to comment just a bit, particularly when she’s being so complimentary? It isn’t my usual experience, I can assure you.” Holbrook offered a tolerant smile, and Felicity had the sense he sympathized with both Astrid’s youth and the challenge it created for Felicity.
    “The damage is done, I suppose,” Felicity said as they moved away from the honking, flapping waterfowl. “And Astrid is nothing if not honest. You may be assured you are now in possession of her sincere opinion regarding your appearance.”
    “I am pleased beyond measure, Miss Astrid, to have your assessment. Will you ladies journey safely from this point? I can accompany you farther, but you seem to have suffered no ill effects from your mishap.”
    “Oh, Felicity will bear up fine,” Astrid said. “She always does, but I declare I shall feel faint if you leave us now.”
    Holbrook unlinked his arms from theirs.
    “Miss Worthington, I cannot be sure, due to my inchoate decrepitude, but I believe this brazen child is attempting to flirt with me. I confess myself almost as flattered as I am… amused.” He lifted a sardonic eyebrow at Astrid, and she smiled right back, then spoiled the effect utterly by sticking her tongue out at him.
    “You’re not that old, sir.”
    “No, but you are that young, Miss Astrid, and you should