Free Darrington 01 - Marriage Minded Lord by Sandra Sookoo Page A

hugged his broad shoulders like a lover. Why, oh why, does he have to look so handsome? At the last second she remembered she should be annoyed with him from his antics of yesterday. He’d taken a liberty she hadn’t granted. For that he needed a dressing down.
    “I found myself craving something sweet, and as this shop is on my way to Parliament’s offices, I thought I’d pop in.” His grin was no less charming as he seated himself. “Imagine my surprise when I spied your lovely visage through the front window.” He lowered his voice. “Did Olivia accompany you?”
    “Yes . She’s gone upstairs.” Guilt hung heavy on her shoulders. She should tell Felix of her suspicions, but if they were unfounded, she could be in more trouble for creating rumors and telling falsehoods. The backlash could result in her not being able to find employment in the future, and beyond everything, she needed the funds to maintain a certain level of independence.
    “I see.” Felix said nothing else while Pierre bustled into the room bearing a tea tray laden with pastries, chocolate rolls, candies and all sorts of other treats.
    “I hope you do not mind that Lord Swandon wished to join you. He insisted. I shall return soon to find out which of the offerings is your favorite.” Monsieur DeFromme bowed from the waist. The pomade keeping his dark hair parted left a foul odor in the tiny room. “I don’t anticipate you shall need me while sampling so I’ll leave you.”
    Clarice filled a cup with tea and handed it to Felix while Pierre exited the room then she did the same for herself. Her pleasure at seeing him again cooled with the remembrance of her words to him yesterday , words said out of fear. “Were you following me, Lord Swandon? Why else would you arrive here the same day and time as I did?”
    “Like I said, it’s on my way to Parliament.” He declined sugar and cream. “When I saw you through the window, I figured now was as good a time as any to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I…” His jaw worked , but he didn’t drop his gaze. Nothing except truth and honesty shone in the blue depths. “I didn’t mean to make you feel in any way uncomfortable or think less of yourself. I also wish to assure you that I have not—nor will I ever—consign you to anything less than a lady.”
    “The status of lady is rather too lofty for one such as me, my lord.”
    His brow creased as he frowned. “Perhaps, but neither are you the dregs of society you seem to think yourself. Think of your grandfather’s legacy.”
    “The only person who knows of that is you.”
    “For the moment, that is enough. We shall work at finding ways of letting others of influence know.” He flashed a smile full of white teeth. “I wish only to show my admiration for you and to make your every happiness a reality.”
    Flutters filled her belly from his words. Did he truly mean them? Tension stretched between them, and finally, she spoke again, “Thank you.” She worried her bottom lip. His kindness crashed into the walls around her heart and broke holes through her defenses. In that moment she forgave him his moment of insanity from the day before. If there was a man of her acquaintance she could trust, it was Felix. Nothing in his manner indicated he’d take advantage again. “Would you like to know who my mother said my father is?”
    “Very much so, if you trust me enough.” His expression sobered. “I promise you, I will not breathe a word.”
    “Somehow, I feel you’re in earnest.” She lowered her voice to a whisper even though there was no one else in the shop with them. “The Duke of Amherst is my father.” She moistened her lips, and when he dropped his gaze to her mouth, flutters moved into her belly. “I want nothing from him, not even an acknowledgement. I simply wish to meet him or perhaps observe him from across a room to see if I resemble him in any way.”
    “It’s not out of the realm of possibility. However,