Free The Fortune Hunter by Jo Ann Ferguson

reaction was hidden. It would be cockle-brained of her to allow Lord Windham to discover that she was finding it difficult to ignore how the warmth of his voice and his devilishly charming smile affected her.
    â€œIs this to become a habit, Philip? I am constantly finding you in the company of Bath’s loveliest ladies.” Lord Windham smiled.
    â€œHamilton, I don’t believe you know Miss Ehrlich,” Mr. Windham said. “Miss Ehrlich, my brother.”
    The viscount greeted Annis, and they shared the proper nothing-sayings for such a meeting. Only then did he turn to Nerissa. “I did not realize that purple was becoming the shade of choice for a lady’s cheeks, but it is most becoming, Miss Dufresne.”
    â€œHamilton!” gasped his shocked brother.
    â€œDo not let him disturb you with his tactlessness, Mr. Windham,” Nerissa said as she met the viscount’s smile with a steady stare. “He thinks only of trying to send me up to the boughs with his backhanded compliments, but I can assure you that he has failed. I have found that I enjoy being purple-faced to being a red-faced rider who cannot see past the tip of his mount’s nose.”
    Mr. Windham chuckled, ignoring his brother’s glower in his direction. Annis laughed lightly, again putting her fingers to her lips, but she was unable to try to halt the merry sound.
    â€œI deserve that trimming, Miss Dufresne,” Lord Windham said as he watched his brother stroll with Annis toward the next shop window. “Even after our brief acquaintance, I should know better than to cross words with you. Now I suppose I should ask Miss Ehrlich’s pardon. She has certainly caught Philip’s eye. I hope that she has not taken snuff at my crude words.”
    Nerissa could not help laughing when he glanced at the tobacco shop as he apologized. “Fortunately Miss Ehrlich does not take insult easily, my lord, but you would be wise to delay your amends until later. I think Annis is quite as taken by your brother as he is with her. Little we say or do will penetrate the song created by two innocent hearts.”
    â€œHow astute you are! However, Miss Dufresne, if I may be so bold as to speak of your health again, you should be off your feet. Purple is the sole hue on your face. I have seen dead men with more color in their cheeks.” He offered his arm.
    She gratefully put her hand on it. Although she had not wished anyone to guess, her head ached as if a dozen gnomes pounded hammers against her skull. His shoulder was tantalizingly close, but she did not dare to rest her cheek against it when they stood on the busy street. She wondered if it would be as soft as she recalled it being when they sat side by side beneath the tree beyond the hedgerow, or if it would be as hard as the muscles in his arm.
    If Lord Windham noted how she leaned on him as they walked, he was kind enough to say nothing of it. She was glad, for she had little energy left to engage in another dagger-drawing with him.
    When they passed Mr. Windham and Annis, the viscount tapped his brother on the shoulder. Upon getting Philip’s attention which had been focused on Annis’s charming tale of her sister’s latest fête , he motioned for them to follow. “It is quick, is it not?” he mused as they continued toward where her carriage waited by the curb.
    Nerissa glanced back to be sure that Annis was not lagging behind, becoming so caught up in the first flush of a flirtation that she forgot herself. “If you mean the warmth of attraction, I must agree with you in the case of your brother and my friend. They seemed overmastered by it from the moment they first spoke.” She laughed. “ Almost from the moment they first spoke.”
    â€œ Almost from the moment? Did Philip bowl her over as I did you?”
    Nerissa explained the meeting in the shop, then added, “Annis is a dear friend, and she leaps to my defense