Free The Fortune Hunter by Jo Ann Ferguson Page A

at every chance.”
    â€œI see Philip has set her worries to rest about the accident, and you have to own that he chose a more charming way to meet her than I did to meet you.” His voice softened. “I am truly glad to see you out of your house. I trust that means you soon will be regaining the pretty pink in your cheeks. Savage that I am, I have endured the jesting of my good fellows which I so rightly deserve for failing to watch where I set Cirrus. No doubt I shall be forced to suffer their well-placed gibes this evening.”
    â€œIf you would as lief that I did not attend …”
    â€œWhat a rapper! Of certainty you must attend, Miss Dufresne. There have been cruel rumors of your untimely demise circulating—at my expense, if you wish to know the truth. I beseech you to make your high health known before I find myself in deadly suspense at the end of a hangman’s noose.”
    Nerissa laughed. “My lord, humility doesn’t come easily from your lips.”
    His grey eyes twinkled with mischief as he took her gloved hand between his. She gasped at his forward motion as they stood in the middle of the walkway. A pulse of the same, delightful warmth she had felt when he stood so close to her in the parlor raced along her limbs, coiling through her middle. The slow smile on his expressive lips stirred the gentle heat to a flame.
    Without speaking, he brought her hand to his mouth. His ashen gaze threatened to overwhelm her with the passions she could see within it. Her eyes closed when he touched her hand so fleetingly with his lips. All of her being focused on that spot where his breath seeped through her gloves to set her skin afire.
    Something struck her sore face, and Nerissa choked back a moan. She opened her eyes to see Lord Windham looking skyward. Lazy drops of rain splashed into the puddle at her feet.
    â€œAllow us to see you and Miss Ehrlich home and out of the storm,” he said, his voice once again unemotional.
    â€œThat is unnecessary. My carriage is right here.” She watched as Annis hurried to climb into the tired-looking carriage with Mr. Windham’s assistance.
    Lord Windham handed her in as graciously. “Then I bid you a farewell until this evening, Miss Dufresne.” He released her hand as his smile included both women. “If you did not believe my words before, I hope that you will now when I say that I look forward to that hour with great anticipation.”
    â€œSo do I,” she answered softly, so softly she was unsure if he heard them as he urged his brother to hurry toward their own carriage. Not that it mattered, for she suspected Lord Windham already had discerned the longings of her rebellious heart which pulsed faster at the thought of spending the evening with him.

Chapter Five
    Hamilton watched Miss Dufresne’s carriage drive away through the rain. Stepping back under an awning, he motioned for his brother, who was staring after the vehicle as if his eyes were tied to it.
    â€œPhilip!” he called, then laughed. “Miss Ehrlich will have little use for you if you prove you don’t have the sense God gave a goose and stand out there in the rain.”
    With a sheepish grin, his brother trotted beneath the awning. “She is wonderful.”
    â€œI am sure she is.”
    At Hamilton’s distant tone, Philip turned to face him. “Is something amiss? I thought you were having a pleasant conversation with Miss Dufresne.”
    â€œYou can take the carriage home. I will join you later.”
    â€œHamilton …”
    He forced a smile he hoped would soon be genuine. “I have just a bit of business I need to attend to while you think of what you wish to say to Miss Ehrlich in the note I’m sure you are composing in your head even now.”
    â€œI had hoped to ask her to join us this evening at Rowland’s,” he said in an almost shy voice.
    Hamilton cursed silently. After seeing how low