Darrington 01 - Marriage Minded Lord by Sandra Sookoo Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sandra Sookoo
was as ostentatious as its owner, which was unfortunate for the structure would look statelier without the gaudy Greek statues and overblown portraits decorating every space. Everywhere, the Drummonds had chosen to flaunt their wealth in the trappings of their home. Lavish rugs softened footfalls. Tapestries hung on walls. Expensive paintings from Italian masters were focal pieces even in the parlor. He half— expected Olivia to leave her jewelry lying about to tempt guests or perhaps to rub their noses in her wealth.
He stifled a shudder and chose to pace the length of the room with his hands clasped behind his back. Something was odd, yet if he wanted to remain in Olivia’s good graces in order to be near Miss Delacroix, he’d need to tolerate the tawdry. He wasn’t a foolish man, but he was mindful of the potential for scandal. Once he figured out why the Frenchwoman had captured his interest, he could move forward with his life.
“ Lord Swandon?” Pomeroy had returned. He stood, stiff and unyielding, at the door with his nose in the air. “It would appear Lady Drummond is still abed and not of a mind to see visitors. If you’ll be so good as to leave your card, I will make certain she knows you called.”
Still abed, at this hour? Felix slipped his pocket watch from his waistcoat pocket just to check the time in case he’d made an error. Ten after two in the afternoon. The slow burn of annoyance climbed his throat while he returned the watch to its pocket. “I see.” His carefully laid plans of gaining access to the house for the express purpose of seeing Miss Delacroix crumbled around him. “Thank you, Pomeroy.”
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
“No, I don’t suppose there will be.” He couldn’t very well wait indefinitely in the parlor until Olivia decided she wanted to come down.
“ Pomeroy, Lady Drummond requires a bath… Oh, I apologize. I did not know you were seeing to a visitor.”
Felix’s pulse pounded as she appeared at the door. “Good afternoon, Miss Delacroix.” Today, in a dress of moss green muslin and her hair caught back in a loose knot with a shiny brown ribbon, she was every bit as captivating as he found her last night. Getting a glimpse of the slim lines of her neck or the curve of her delectable lips was worth the inconvenience of having his plans go awry. “I had dropped by to call on Lady Drummond.”
She nodded , turned to Pomeroy, and spoke to him in hushed tones. Then she raised her voice. “Thank you. I will see Lord Swandon out.” Once the butler departed, she focused her full attention to Felix. “I apologize. You’ve caught me by surprise.”
“How so?” He joined her at the door then all thought flew out of his mind when he peered into her coffee-hued eyes. In the strong afternoon light, flecks of gold swam in the dark depths. What would they look like when she smiled with pure abandon or delight? He didn’t know, but he wanted to give it a go.
“We didn’t exactly part o n friendly terms.” She swept her gaze downward and the dark arc of her lashes lay like half-moons on her cheeks. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”
Had she wanted to? His heartbeat accelerated and his palms began to sweat. Felix wiped them on his jacket. “Do you not think a spirited discourse can be enjoyed without hurting the other party’s feelings? I’d like to think we are both evolved enough to do that.” Although, at times, he suspected his colleagues in Parliament were not.
“I’d like to hope so as well.” She lifted her gaze and a smile curved her lips. “I apologize, also, that Lady Drummond is otherwise busy this afternoon.”
“In this instance, I find I don’t mind.” He barely concentrated on her words as his attention was taken with studying her face. Her lips were full and a dark mauve hue. What would her mouth feel like beneath his or trailing over his body? A few freckles dotted the bridge of her nose, and there was a small beauty
He stifled a shudder and chose to pace the length of the room with his hands clasped behind his back. Something was odd, yet if he wanted to remain in Olivia’s good graces in order to be near Miss Delacroix, he’d need to tolerate the tawdry. He wasn’t a foolish man, but he was mindful of the potential for scandal. Once he figured out why the Frenchwoman had captured his interest, he could move forward with his life.
“ Lord Swandon?” Pomeroy had returned. He stood, stiff and unyielding, at the door with his nose in the air. “It would appear Lady Drummond is still abed and not of a mind to see visitors. If you’ll be so good as to leave your card, I will make certain she knows you called.”
Still abed, at this hour? Felix slipped his pocket watch from his waistcoat pocket just to check the time in case he’d made an error. Ten after two in the afternoon. The slow burn of annoyance climbed his throat while he returned the watch to its pocket. “I see.” His carefully laid plans of gaining access to the house for the express purpose of seeing Miss Delacroix crumbled around him. “Thank you, Pomeroy.”
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
“No, I don’t suppose there will be.” He couldn’t very well wait indefinitely in the parlor until Olivia decided she wanted to come down.
“ Pomeroy, Lady Drummond requires a bath… Oh, I apologize. I did not know you were seeing to a visitor.”
Felix’s pulse pounded as she appeared at the door. “Good afternoon, Miss Delacroix.” Today, in a dress of moss green muslin and her hair caught back in a loose knot with a shiny brown ribbon, she was every bit as captivating as he found her last night. Getting a glimpse of the slim lines of her neck or the curve of her delectable lips was worth the inconvenience of having his plans go awry. “I had dropped by to call on Lady Drummond.”
She nodded , turned to Pomeroy, and spoke to him in hushed tones. Then she raised her voice. “Thank you. I will see Lord Swandon out.” Once the butler departed, she focused her full attention to Felix. “I apologize. You’ve caught me by surprise.”
“How so?” He joined her at the door then all thought flew out of his mind when he peered into her coffee-hued eyes. In the strong afternoon light, flecks of gold swam in the dark depths. What would they look like when she smiled with pure abandon or delight? He didn’t know, but he wanted to give it a go.
“We didn’t exactly part o n friendly terms.” She swept her gaze downward and the dark arc of her lashes lay like half-moons on her cheeks. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”
Had she wanted to? His heartbeat accelerated and his palms began to sweat. Felix wiped them on his jacket. “Do you not think a spirited discourse can be enjoyed without hurting the other party’s feelings? I’d like to think we are both evolved enough to do that.” Although, at times, he suspected his colleagues in Parliament were not.
“I’d like to hope so as well.” She lifted her gaze and a smile curved her lips. “I apologize, also, that Lady Drummond is otherwise busy this afternoon.”
“In this instance, I find I don’t mind.” He barely concentrated on her words as his attention was taken with studying her face. Her lips were full and a dark mauve hue. What would her mouth feel like beneath his or trailing over his body? A few freckles dotted the bridge of her nose, and there was a small beauty