Chapter 8
CLARK
“ P lease keep your distance for a moment, Mrs. Cresswell. I know daffodils pose a great risk to your health.” I bent over to pick up the bouquet I had thrown down the stairs.
The poor flowers had mostly retained their shape, though a few petals had been lost in the incident.
It had been a necessary sacrifice, if only for the look of shock on Miss Sharp’s face.
I might not have been succeeding at wooing her, but at least I was thoroughly entertained.
“My health?” Mrs. Cresswell touched a hand to her chest, pausing her descent.
The confusion on her face once again affirmed that her niece was a liar.
I shot Miss Sharp a knowing smirk before brushing a few loose petals off the top of the bouquet.
Before addressing her aunt, I made sure to correct my expression.
“Your niece informed me that daffodils cause you horrible rashes and fits of sneezing. Had I known prior to my visit, I most certainly would have selected a more bearable flower. But the yellow reminded me of Miss Sharp’s cheerful disposition.
” I glanced at her scowling face again. A dark glare burned behind her eyes.
She was beautiful when she was angry.
Mrs. Cresswell seemed unsure of how to respond.
If she denied it, then she would confirm that her niece had lied to me.
Her mouth twitched in silence for a moment.
“Oh, yes. Yes, I do struggle in the presence of daffodils.” She laughed nervously.
“My niece is very thoughtful, very thoughtful indeed, to consider me, just as you are, Mr. Campbell. I am sorry to have given you cause to discard such a lovely bouquet.”
I gave a warm smile. “It is no trouble at all.”
“I am certain Arabella is flattered at the gesture nonetheless.” Mrs. Cresswell sent a quick glance in her niece’s direction, seemingly awaiting her confirmation.
“Indeed.” The word barely made it past Miss Sharp’s lips for how tightly pursed they were.
I studied her face. I had known that gaining her affection was going to be far more difficult than I had anticipated, but she still hadn’t softened at all.
Since our first interaction, she had seemed determined to dislike me.
If all she wanted was money, wouldn’t she be glad to have my attention?
The only conclusion I could draw was that Colin had wounded her pride, and her pride was more powerful than her desire for a fortune.
It seemed that she would rather take her chances with other rich men than give Colin a chance to redeem himself.
Her expression was cold as she brushed past me into the open air of Milsom Street. She released her hold on my arm. My challenge from Colin was to capture her heart, but how could I do that if she didn’t seem to have one at all?
In the shade of the building, she opened her lace parasol, resting it over one shoulder as she lazily examined the people and carriages on the street ahead.
As we awaited her brother, I stepped up beside her.
I sensed her spine stiffen the way it had when she had recognized me at the assembly rooms the night before.
Slowly, her dark eyes lifted to mine. “You missed one.”
“Pardon me?” I raised my eyebrows.
Her eyes flickered toward my waistcoat. “You missed a button.”
I looked down, smoothing a hand down the front of my chest. She was right. Colin would have never missed such a small detail, and it would have vexed him greatly to have a woman notice his neglect. Surely that was why Miss Sharp had pointed it out.
“Thank you.” I offered her a grateful smile as I secured the button. “You have saved me further embarrassment.”
She frowned, tearing her gaze away from my face. Saving me surely hadn’t been her intention. I grinned. The more I acted like myself instead of Colin, the more I confused her. What I hoped to gain from her confusion was curiosity. Intrigue. Those were steps in the right direction.
After a short moment, her brother, Frederick Sharp, stepped outside.
His new jacket was gray and reserved, and he had abandoned his walking stick, trading the orange and yellow waistcoat for a pale blue one.
The young man had an easy smile, with straight dark hair, dark eyes, and a slim, tall frame.
He carried himself with a lack of seriousness that reminded me of myself at his age.
“How will you catch any attention wearing that?” I asked as he joined us on the cobblestones.
Frederick sighed, his mouth lifting into a grin. “A pity, is it not? I could have been the talk of the town.”
Miss Sharp scoffed. “The only attention you would have gained would have been from bees mistaking you for a flower.”
Frederick extended his arm to Mrs. Cresswell. “We should be glad that I changed, then. Aunt Julia despises bees.”
Mrs. Cresswell nodded, eyes round. “I know they serve their purpose, but I do have great difficulty maintaining my composure when approached by one. It is one of the reasons I rarely venture outside in warm weather.” She glanced warily at the blue sky.
“I shall protect you, aunt.” Frederick cast a grin in my direction as he led his aunt forward.
I carefully set the bouquet of daffodils on the side of the street. I was certain someone more grateful would gladly scoop them up and put them in a vase at home. If not, they could wither and die in front of Newbury’s, and Miss Sharp could be reminded of me each time she saw them from her window.
I extended my arm. She took it with no small measure of hesitation.
We followed several yards behind her aunt and brother, our voices lost in the hustle of Milsom Street.
I felt the gazes of several passersby, likely assessing why Colin was walking with Miss Sharp in the middle of the morning.
The gossip wouldn’t take long to spread, especially once we reached Sydney Gardens.
We would have to pass by the Abbey, the Pump Room, and Great Pulteney Street, which was only the beginning of the scrutiny.
Sydney Gardens was the place to see and be seen.
I studied the side of Miss Sharp’s face as we walked. She seemed intent not to look up at me, so I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “If you didn’t want my daffodils, you could have simply told me.”
Her gaze lifted to mine. “I would have, but you don’t seem to listen when I tell you I don’t want things.”
“Such as?”
“Your attention. Your company. Your fortune.” The words spilled out without a hint of hesitation.
Her audacity was alarming, yet also refreshing. I laughed. “I thought you did want my fortune. You were quite clear on that matter.”
“I want a fortune, yes, but I no longer want yours.”
“Ah, so you want a fortune that isn’t tainted by a man with a boorish personality?”
“I’m glad you are finally aware of your shortcomings.” I might have been mistaken, but I thought I saw her lips twitch. “To answer your question—yes. I prefer my money untainted. Pristine.”
Bath Abbey loomed ahead, temporarily distracting me with its tall windows and butter-golden stone reflecting the morning sunlight.
A pair of ladies in blue walked past, whispering as they stared at Miss Sharp and me.
Colin was not often seen with a lady on his arm, but he was confident that he could recover from any rumors that might form.
Any guilt I had felt for teaching Miss Sharp a lesson was long gone.
My conscience was just as pristine as Miss Sharp liked her money.
“If my fortune is tainted, then whose do you now desire?” I asked.
“That is none of your concern, Mr. Campbell.” Her fingers barely touched my arm as we walked, but I felt each one of them brushing against my sleeve.
“Sir William’s?” I guessed.
She stared straight ahead as we turned the corner. “I find Sir William to be an agreeable man. My interest in him has nothing to do with his fortune.”
I scoffed. “I find that difficult to believe.”
“That a man with a fortune could also be agreeable? I assure you, I share your surprise.”
If I were actually Colin, I might have taken offense.
Instead, an unwelcome laugh of disbelief burst out of my throat.
This woman . Her boldness was unmatched.
I suddenly had countless questions about her life, her upbringing, and what had possibly caused her to be so impudent.
Did she behave like this with everyone, or only with me?
We walked through the entrance of Sydney Gardens, the winding path leading us past countless trees, bushes, and follies.
Pavilions and hedge archways punctuated the various paths, but we remained close behind Mrs. Cresswell and Frederick.
I doubted Miss Sharp wanted to be alone with me.
Each time she glanced at my face, the sunlight caught the brown of her irises, bringing out streaks of gold.
Her rosy lips looked soft despite the harsh expressions she made with them.
Though our conversation had faded, I couldn’t stop looking at her.
Nor did I have any wish to.
“Besides money,” I began, “what else do you like?”
One of her dark eyebrows lifted, though she didn’t deny the first part of my question.
“I like rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds. I like large estates, particularly ones with attentive, well-trained servants and well-tuned pianofortes. I like attending the opera or painting in watercolor. If I must be out of doors at this time of year, I prefer it to be with a bowl of pineapple and fresh sorbets.”
My laughter threatened to break loose again. “Pineapple?”
Miss Sharp maintained a smooth expression, which was quite impressive. “Yes. It is my favorite fruit.”
I had seen her lodgings on Milsom street and it was enough to know that her family was not wealthy enough to enjoy the rare delicacy of pineapple—or any of the other things she had mentioned for that matter. I gave her a skeptical look. “Where, may I ask, have you tasted pineapple?”
“On many occasions.”
“In your dreams or in reality?” I asked. I had only heard of a select few people who had ever even been in the same room as a pineapple for how expensive and rare they were.
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“Of lying? Yes.”
Her lips twisted into a smirk. “You asked me what I like besides money, and I have told you.”
“I now understand why you are seeking a fortune so earnestly,” I said. “You desire to fund all of your expensive interests.”
“I would not call my interests expensive. I would call them refined.”
“I see. Well, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. If I may be of any assistance in granting you a fortune, please let me know.” I put a slight edge of flirtation in my voice, then waited, hoping Miss Sharp had noticed.
Her gaze shot up to my face, and she stopped walking.
Her aunt and Frederick hadn’t noticed our abrupt pause, turning the corner up ahead.
Miss Sharp planted one hand on her hip, the other still carefully balancing her parasol over her shoulder as she turned to face me.
“Would you care to explain to me what you are playing at?”
“What on earth do you mean?” I raised my eyebrows.
Her voice lowered. “I know you are not actually trying to court me.”
“Are you accusing me of something?”
“Yes.”
I tipped my head down an inch. “Of what, exactly?”
“Lying.”
I laughed, but her scowl didn’t waver. “What you must understand, Miss Sharp, is that I don’t court women unless I have developed a deep interest in them. You have intrigued me. Nothing more. At least not yet.” I scoured her face with my signature flirtatious smile, admiring each lovely feature.
She blinked up at me, a hint of redness flushing the centers of her cheeks. Had I rendered her speechless? I would have never thought that possible. She released a huffed breath, striding ahead several paces without me. “I don’t believe you.”
I caught up to her just as she rounded the corner toward a small pond.
Several ducks bobbed on the surface. “I asked you to dance at the assembly yesterday,” I said.
“I arrived at your door with flowers this morning. What about my actions have caused you such disbelief?” When I offered my arm again, she snatched it grudgingly.
We walked in silence for several seconds before she said in a calm voice, “I shall only believe your intentions are genuine if you manage to obtain a pineapple for me.”
I laughed in the back of my throat. “You cannot be serious.”
She cast me an innocent look. “With your resources, it shouldn’t be so very difficult.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m nearly certain that even the Prince Regent struggles to obtain pineapples from time to time.”
“Are you claiming that you don’t actually have money?”
“I do.” My voice was too defensive. “Loads of it.”
She raised an eyebrow. “In your dreams or in reality?”
I groaned, but a laugh mingled with the sound. Little did she know that I did not, in fact, have a great deal of money.
“You should have no problem at all procuring a pineapple for me.” For a moment, a smile tugged on the corners of her mouth.
She hid it by turning toward the pond, but I still noticed.
When she faced me again, her expression was serious.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I should like to move away from this pond. I hate those filthy little creatures.”
“The ducks?”
She nodded. “Unless they are on my plate, I do not enjoy looking upon them.”
I managed to hide my dismay as we returned to the path.
She was obviously pretending to have such ridiculous taste, but I hardly knew how to discern what was true and what was part of this game she was playing.
My mission was slowly merging with Colin’s—my desire to best Miss Sharp was not only a debt now or a way to obtain clients. It was personal.
Miss Sharp and I both had hidden motives, and we both suspected one another. How could I possibly gain her trust under such circumstances?
Well, she had already given me the answer to that.
If Colin wanted his trick to succeed, we would have to begin our search for a blasted pineapple.