Chapter Ten #2
He launched into what he thought was the amusing tale, only to stop a few minutes later when he belatedly noticed that Miss Girard had not only remained silent during the last several minutes—a novelty for her in his limited experience—but had stopped walking and was staring at him in baffled bemusement.
“You do enjoy the sound of your own voice, do you not, Lord Hugo?”
He blinked, then flashed a delighted smile at her.
The woman had spirit. And she wasn’t wrong, though few had called him on it.
“Indeed, I do, Miss Girard. Though I had thought you might be interested in the anecdote as it is similar to your own misadventure. And, truth be told, I’ve always been one to want to fill the silence. ”
“I suppose I cannot fault you there,” she said, though her expression suggested she would very much like to. She turned and began walking again. “I occasionally have the same tendencies myself. However, one should never mistake impatience for interest.”
“I shall endeavor to be more careful in the future.” Far from being insulted, he was instead charmed. Intrigued. How refreshing to have someone say exactly what they are thinking. “And what are you so impatient for then?”
Miss Girard sighed, then pursed her lips.
“To get home and put this horrid day behind me, for the most part. It was quite an unpleasant experience all around. And yes,” she said, before he could speak again, “it was most likely a pickpocket, to answer your previous question, considering I did have money when I arrived at the vendor and did not when it came time to pay. I am not usually so trusting. I do know how to protect myself from pickpockets. But sometimes, they just look so hungry. So when they come begging…”
Her lips pursed again, and she blinked, swallowing hard. “In any case, the urchin got the pies I purchased, along with the coin I needed to purchase them with.”
Hugo searched for words, mindful of their past. “It is unfortunate. You should not be punished for having a kind heart.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“I am capable of compliments. In the right circumstances,” he said with a half-smile.
“I shall remember that for the future,” she said, her lips twitching.
Then she let out a sigh. “I am accustomed to keeping better watch and having better judgment. But today I…couldn’t just walk away without trying to help.
And then the merchant was so stubborn. It is infuriating, to be at the mercy of strangers. ”
“And yet you accepted my help,” Hugo said softly.
Miss Girard’s eyes met his, glinting with challenge. “Reluctantly,” she allowed. “But I am not so proud as to refuse rescue when truly in need. Though I cannot promise to be happy about it.”
Hugo laughed, the sound genuine and free. “You are braver than I. I once tried to refuse help from Arthur after a riding accident and ended up with a sprained ankle and battered pride.”
Miss Girard laughed quietly, her smile transforming her face. “Brothers are relentless in their assistance, are they not?”
“Have experience of your own, do you?”
“One overly persistent brother, yes.”
Hugo sighed. “I envy you. I have two. And three sisters.”
Miss Girard laughed again. “You are blessed indeed.”
“Blessed and cursed. For more reasons than my siblings,” he said with a chuckle that brought an answering smile from Miss Girard.
“That is something I can wholeheartedly understand,” she said.
He glanced at her again as they slowly made their way through the marketplace. She was quite pretty when she wasn’t yelling at him. Then again, he tended to prefer most people when they weren’t yelling at him.
“What is it?” she asked, her eyes narrowing when she caught him watching her.
He cleared his throat, not about to explain what he had been thinking. The last thing he wanted to do was insult her again. And while most women wouldn’t find a compliment to their beauty an insult, this woman, when the compliment was coming from him, most certainly would.
“I…was simply enjoying the fact that we are apparently capable of civil conversation without it devolving into a yelling match.”
She snorted lightly. “If civil conversation is something you enjoy, it is a shame that it is likely not something you experience often. Given what I know of your temperament.”
Her lips twitched at her jest, but she kept her gaze on the path before them.
Hugo chuckled. “I assure you, madam, my temperament around most people is quite jovial.”
“Ah, it is only I who brings out the worst in you then.”
Hugo’s head jerked toward her. “No. That is not what I meant.”
“That is what you implied.”
“No, but it’s—”
He stopped when he noticed the small smile playing at her lips and aimed a mock glare at her. Which only made her chuckle quietly.
“Forgive me, my lord. I could not help but needle you. Though, to be fair, you did say it, and you did mean it. However,” she said, holding up her hand to stop his protests, “you seem to bring out the worst in me, as well. I cannot say that I have always been proud of my behavior in your vicinity.”
“Well then,” he said with a slight bow of his head to acknowledge her admission. “Perhaps we can agree to at least attempt to behave in a slightly more civilized manner toward one another.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she finally gave him a sharp nod. “It will be a great effort,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him. “But I will agree to try.”
“As will I,” he said turning toward her with a bow.
She gave him a faint smile and then nodded at a carriage a few feet away. “That one is mine.”
“Oh miss,” a young footman said, running toward her.
“I’m sorry, miss. I tried to chase that ruffian what stole your purse, but I lost him, and then when I returned to the stall you were gone and the merchant chased me off so I looked for ye at Mrs. Harrow’s but ye weren’t there so I thought I best come back to the carriage because ye’d have to come back here to get home but I’m right sorry, miss, I didn’t mean to run off, I just wanted to get back yer purse and—”
“All is well, Thomas,” Miss Girard said with a laugh. “Breathe. As you can see, Thompson and I am unharmed,” she said, nodding behind her to her maid who had been following faithfully a respectful distance behind them. “Though I daresay we are very tired and should like to return home now.”
The boy broke into a grin. “Right away, miss.”
He reached out to take the small parcels Thompson held and stowed them in the carriage. Miss Girard turned to Hugo with a strained smile.
“Well then, Lord Hugo. I…do thank you, for your assistance today.”
Hugo cocked an eyebrow. “That was very pleasant and nearly convincing, Miss Girard. Well done.”
She rolled her lips between her teeth to keep from smiling, which only made him smile more.
In more usual circumstances, he tried to avoid poking at a woman who had her dander up.
But in Miss Girard’s case, he couldn’t help but do the opposite.
Though, truthfully, he would bet good money that she enjoyed their sparring as much as he.
“I did say I would try, my lord.”
“That you did.” Hugo grinned again and offered her another bow, along with a polite nod to Thompson who watched him warily from inside the carriage.
He offered Miss Girard his hand to help her up, grinning when she took it with obvious reluctance.
“Well then. Now that you are safely delivered to your carriage, I shall bid you goodbye. Have a pleasant afternoon, Miss Girard.”
“I am about to be quit of your company, my lord,” she said, settling back against the plush cushions. “So I have no doubt it will be very pleasant indeed.”
That drew a hearty laugh from him, and she bit her lip against her own smile again.
“I believe you may need to redouble your efforts, Miss Girard.”
This time she let a small smile through. “Perhaps. Though I believe I have put forth enough effort today.”
Hugo laughed again and shook his head as he closed the carriage door. “That you have, Miss Girard. That you have.”
He stepped back and watched as the carriage pulled into the busy lane, joining the rest of the carriages, horses, conveyances, and pedestrians all out enjoying the weak afternoon sun.
Well, he supposed he couldn’t expect miracles, after all. They would just have to take it a few small steps at a time. He was very much surprised to find that he had rather enjoyed his short sojourn with Miss Girard this afternoon.
And was even more surprised to find he hoped to do so again in the near future.