A Question for Harry by Angeline Fortin

grass-stained skirts. A time when not a strand of her hair would be in place. Now nary a strand dared to escape.
    Like her vibrancy, her vivacity … still there but contained by a newfound sophistication.
    Gone was t he adolescent ingenuousness and naïveté that had made him feel as if he were a depraved old roué for acknowledging even the tiniest bit of attraction for such an innocent gamine.
    Gone, too, was the broad, welcoming grin and worshipful light in her green eyes that had always greeted him in the past.
    Indeed this poised, stunning woman before him was piercing him with an icy glare that clearly desired nothing more than his immediate embarkment on a swift journey straight to a fiery hell.
    “Fiona,” Aylesbury said roughly, then cleared his throat and corrected himself . “Lady Fiona.”
    One brow lifted, arching with contempt.
    She had always been difficult, the minx. He tried once more.  “How nice to see you again.”
    Full, rosy lips that had always before softened with affection at the sight of him, compressed into a tight line much as they had the previous night before Fiona turned on one heel and marched away – again – without sparing him a word.
    “I’m so sorry, my lord,” Eve was already apologizing for her sister-in-law’s behavior before those blue skirts had completely disappeared from sight. “It is not at all like Fiona to behave so. I don’t know what prompted such rudeness.”
    Regrettably, Aylesbury did.
     

Chapter Eight

     
    From the correspondence of the Marquis of Aylesbury – Jan 1893
     
    … and the number of calves expected in the Devonshire herd this spring has the potential to increase the herd by nearly a third. The tin mines near Liverpool have recorded a record quarterly profit. The annual accounting should go well for the estate.
    Were my courtship of Moira only going so well . While Aylesbury longs for a mistress, I can tell it will not find one in Moira MacKenzie. She is clearly nursing a tendre for Vin MacKintosh and surprisingly the realization does not pain me. I can tell as well from Vin’s moony-eyed sullenness at the theater this evening that my presence at her side rankles him deeply … all the more reason to continue as payment for mucking up my plans. But there will be another lady come along one day and I am in no hurry to wed without mutual affection.
    There was another thing about this evening… Bah ! I am a cad for even allowing the thought to cross my mind!
     
    “Lady Fiona…”
    Fiona ignored him and hurried up the next flight of stairs as quickly as she could without tripping on her skirts, which she already held high above her knees. More than likely, Aylesbury was getting an eyeful of her embroidered silk stockings and bejeweled leather boots but she couldn’t care what parts of her body were bared as long as she was well away from him.
    “Fiona, please wait!”
    “I have nothing to say to you, Lord Aylesbury,” Fiona called over her shoulder, disgusted with herself for even speaking so many words to him.
    “You’re still angry with me.”
    Did he really need to sound so surprised? A low growl tightened in her throat. “You’re bloody right, I am!”
    Swinging around, Fiona was surprised to find Aylesbury just behind her . With a gasp, she stepped back, nearly teetering off the step but Aylesbury caught her around the waist, steadying her but also effectively halting her retreat. Her breasts were pressed firmly against his solid chest, which was even more unyielding when she brought her hands up to push him away. “Let go of me!”
    Much to her surprise, he not only did so immediately but stepped up two more steps to the landing just above . As quick as it was, that brief embrace was long enough to steal her breath away and infuse her with an unwelcome heat that had nothing to do with anger. “Won’t you give me a chance to apologize?”
    “For what exactly?” she asked, widening her eyes with feigned bewilderment . Still,