Chapter Five
Percy gave a pat to Georgiana’s hand that rested on his arm. “I thought perhaps we could do some bird-watching here at Hyde Park.”
“Wouldn’t a better place have been the Bird Sanctuary?” She arched one eyebrow.
“My dear Lady Peregrine, that’s where everyone goes to see birds. This is more original.”
“I must agree about the original part. That is, you are certainly an original.”
He puffed out his chest. “Why, thank you.”
Georgiana laughed and lightly smacked his shoulder. “Are you certain that was a compliment?”
He frowned. “How could it have been otherwise intended?”
“I must say, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.” She tilted her head and studied him closely, her gaze roving over his face and shoulders.
“Why thank—” Percy snapped his mouth closed. Another questionable compliment? A man could get a complex after too many of those.
Georgiana squeezed his arm, seeming not to notice his mental discomfort. “Hopefully we’ll see some birds while we’re here.”
“That is the general idea.” He stopped so abruptly they both nearly stumbled. “Do you like secrets?”
She raised one eyebrow and smiled, looking every bit like a little girl who’d hidden something special and wouldn’t share the details of where she’d put it. “I live for them.”
He angled his head until he was close to her ear. A few wisps of her hair tickled his lips. “Another reason for not going to the Sanctuary was so a certain attractive woman wouldn’t fall out of any trees.”
She straightened. “But it wasn’t so bad. If you hadn’t seen me in a lump beneath that tree, we wouldn’t have met.”
He nodded and drew his arm across her shoulders, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. “That would have been a terrible shame indeed.”
“Besides, there are trees here.” She waved her hand vaguely to the side.
Oh no… “But, Georgiana, you wouldn’t. Surely.”
“And why not? Who’s to prevent me?” A light shushing sound came from below them as she tapped her boot in the grass.
Percy leaned down until his forehead nearly brushed hers. “I believe I’m the man for that position.”
“Do you?” She poked his chest. “That confident of your qualifications, are you?”
“If I must say so, yes.” If there was one attribute of which he could be sure when it came to ladies, it was confidence. He pushed away the dawning realization that with this woman it might be different.
She ran one finger coyly down his chest. “I do like a confident man.”
Percy stood up to his full height and took a deep breath.
“Though… over confidence isn’t very becoming.”
“I see.” Deflating indeed. His shoulders slumped.
“Oh, I didn’t mean you.” Georgiana grabbed his arm and held it so tight to her side that his sleeve brushed against her breast.
Warmth caused perspiration to form around his cravat. “I… that is… well now I’m not at all sure what I’d intended to say…” He tugged at the piece of cloth to try and breathe a little easier. Why did men have to wear the blasted things anyway?
Some geese flew overhead, honking and flapping their wings in a steady beat.
Georgiana shaded her eyes as she tilted back her head. “Don’t you find geese fascinating?”
“Quite.” But he wasn’t watching the geese. With her head angled back, all he could think of was placing kisses up and down her throat.
“And I love it when they honk.”
“Um-hmm.” He could imagine running his tongue right below her ear.
“They speak to each other while in the air, signaling who should be next in line to fly to the front and lead the formation.”
“Certainly.” Was there someplace private nearby where they could be alone? Being so near her yet unable to act out his thoughts was a torment he nearly couldn’t stand.
“Such a pity people can’t get along and be more like the geese.”
“Oh, I agree.” Perhaps he could unbutton the top of her dress and press his lips to her bare shoulders.
“Wouldn’t it be lovely to be up there with them? To flap our arms and peer at the world below?”
“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.” And after that I could—
She changed her focus back to him, her light brown eyes wide and unblinking. “Why are you looking at me? The geese are up there.”
“Because you’re more beautiful than geese, my little peregrine.”
“Oh, Percy, you do say the sweetest things.” She giggled and fluttered her long eyelashes.
Percy smirked. “So I’ve been told before.”
That seemed to have gotten her attention. “Oh? By whom?”
Perhaps he shouldn’t speak so easily of his other conquests. “Oh, no one in particular.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are there so many that you can’t recall of which woman you speak?”
He shrugged. This wasn’t going at all how he’d planned. “I—”
“So you’re saying there are other women…”
He held up his hand. “No, uh… Not, well now.”
Both of her eyebrows shot up. “Not now?”
“No one but you.”
“And just how long has it been since there was another? I’m merely one in a long line of—”
“Certainly not!” He’d spoken the words too loud, frightening a small nearby sparrow into frantic flight.
She tilted her head. “I like you. Very much. But I’m not one to be trifled with. I’ll not be one of many eggs in your basket, so to speak.”
“I can assure you, Georgiana, that at this moment, you are the only egg about whom I care.”
She bit her lip and smiled.
Percy took that as a good sign. Maybe he could talk her into finding a private spot somewhere. “Say, would you like to—”
Georgiana turned her head suddenly to something just off to their right. “Oh look! There’s a red-breasted flycatcher!” Taking hold of Percy’s hand, jerking him nearly off his feet as well as from his thoughts, Georgiana took off at a walk so brisk to be nearly a run. Percy stumbled and went down. Georgiana, still clinging to him, toppled too. They’d ended up in a small valley, well out of sight of the main path.
“Woman, it’s clear from your actions that you desire me.”
“But I—”
Percy cupped her face in his palm. “How often in a short period of time have I ended up with you on top of my person?”
She raised one hand and pointed behind him. “But I thought I saw a red-breasted flycatcher.”
He shook his head, a slow grin spreading across his face. “You can use a bird as an excuse for your exuberance, but you and I both really know the reason.”
“Reason for what?” She struggled against him, trying to move away.
“That you appear to have a fondness for being exceedingly close to me.”
Georgiana glanced to their left. “But the bird. It will get away!”
“Ah… comparing me to a bird now, are we? I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m not going to fly away, Lady Peregrine.”
She blinked and peered down at him as if for the first time. “Pardon?”
“You’ve successfully captured my attention, I assure you. I do believe you’re trying to ensnare me.”
Her face colored, giving her an attractive pinkish hue. “Well, I…”
Percy tugged her close, fully intending on an extended kiss. Something shuffled in the grass a few feet away, and Georgiana angled around and gasped. Percy finally pulled his gaze from her and turned too.
A very large woman stood staring at them, her hand clutching the arm of a man only a third her width. “Of all the… well! Come along, Mr. Smyth. Some things one shouldn’t have to witness in polite society.” The pair tromped off with Mrs. Smyth, Percy presumed, muttering about people
having immoral relations in a park.
Georgiana wiggled, struggling to move from on top of him. Her movement only inflamed his desire. He clasped her upper arms. “My good woman, cease your thrashing about, or we’ll give passersby more to observe than a fully clothed couple simply lying on the grass.”
With a loud gasp, Georgiana held as still as a sleeping owl on a branch.
“Now, slowly, roll to the side — no knees thrust at me if you please — and sit in the grass.”
Georgiana complied, but her face had darkened to the shade of a setting sun.
Percy stood and brushed off his clothing. He reached down and assisted Georgiana to her feet. He brushed her dress free of grass. When he reached around to dust off her bottom, Georgiana grabbed his hand tightly.
“Percy, I think not.” She glanced behind her to the direction in which the rotund woman had waddled.
Percy sighed. And it had been shaping up to be such a delightful visit to the park.