#❛ ALOYSIUS PONSONBY ， with philippa montford !

[enheriter]

he  runs  the  risk  of  being  obtuse:    a  welcome  deal  if,    for  nothing  else,    it  grants  him  cover  of  plausible  deniability    —    and  not  only  him,    aloysius  thinks,    but  everyone  around  him  is  given  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.    ❛    is  that  so?    ❜    he  asks,    tone  of  voice  genuinely  curious,    leaning  towards  her  as  if  that  would  make  him  understand  her  better,    as  if  proximity  is  the  only  thing  that  distanced  the  two  of  them  in  this  moment.    ❛    i  fear  you  may  be  right,    ❜    he  says,    putting  down  the  jar  with  a  disappointed  look  on  his  face.    ❛    such  a  gift  might  be  so  bland  so  as  to  be  called  thoughtless  but  —    ❜ he  hesitates.    it  would  not  do  to  ignore  her  question  posed,    especially  when  he  purported  to  call  himself  a  gentleman  of  good  conduct,    but  it  would  be  no  stretch  of  the  imagination  to  call  it  highly  insinuative.    or  is  it?    the  season  always  brings  with  it  a  requirement  of  having  to  read  between  the  lines  but    —    then  again,    maybe  he’s  just  being  full  of  it.    or  full  of  himself.    either  way,    he  ought  to  be  more  charitable.    ❛    what  does  the  lady  recommend,  then?    ❜    he  asks.    ❛    especially  to  a  gentleman  who  is,    indeed,    in  search  of    —    something  prettier,    as  you  say.    ❜

london was wonderful at this time of year. with each day that passed, the streets filled with more and more fervour with each arrival of lords and ladies and defective diamonds ( of which she was sure they would never measure up to her and her personal delusions ). with all the hubbub, one simply never knew who they might run into.

it was simply pippa’s good fortunes that carry her to a window in which she spies aloysius ponsonby inspecting truffles and treats and what have you. therefore, as a woman who rarely refused the help of lady luck, of course she creeps into the store with all the stealth that a young lady in a daringly pink gown can muster and must now pretend to care about cheese lest she look like the crazed fangirl that she is. he doesn’t seem to notice the deception. or, if he does, he doesn’t say anything about it. either way: the duke of oxford is speaking to her. oh how she loves london in the season!

she could faint.

pippa gives a giggle, light-headed with attention. “a gift for who, your grace? not another lady, i hope! because although wonderfully fragrant,” her dimples smile betrays nothing. “i fear you may be in search of something prettier?”