Poppy nodded along as Mr. Maxime detailed to her how he’d met her beloved cousin. While she could not imagine Atticus drunkenly doing much of anything, she could see him apologizing profusely the next day if he where to do something like steal a carriage. The rest all very much sounded like him and Poppy’s smile turned fond as she listened. “Yes,” the girl hummed. “He is a darling, my cousin.” Very helpful too, when he wanted to be. (Less so when he was being stubborn.) As the man turned blue eyes to appraise her, Poppy felt a soft blush color her cheeks even as she tried to keep it at bay. She wasn’t sure what he could possibly be looking at so intently, but she hoped he wouldn’t find her wanting in any regard. His response to her polite query seemed less than genuine then and Poppy tilted her head at him, mischievously wondering if she ought to call him out on his fib. He breezed past it quickly enough that she felt it might be rude of her to bring it up however, and instead very gallantly asked her to dance the next time they met. Well, that was certainly a turn she had not expected.
Was this what one was supposed to look out for when they were cautioned against gentlemen who might appear to be a rake?
The thought occurred quickly and dramatically, and all of a sudden Poppy found herself considering the gentleman before her in an entirely different light. She hated to be so set against anyone who might not deserve it until proven otherwise though and so dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come. She offered him a shy little smile in return. “Of course, Mr. Maxime,” she replied innocently, even as a mischievous look came to her features. “If you’re clever enough to find me in time.”
© Fox