The Bridgerton Eight

Annoyingly Good Looking Even Looks Good Annoyed

Wednesday—November 25th, 2020

Daphne glared at him as he chuckled at her expense. She didn't know who he was so he couldn't have been in town for long, otherwise she'd have heard all about him. For his face was frankly perfection. It took only a moment to realize that he put all of Michelangelo's statues to shame. His eyes were oddly intense—so blue they practically glowed—and his hair was black and cut stylish.

This was a man, Daphne thought wryly, who could easily steal the spotlight away from the Bridgerton men for good. Why that annoyed her so much, she didn't know. Maybe it was because she knew a man like him would never be interested in a woman like her. Maybe it was because she felt like the veriest frump standing there in his splendid presence. Maybe it was just because he was laughing as if she were some sort of circus amusement.

Simon didn't know why he didn't give her a straightforward answer, but some devil within made him reply, "My intention was to be your rescuer, but you clearly have no need of my services."

"Oh," the girl said, sounding slightly abashed. She clamped her lips together, twisting them slightly as she considered his words. "Well, thank you, I guess. Shame you didn't reveal yourself ten seconds earlier. I'd prefer not to have hit him."

Simon looked down at the man on the ground. Blood was coming out of his nose, and he was moaning, "Laffy, I think you broke my nose! Laffy!"

"Laffy?" Simon murmured, sliding his gaze up to her face. Really, she was quite an attractive little thing, and from his height the bodice of her blouse seemed almost decadently low.

She scowled at him, clearly not appreciating his attempt at subtle humor—and also clearly not realizing that his heavy-lidded gaze had rested on portions of her anatomy that were not her face. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Do you even work here? You don't look like you work here."

"I could ask you the same thing," Simon said.

Her scowl deepened. "Yes, but I'm clearly visiting someone who works here. Are you visiting someone?"

"Something like that." Simon crossed his arms and assessed the situation. "Do you want me to drag him out into the streets in shame?"

Eric's eyes widened and he looked at the girl fearing her answer.

"Tempting," she said. "But not worth your time. Or mine."

Eric sighed in relief.

"You're a more generous soul than I, then," Simon said quietly.

It was the girl's turn to sigh, a soft, breathy sound that Simon somehow felt across his entire body. She turned to Eric. "I'm sorry I came over. I shouldn't have done that. And I'm sorry I asked you for money, Eric," she said with quiet dignity. "Truth is... I'm on the brink of losing my business. I will do whatever it takes to save it, Eric. If you're not going to help me, I'll find someone who will."

Simon felt a strange sort of admiration for this girl. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind or to admit that she needed somebody's help. He felt strangely curious to know more about her, like what kind of business she had and the problems with it, but it wasn't his place to ask.

She headed toward the door but stopped when Eric called her name. "You broke my nose, Laffy," he sniffed, still clutching at his face.

She looked over her shoulder at him and answered, "Well, you broke my heart, Eric." And then she was out of there.

Simon didn't move for about ten seconds and then he had to follow her. He caught up with her at the elevator and when the door closed, sealing them alone, Simon couldn't help but stare. Her clothes were a perfect fit, revealing her curves to perfection. Her hair was styled so that one thick lock fell over her shoulder, curling seductively at the top of her breast. She started to say something and Simon knew he should be listening to her, but he couldn't seem to take his eyes off that single dark lock of hair. It fell like a silky ribbon across her swanlike neck, and he had the urge to close the distance between them and trace the line of her hair with his lips. Maybe his tongue.