Unconventional Suitors 01 - Her Unconventional Suitor (15 page)

As soon as they were in her room, Gillian slammed the door shut and collapsed against it. “Sarah, what you saw in there was…”

“None of my affair, my lady.”

Gillian looked at her trying to judge her sincerity. “Please do not tell my father, or anyone else for that matter.”

“Your secret is safe with me, though I do suggest that if you feel the need to discuss your mother with Lord Danford in the future, you do so with more discretion.”

Gillian smiled at her maid’s coded terminology for the intimacy she had just witnessed between her and Lord Danford. “Thank you.”

***

Benedict drummed his fingers against the arm of the settee as he waited for Lady Gillian to return. His tight breeches felt deuced uncomfortable after the passionate encounter he had just experienced with her. From the very first time he had ever laid eyes on Lady Gillian, he thought her exceptionally and undoubtedly beautiful, but seeing her standing in the entryway, her magnificent hair wild and free, nearly reaching all the way to her waist, her brown eyes tortured and vulnerable, he had felt bewitched, overcome with a longing unlike any he had ever experienced. He would have to be careful around her in the future, so as not to jeopardize her virtue, for heaven knew he was tempted to do just that.

He tried to occupy himself with some of the hot tea a maid had brought in, but it was of no use, for he wanted nothing more than to occupy himself with Lady Gillian—whether that be in person or by entertaining wicked fantasies of her in his head.

When the object of his fantasies finally returned, he rose from the settee to greet her. “Please, have a seat and tell me what you were so upset about before I distracted you.”

Lady Gillian’s cheeks flushed a soft pink as she sat. “My mother and father got into a heated argument yesterday and my father told her that if she couldn’t cease being stubborn, he would be forced to send her away to our house in the country.”

“I am sorry,” he replied sincerely.

Lady Gillian took a drink of the now lukewarm tea before making a dissatisfied moue with her lips and setting the teacup back in the saucer. “My father has sent a missive to my Aunt Miranda instructing her to come to London and act as my chaperone for the remainder of the season.”

“When will she arrive?”

“It shouldn’t be long, for she is staying only a half a day’s ride from London. I assume it will take a day or two for her to make her preparations, but knowing Aunt Miranda as I do, she will not tarry long.”

Benedict gave her an encouraging smile. “Well, in a few days’ time all will be well. You will be able to go about the season as before.”

Benedict watched as Lady Gillian sat thinking, her face scrunching up adorably. “But Benedict, aren’t you curious as to what my parents disagreement was about?”

“Not entirely. I just assumed it was a private matter and therefore none of my concern.”

“But it is your concern,” she huffed. “Or at least, you should be made aware of it because it does involve you.”

“Me?” Benedict asked, perplexed.

“Yes, you. My parents were arguing about whether or not I should be allowed to court you. My mother, unsurprisingly, was against it which angered my father to no end.”

Benedict had yet to have the pleasure of meeting the Duke of Chesley, but he was already starting to like him. “Am I correct in assuming that your father gave his permission?”

“He did, much to my mother’s chagrin. I tried to convince her that she didn’t have to do anything so dramatic as leaving Town in the middle of the season, but she refused to stay and watch her eldest daughter be courted by an…”

“Unfashionable half-wit?” Benedict offered dryly, thoroughly tired of hearing the overused term.

“Benedict, you are not a half-wit,” she exclaimed with disdain.

“But I am unfashionable, would you not agree?”

Lady Gillian squirmed slightly in her chair. “If I may be so bold, my lord, yes, yes you are quite unfashionable.” For some reason, it humored Benedict to hear her admit it and he laughed. “What is so humorous about my admission?” she asked, clearly perplexed.

“I do not know,” he answered honestly. “Though I must admit I am relieved to know my appearance isn’t a deterrent to you.”

Lady Gillian rose from her seat and came to sit next to him on the settee. “Lord Danford, I would be drawn to you regardless of your appearance.”

“Truly?” he asked with surprise, not entirely convinced of her sincerity.

“Truly,” she stated bluntly, as if she were offended he would even question her. “I am far more interested in the person you are than in what clothing you wear.”

“Well what if my face was badly scared and deformed, would you like me then?” he asked as he distorted his face in a rather silly way.

Lady Gillian laughed as she swatted at his arm. “Do stop that nonsense. And to answer your questions, yes, Lord Danford, I would. You fascinate me, you amuse me, and I love the way I feel when I am in your presence. Despite my propensity for boldness, sometimes when I am in the presence of others I get nervous and clam up in a most unbecoming fashion and I can’t think of a single word to utter. With you, I do not feel that way. I never have.”

Benedict reached for her hand, smiling proudly at her admission. “I too have always felt rather at ease with you.”

Lady Gillian gave him a wan smile. “Unfortunately, my mother does not feel the same. Appearances and reputations are enormously important to her, far more important to her than compatibility and emotions it would seem.”

“She sounds a lot like my mother,” he muttered under his breath.

Lady Gillian ignored him. “Fortunately, the things I adore about you are inside of you regardless of your appearance, and the things my mother abhors can be fixed. If I may be so bold—”

“But of course. It’s one of the things I like best about you,” he interrupted.

She gave him a small smile before continuing, “The solution to the problem is so very simple. If you commission a new wardrobe, my mother would no longer object to our association and would be free to return to London. Then, things could truly continue as they were before.”

Benedict knew she was going to suggest a new wardrobe long before the words ever escaped her lips. He looked into her hope-filled eyes and tried to determine the best way to let her down. The solution, according to her, was simple and it would surely satisfy not only her mother but his as well, but the satisfaction would only be temporary.

He sensed his slow response made her nervous when she took both of his hands and said, “Please do it, if only to restore harmony to my family.”

Looking into her pleading eyes, Benedict wished with everything in him that he could offer her the world, for certainly she deserved it. “If it will make you happy, I will consult with a tailor about updating my wardrobe,” he finally agreed, though he knew it was a lie.

Lady Gillian threw her arms around his neck tightly. “Benedict St. Claire, you are simply the best. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint.”

Benedict’s heart sank. If she really knew he had no designs to alter his wardrobe until after they were securely wed, she’d be livid. Simply put, he would have to keep her from finding out for he much preferred a willing Lady Gillian to a livid one.

Nearly a week had passed without Benedict seeing Lady Gillian even once. With her Aunt Miranda yet to arrive in London, she was forced to refrain from participating in the entertainments of the season until her chaperone arrived. Her absence from fashionable events such as the Smithson Ball caused the rumor mill to begin working overtime.

Benedict assumed it was the Duke of Chesley’s doing when word began circulating that the Duchess had merely been called away from Town to see to a family emergency involving her ill sister. Many young bucks had been relieved to hear that Lady Gillian would soon be returning to the social scene, but none more anxious than Benedict himself. And though he thoroughly enjoyed the near daily missives he received from her, they were not a satisfactory substitute to being in her company.

It had been a great relief to him when he received word just the day prior that her Aunt Miranda had finally arrived and that she would be attending the dinner party that Miss Graham’s sister was hosting that night. Benedict had paid a visit to Miss Graham informing her that he no longer needed her assistance in making Lady Gillian jealous, but by then her sister Bethany had already anxiously and excitedly began planning the dinner party and neither Miss Graham nor Benedict thought it wise to encourage her to cancel it. Now, instead of the party being a means to make Lady Gillian jealous, it would be the means to reunite the two and allow them to spend time in one another’s company after the painfully long week of deprivation.

Benedict’s step was light as he approached the Viscount Cantrell’s townhouse. He was looking forward to seeing Lady Gillian with great delight. The butler showed him into the drawing room where the Viscount and Vicountess were making their introductions to the guests as they arrived. A cursory glance around the room told him that he was the first of the guests to arrive besides Marcus and Miss Graham.

Lady Cantrell’s eyes lit up as Benedict approached. He took her hand and kissed it lightly as he bowed before her. “Lord Danford, what a delight. It has been ages since I have last seen you.”

Benedict rose. “The delight is all mine. You have not aged a day in my absence. You look just as youthful and lovely as ever.”

Lady Cantrell giggled as she signaled her husband to move to her side. “I’d like to introduce you to my husband, the Viscount Cantrell.”

Benedict bowed before the man. “Pleased to meet you, Lord Cantrell.”

“The honor is all mine. I have heard rather amusing things about your character and must admit I have been most anxious to meet you.”

Benedict’s eyes shifted to Marcus and Miss Graham, and he wondered briefly what they had told him. “Well I hope I can live up to your lofty expectations,” he told the viscount, though he wasn’t entirely sure what those expectations were.

“You already have,” he replied with a hearty chuckle, but before Benedict could decipher what he meant, more guests had arrived and Lord Cantrell’s attention was quickly diverted.

Benedict strolled over to Miss Graham’s side and watched as a lady with deep auburn hair walked into the room with an older lady with wiry gray hair and a pinched face at her side. He had seen her before but he couldn’t remember her name. Miss Graham leaned over and whispered, “That is Lady Adel.”

“Ah ha,” he said. “I thought she looked familiar. I have heard an awful lot about her and shall be delighted to further my acquaintance with the lady.”

Evil thoughts began swirling through his mind as he sized up the girl that Griffin was so besotted with, though he denied it adamantly. “Do not tell me that you invited Griffin as well,” he inquired barely above a whisper as he leaned in towards Miss Graham.

“Marcus made me,” she said with a scowl. “I hope that Lady Adel will be able to forgive me.”

Benedict remembered the girl’s conversation he had overheard in the library. He now realized it was Lady Adel whom he had heard expressing such ardent dislike for Griffin. “I hope so as well,” he added empathetically.

Lady Adel and her chaperone were followed by a very proper and stoic looking Warren. Benedict turned to Miss Graham in frustration. “You did not have to invite all of my idiotic friends. They are not precisely in my good graces as of late.”

“La! It was not my idea!” she exclaimed, perturbed by his chastisement. “Once Marcus heard about the party, he extended the invitations himself. How could I dissuade him?”

Benedict let out a low growl. “Are you certain you didn’t invite Lord Dawkins for your own pleasure?”

Miss Graham turned angry eyes on him as she swatted his arm with her fan. “Hush, Lord Danford. Do not attempt to fluster me or I will seek to embarrass you in like manner.”

Benedict forced the irritation he felt at his friend’s presence to evaporate. “Forgive me, my lady. I do not wish to remain on your bad side, for I am indebted to you for all you have done for me.”

“Yes, but do not forget that you will owe me in return. I have not simply aided your plight merely out of kindness.”

“Yes, I do remember,” he admitted softly.

As soon as Warren was finished with his introductions to their hostess, he and Marcus joined him and Miss Graham in front of the fireplace. “You are looking well this evening,” Warren said to Benedict. “Did you get a new waistcoat?”

Benedict glanced down to the ghastly purple and orange striped waistcoat he was wearing. “As a matter of fact, I did. I had it fashioned after the one I saw you wearing at White’s last week.”

“You must be mistaken. I have never worn something so hideous in my life. Tell him, Marcus.”

Marcus chuckled at his friend’s obvious discomfort. “Why do we not ask Griffin? He is heading this way just now.”

All eyes turned to look as Griffin strolled arrogantly towards them. “Griffin, Benedict just informed us that he had his waistcoat fashioned after the one that Warren was seen wearing at White’s last week. You do remember Warren’s similar waistcoat, do you not?”

Griffin was quick to pick up on Marcus’s teasing tone. “But of course. I thought it just as hideous on him as I do on Benedict.”

Warren rolled his eyes as Benedict laughed. It was refreshing to have his friends poking fun of someone else besides himself.

Within the next ten minutes, the remainder of the guests had all arrived—Lady Lydia arrived with her cousin, Lord Evander, much to Benedict’s chagrin, followed by Lady Elizabeth and her brother, whom he was certain were invited per Marcus’s request. Lastly, Lady Gillian arrived, looking ravishing draped in a pale pink silk dress with short, puffed sleeves and frilly flounces at the hem. Her hair was pulled up into a Grecian knot with several ringlets framing her angelic face. Benedict wanted to run to her side, but he refrained, instead remaining firmly next to Miss Graham, desperately trying to pretend that Lady Gillian’s presence did not affect him so intensely. She was so beautiful, and she was going to be his.