Read Online A Debutante's Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel - Free Book Online Page B

allowed
seven
sentences instead. “I could present a number of arguments refuting my suitability for the role,” he said with a frown. Before he could launch into his next six sentences, though, his uncle held up a hand.
    â€œEzekiel, this is not an argument we need to have. I’ve made my decision, and I intend to abide by it. Why do you think I’ve invited you to stay here for the Season? As my heir, you’ll need to spend a great deal more time with me. Whatever the statistics indicate about my life span, I hope we’ll have plenty of years to get you settled and comfortable with the idea.”
    Ezekiel stared at him. This made very little sense on a number of levels. “What about Lady Eddie?” he said.
    â€œWho?”
    Ezekiel shook his head a little. “Lady Mildred Weller. If you don’t intend to marry, why have you been courting her?”
    â€œCourting . . . ? Oh, dear. Have I given that impression? It certainly wasn’t my intention. She’s hardly more than a girl, Ezekiel. And the loneliest girl I think I have ever met. She reminds me of Jane.” His eldest daughter, now married. Ezekiel had met her only a few times, and spoken only a few words to her. At the time, he had imagined that she didn’t like him. Now, he wondered if she had been as shy as he felt around strangers. “She’s miserable every time I see her, so I try to cheer her up.”
    â€œOh,” Ezekiel said simply. He did not know how to react to the news. Part of him was exultant. Part of him was imagining what it would be like to relay this news to Lady Eddie. She would be devastated. He did not understand her reasons for wanting to marry his uncle, but it was obvious even to him how important it was to her. “I shall have to tell her,” he said softly.
    â€œTell Lady Mildred? Then she believes it as well.” Lord Averdale shook his head. “I never meant to mislead her that way. Poor girl. I should speak to her.”
    â€œNo, don’t,” Ezekiel said. “I’ll do it. We’re . . . friends.” He wasn’t sure that was precisely true. But if he was forced to name a friend, and Sophie was not an option, hers was the first name he would speak. Besides, it was he who had promised to help her, and therefore he who had failed her. He rose.
    â€œWill you go to speak to her now, then?” Lord Averdale asked.
    â€œYes,” Ezekiel said. “Yes, I think I had better.”
    â€œEzekiel, you and Lady Mildred are perhaps the two young people most in need of friendship, out of all of my acquaintances. You are both unusual, and that is not an easy thing to be. Be kind to her.”
    Ezekiel paused. Was it kinder to give her news that would sadden her, hurt her? Or to preserve her hope?
    He knew which he would prefer, and as
unusual
as he was, it was the only measurement he had to go by. He would want the truth. And so the truth she would have.
    ***
    Eddie returned to the house feeling vaguely sick. Had Sophie been playing with her? Taunting her? What about Mr. Blackwood? He had seemed to genuinely like her. They both had. And she’d liked them. She’d managed to forget her purpose in being there.
    Perhaps she was so hungry for any kind of approval that she was an easy target.
    â€œDarling, you look distressed,” her mother said. Eddie turned slowly. Lady Copeland was on the stairs, one hand on the banister and her eyes narrowed in appraisal. “Did Miss Osborn not return with you?”
    â€œMiss Osborn had her own business to attend to,” Eddie said.
    â€œDid she mention her uncle? Did he send her?”
    Eddie cocked her head to the side. “Why him?” she said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWhy Lord Averdale? Why do you want me to marry him? I’m still very young, Mother. Some people would say nineteen is too young to get married at all.” Though she might point out to