Read Online A Gentleman Says "I Do" by Amelia Grey - Free Book Online
Authors: Amelia Grey
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Gottfried.”
“Good. Perhaps you can join Catalina and me for tea again soon.”
He glanced at Catalina. Amusement glittered in his eyes. She had the feeling he was letting her know if he couldn’t win her over, he would settle for her aunt.
“I’ll look forward to an invitation.”
Briggs pulled the landau to a stop and set the brake. He started to jump down from the driver’s box, but Catalina shook her head to let him know they were not ready to board and leave.
“Splendid,” Aunt Elle said, turning back to Catalina with a huge, satisfied smile. “Now, would you mind helping me into the carriage? We had a long wait at Mr. Frederick’s office, and I feel in need of a sip of tonic.”
“Auntie, I didn’t know you brought your tonic with you.”
“Of course I did.” She smiled and patted Catalina’s cheek affectionately. “I always have a dram or two with me. Unfortunately, not the kind you need for the neck pain you’re experiencing. You know, I’m not as young as I used to be, and I never know when I’m going to need a sip of something to invigorate me.” She took hold of Mr. Brentwood’s hand, and he helped her into the carriage. “Oh, and Mr. Brentwood…”
“Yes, madam?”
“In case Catalina forgets to tell you, we will be at Lady Windham’s party. Catalina’s dance schedule fills rapidly. Perhaps you should ask her to save a dance for you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Gottfried.”
Aunt Elle smiled. “You two stand where I can see you. I’ll chaperone you from here. We can’t have any of the nosy mamas passing by and starting gossip about courting, now can we?”
Mr. Brentwood turned back to Catalina as her aunt opened the satchel she’d brought with her and began digging through its contents.
“You had neck pain?” he asked with a playful grin lifting one corner of his mouth.
His teasing attitude was infectious, and even though she didn’t want to, she had to smile at him. “Yes, and I’m sure you won’t find it surprising to hear the pain started late yesterday, shortly after I met you.”
He laughed softly, causing a teasing prickle of something wonderful to tighten her breasts. It was maddening that she found him so attractive.
“You’re right. I don’t find that surprising. I felt a little roughed up myself after I left your house.”
Her smile turned into a comfortable grin. It annoyed her that he could be so delightful. “I’m glad to hear it. Now, can you tell me what you are doing here?”
“I was waiting for you to come out.”
“Mr. Brentwood, does that mean you are following me?”
His deep blue eyes watched her carefully as he shrugged. “I suppose I am.”
Her heartbeat quickened at his bold admission. “That’s not the sort of thing a gentleman is supposed to do.”
An expression of devilment flashed across his face. “After our meeting yesterday, I’m amazed I left you with the opinion that I’m a gentleman.”
Winning a battle of words against him was almost impossible. “Actually, you didn’t,” she said, keeping her humorous tone. “And obviously it was for a good reason, because you are not.”
“So most say.”
“And that causes you no anguish?”
For the briefest of moments, Catalina thought she saw a flash of regret in his eyes, reminding her that this man was not as tough as he wanted to appear. And suddenly she realized she had wanted to get the rest of A Tale of Three Gentlemen back as much for Mr. Brentwood as for her father. She didn’t want to cause this man any more anguish concerning his family.
He glanced down at his hat in his hands before meeting her gaze and saying, “None whatsoever. I freely admit to following you here. I arrived at your house in time to see you and Mrs. Gottfried getting into your landau. I told my driver to stay behind your carriage.”
Catalina didn’t know if she should be worried or flattered. A chilly breeze whistled past her ears. She welcomed the wind to cool her heating cheeks.
“Good. Perhaps you can join Catalina and me for tea again soon.”
He glanced at Catalina. Amusement glittered in his eyes. She had the feeling he was letting her know if he couldn’t win her over, he would settle for her aunt.
“I’ll look forward to an invitation.”
Briggs pulled the landau to a stop and set the brake. He started to jump down from the driver’s box, but Catalina shook her head to let him know they were not ready to board and leave.
“Splendid,” Aunt Elle said, turning back to Catalina with a huge, satisfied smile. “Now, would you mind helping me into the carriage? We had a long wait at Mr. Frederick’s office, and I feel in need of a sip of tonic.”
“Auntie, I didn’t know you brought your tonic with you.”
“Of course I did.” She smiled and patted Catalina’s cheek affectionately. “I always have a dram or two with me. Unfortunately, not the kind you need for the neck pain you’re experiencing. You know, I’m not as young as I used to be, and I never know when I’m going to need a sip of something to invigorate me.” She took hold of Mr. Brentwood’s hand, and he helped her into the carriage. “Oh, and Mr. Brentwood…”
“Yes, madam?”
“In case Catalina forgets to tell you, we will be at Lady Windham’s party. Catalina’s dance schedule fills rapidly. Perhaps you should ask her to save a dance for you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Gottfried.”
Aunt Elle smiled. “You two stand where I can see you. I’ll chaperone you from here. We can’t have any of the nosy mamas passing by and starting gossip about courting, now can we?”
Mr. Brentwood turned back to Catalina as her aunt opened the satchel she’d brought with her and began digging through its contents.
“You had neck pain?” he asked with a playful grin lifting one corner of his mouth.
His teasing attitude was infectious, and even though she didn’t want to, she had to smile at him. “Yes, and I’m sure you won’t find it surprising to hear the pain started late yesterday, shortly after I met you.”
He laughed softly, causing a teasing prickle of something wonderful to tighten her breasts. It was maddening that she found him so attractive.
“You’re right. I don’t find that surprising. I felt a little roughed up myself after I left your house.”
Her smile turned into a comfortable grin. It annoyed her that he could be so delightful. “I’m glad to hear it. Now, can you tell me what you are doing here?”
“I was waiting for you to come out.”
“Mr. Brentwood, does that mean you are following me?”
His deep blue eyes watched her carefully as he shrugged. “I suppose I am.”
Her heartbeat quickened at his bold admission. “That’s not the sort of thing a gentleman is supposed to do.”
An expression of devilment flashed across his face. “After our meeting yesterday, I’m amazed I left you with the opinion that I’m a gentleman.”
Winning a battle of words against him was almost impossible. “Actually, you didn’t,” she said, keeping her humorous tone. “And obviously it was for a good reason, because you are not.”
“So most say.”
“And that causes you no anguish?”
For the briefest of moments, Catalina thought she saw a flash of regret in his eyes, reminding her that this man was not as tough as he wanted to appear. And suddenly she realized she had wanted to get the rest of A Tale of Three Gentlemen back as much for Mr. Brentwood as for her father. She didn’t want to cause this man any more anguish concerning his family.
He glanced down at his hat in his hands before meeting her gaze and saying, “None whatsoever. I freely admit to following you here. I arrived at your house in time to see you and Mrs. Gottfried getting into your landau. I told my driver to stay behind your carriage.”
Catalina didn’t know if she should be worried or flattered. A chilly breeze whistled past her ears. She welcomed the wind to cool her heating cheeks.
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