Read Online A Lady's Favor by Josi S. Kilpack - Free Book Online Page B

at his own light touch. He walked to a decorative looking glass on the wall and cringed at his reflection. The bruising beneath both his eyes was even more pronounced than it had been when he woke up, and his nose was twice its usual size. What would Mrs. Davidson think if he appeared on her doorstep looking so repulsive? He needed to convince Bianca’s mother he was a gentleman but appearing like this would do the exact opposite. Yet he had to explain. He had to see Bianca.
    “Perhaps you could send round a note and visit in a few days’ time,” Ambrose suggested. Gunderson had retreated, allowing the men to speak in private.
    No! Mathew screamed in his mind. He needed to address this now . He needed to explain to Bianca that he had meant that kiss. He had to tell her that he was falling in love with her and that every minute in her company had left him more impressed with her than he’d been the minute before. That was why he had kissed her. That was why he had risked them both with such a hasty action. Convincing her and her mother that he was sincere, trustworthy, and a good match was the only way he could make this right.
    Another glance at his reflection, however, deflated his ambition. He turned to his valet. “You think a note would be best?” he asked, too overwhelmed to trust his sense of urgency. He trusted Ambrose to be mindful of Mathew’s best interest when Mathew’s thinking was not clear. He would only have one chance to defend himself and state his intentions. He needed to make his best case and presentation when that opportunity arose.
    “Allowing tempers to cool and bruises to heal seems the right course,” Ambrose assured him.
    Mathew dropped his shoulders in defeat, but he nodded and turned back to his study. “I will write a letter then.”
    “Very good, sir. I shall see that it is delivered immediately.”

TEN
     
    Bianca was still in her dressing gown, thoroughly depressed over the events of the previous night when she heard a knock at the front door. Was it Mathew? Had he come to help her explain?
    She hadn’t dared leave her room all day, not knowing the mood of the household after last night’s disastrous turn, but reached the second-floor railing in time to see a man hand a note to Sherman. The aging butler thanked the man, put the note on the silver tray reserved for letters, and turned toward the drawing room.
    A moment later she could hear the exchange of voices—Sherman’s and Mama’s—but not clearly enough to discern any actual words. She took a breath, drew her dressing gown tighter at the waist, and proceeded down the stairs. She had tossed and turned all night, sick with worry for Mathew and embarrassed for both of them. Her desire to talk to him had not faded; in fact, she was more determined than ever.
    Mama looked up when Bianca entered the drawing room and quickly folded the paper she held in her hand and tucked it into the side of her sewing basket. Bianca kept her eyes on the letter, certain it was regarding last night but unwilling to allow it to distract her from the necessity of her course. She sat down across from her mother and put her hands in her lap with sincere humility. “I am so very sorry about everything that has happened, Mama. I am humiliated by the whole of it.”
    “As well you should be.” Mama then launched into a lecture, very much like the lecture from last night, about propriety and Bianca’s reputation as well as the family carrying the burden of shame along with her. “I do not know what you were thinking, Bianca,” she said when her ire wound itself down. “And I haven’t the faintest idea how to fix it, since Mr. Hensley’s interest was only superficial. You will be lucky if any man looks your way again!”
    Bianca nodded, accepting her mother’s tongue-lashing. She then paused a few seconds and took a breath. “I want to fix this, Mama, but to do so I must see Mr. Hensley.” Her eyes flicked to the clock on the mantel. It was