Read Online His Not So Sensible Miss (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time - Book 3) by Jane Charles - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jane Charles
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Duke and
Duchess of Ellings were announced, along with their daughter, Lady
Claresta. Dillon waited and watched but Emily didn’t appear. Where
was she? More families and debutantes came through the door and
still, she didn’t arrive. Masking his disappointment and avoiding
Phoebe’s curiosity, Dillon made his way to the card room. The
evening continued downhill as he proceeded to loose one hundred
pounds before he finally removed himself from the table.
Unable to keep Emily from his mind,
Dillon wandered back to the ball. Finally, he determined that he
would just ask about the lady. What harm could there be in
that?
As he made his way across the crowded
ballroom, he noted a dozen men and women surrounded the couple and
their daughter. Dillon couldn’t possibly begin to get close, nor
did he try but listened to snippets of conversations. Finally,
mother and daughter pulled away from the crowd, intent on their way
to the retiring room. Dillon was just about to interrupt as they
passed when he caught the girl’s words.
“ Oh mother, I can’t wait to
tell Emily about this evening.”
Dillon didn’t hear the mother’s reply,
but it did answer the question he had been asking himself. Emily
was with the ducal family, but for some reason had not attended.
Satisfied that he knew where she could be found, he left the ball.
Tomorrow would be another night and perhaps she would be
present.
* * *
Three nights and five balls later Emily
still hadn’t made an appearance. Dillon arranged to be close to
Lady Claresta long enough to pick up on conversations with her
mother. Emily was still in residence though for the life of him, he
couldn’t understand why she was not accompanying the family. Emily
had insisted that she wasn’t coming to London for a husband. Dillon
just hadn’t been able to believe that a beautiful young lady would
choose to stay home instead of attending balls and other
activities. Such a characteristic in a wife only made her more
desirable to him.
He may just have to present himself on
the duke’s doorstep. It wasn’t how he had wanted their first
meeting in society to occur, but if necessary, he would take those
steps. Walking from the ballroom, he vowed that if Emily didn’t
attend any functions by the end of the week, he would call on her
at her home. The only reason he hadn’t called on her yet was she
couldn’t yell and scream at him in public. In a private home,
nothing kept her from venting her anger. He wanted to let the shock
sink in and let her think about the situation, and understand why
he’d withheld his full name before they were alone.
* * *
Emily was able to avoid going into
society for five days before Her Grace forced her to accompany
them. She had successfully avoided attending any balls or dinners
but the musicale was something Her Grace would not let her
miss.
“ The time will come, Emily,
when I will want you to accompany Claresta, even if it is simply
for a drive in the park. I don’t want you to be a stranger to the
others.”
“ If I remain as a chaperon
or companion in the background, that is all anyone will think I am
and ignore me,” Emily argued.
“ You are not a chaperon nor
companion to my daughter. You are our ward and thus should take
your place in society,” Her Grace pointed out.
“ I have no place in society.
You know that as well as I. Why can’t I just simply be Claresta’s
companion?”
“ Because His Grace would
like to see you out amongst the gentry. He still hopes to see you
settled.” The duchess smiled softly to her.
It was on the tip of Emily’s tongue to
confide in the woman who was much a mother to her as her own had
been, but Emily wasn’t sure what she should confide. She knew so
little of Dillon and Her Grace might find her behavior scandalous
and disappointing.
Sighing, Emily turned for the door of
the drawing room. “Very well. I will dress for this evening and
return shortly.”
“ Emily,” Her Grace
Duchess of Ellings were announced, along with their daughter, Lady
Claresta. Dillon waited and watched but Emily didn’t appear. Where
was she? More families and debutantes came through the door and
still, she didn’t arrive. Masking his disappointment and avoiding
Phoebe’s curiosity, Dillon made his way to the card room. The
evening continued downhill as he proceeded to loose one hundred
pounds before he finally removed himself from the table.
Unable to keep Emily from his mind,
Dillon wandered back to the ball. Finally, he determined that he
would just ask about the lady. What harm could there be in
that?
As he made his way across the crowded
ballroom, he noted a dozen men and women surrounded the couple and
their daughter. Dillon couldn’t possibly begin to get close, nor
did he try but listened to snippets of conversations. Finally,
mother and daughter pulled away from the crowd, intent on their way
to the retiring room. Dillon was just about to interrupt as they
passed when he caught the girl’s words.
“ Oh mother, I can’t wait to
tell Emily about this evening.”
Dillon didn’t hear the mother’s reply,
but it did answer the question he had been asking himself. Emily
was with the ducal family, but for some reason had not attended.
Satisfied that he knew where she could be found, he left the ball.
Tomorrow would be another night and perhaps she would be
present.
* * *
Three nights and five balls later Emily
still hadn’t made an appearance. Dillon arranged to be close to
Lady Claresta long enough to pick up on conversations with her
mother. Emily was still in residence though for the life of him, he
couldn’t understand why she was not accompanying the family. Emily
had insisted that she wasn’t coming to London for a husband. Dillon
just hadn’t been able to believe that a beautiful young lady would
choose to stay home instead of attending balls and other
activities. Such a characteristic in a wife only made her more
desirable to him.
He may just have to present himself on
the duke’s doorstep. It wasn’t how he had wanted their first
meeting in society to occur, but if necessary, he would take those
steps. Walking from the ballroom, he vowed that if Emily didn’t
attend any functions by the end of the week, he would call on her
at her home. The only reason he hadn’t called on her yet was she
couldn’t yell and scream at him in public. In a private home,
nothing kept her from venting her anger. He wanted to let the shock
sink in and let her think about the situation, and understand why
he’d withheld his full name before they were alone.
* * *
Emily was able to avoid going into
society for five days before Her Grace forced her to accompany
them. She had successfully avoided attending any balls or dinners
but the musicale was something Her Grace would not let her
miss.
“ The time will come, Emily,
when I will want you to accompany Claresta, even if it is simply
for a drive in the park. I don’t want you to be a stranger to the
others.”
“ If I remain as a chaperon
or companion in the background, that is all anyone will think I am
and ignore me,” Emily argued.
“ You are not a chaperon nor
companion to my daughter. You are our ward and thus should take
your place in society,” Her Grace pointed out.
“ I have no place in society.
You know that as well as I. Why can’t I just simply be Claresta’s
companion?”
“ Because His Grace would
like to see you out amongst the gentry. He still hopes to see you
settled.” The duchess smiled softly to her.
It was on the tip of Emily’s tongue to
confide in the woman who was much a mother to her as her own had
been, but Emily wasn’t sure what she should confide. She knew so
little of Dillon and Her Grace might find her behavior scandalous
and disappointing.
Sighing, Emily turned for the door of
the drawing room. “Very well. I will dress for this evening and
return shortly.”
“ Emily,” Her Grace
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