Read Online The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series) by L. A. Hilden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: L. A. Hilden
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things about me.”
“Oh, nothing but the kindest words ever leave her lips,” Mother assured her.
“Lady Spritewater is a very nice woman. She never says a negative word about anyone.” Eve thought she should elaborate further, not wishing Lady Lydia to think they were saying unkind things about her. “Besides, I’m sure you are not one to cause gossip.”
Lydia laughed uneasily as if she wasn’t sure such a trend would last. “Let’s hope it stays that way.”
“It better,” Paxton said solemnly.
“That should work both ways, my lord.” Eve smiled at him.
“Are you ready to go, Lady Evelyn?” Count Vernon returned carrying Eve and Cassie’s cloaks over his arm. Drat the man! If Devonhurst was going to stay by her side, fatigue be hanged. She’d stay until the sun came up.
“Oh…um, yes.” Eve hesitated, allowing the count to drape her cloak around her. It seemed she was to leave when she suddenly didn’t wish to. She fastened the broach around her throat, looking up at Paxton’s princely features, hoping he’d somehow delay her departure. But he was glaring at her. She pasted on a smile for everyone’s benefit, perplexed by his rude stare. What is wrong with the man now? “It was nice to have met you, Lady Lydia. Perhaps you will call on us for tea sometime?”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mother agreed, reaching in her handbag to retrieve a card with their address to give to Lydia. Eve wondered why her mother was taking such an interest in Paxton’s sister but assumed it was because her mother felt Lady Lydia was too young to be in these environs.
“I would like that, thank you.” Lady Lydia smiled graciously.
“We will bid you all a good evening,” Paxton said stiffly as he escorted his sister away.
***
“What’s wrong?” Lydia asked, loosening Paxton’s grip on her arm. He had informed her they were leaving.
“I’m tired.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re never tired. It’s Lady Evelyn, isn’t it? She’s the one you were waiting for earlier. I saw the two of you dancing. Everyone kept speculating as to why the Earl of Devonhurst would suddenly take part in dancing. A love interest perhaps?” Paxton scowled at her. “I didn’t say it.” Lydia let him help her with her cloak and they walked out into the starry night to their awaiting carriage. After they were seated inside, Paxton rapped on the roof to signal the driver.
“Lady Evelyn’s not too young and she has a look of intelligence about her,” Lydia informed him. “She stood up to you, which means I like her. Plus she’s quite pretty, which I’m sure you noticed.”
“I’ve noticed,” Paxton replied with a sneer.
“I don’t see why you’re upset. So you like her. She seems to like you too. Of course it goes without saying that she will want marriage. Is that what’s bothering you?” Lydia waited for a response, but Paxton quietly looked out the carriage window at the passing houses. He didn’t wish to think about marriage.
“You don’t have to answer. I know that’s the reason you’re agitated. I can’t believe you fear women to such an extent that you refuse to marry. I never imagined you were such a coward. Now if you ask me, you are in need of an heir and…”
“I didn’t ask you. I’m not afraid of women. And I’ve never been a coward,” Paxton said heatedly.
“Well no, but let us pretend you did ask me. I would tell you that you and Lady Evelyn seem like a suitable match.”
Paxton couldn’t take much more of his sister’s praising of Eve. It was already proving impossible to remove the woman from his thoughts. How dare Evelyn let that villainous French count take her home? And here he had thought to offer to escort her home. The situation had him wondering about her relationship with the count again. Lydia was still talking when Paxton came out of his reverie. “Speaking of suitable matches, was anyone able to hold your interest this evening?” he asked,
“Oh, nothing but the kindest words ever leave her lips,” Mother assured her.
“Lady Spritewater is a very nice woman. She never says a negative word about anyone.” Eve thought she should elaborate further, not wishing Lady Lydia to think they were saying unkind things about her. “Besides, I’m sure you are not one to cause gossip.”
Lydia laughed uneasily as if she wasn’t sure such a trend would last. “Let’s hope it stays that way.”
“It better,” Paxton said solemnly.
“That should work both ways, my lord.” Eve smiled at him.
“Are you ready to go, Lady Evelyn?” Count Vernon returned carrying Eve and Cassie’s cloaks over his arm. Drat the man! If Devonhurst was going to stay by her side, fatigue be hanged. She’d stay until the sun came up.
“Oh…um, yes.” Eve hesitated, allowing the count to drape her cloak around her. It seemed she was to leave when she suddenly didn’t wish to. She fastened the broach around her throat, looking up at Paxton’s princely features, hoping he’d somehow delay her departure. But he was glaring at her. She pasted on a smile for everyone’s benefit, perplexed by his rude stare. What is wrong with the man now? “It was nice to have met you, Lady Lydia. Perhaps you will call on us for tea sometime?”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mother agreed, reaching in her handbag to retrieve a card with their address to give to Lydia. Eve wondered why her mother was taking such an interest in Paxton’s sister but assumed it was because her mother felt Lady Lydia was too young to be in these environs.
“I would like that, thank you.” Lady Lydia smiled graciously.
“We will bid you all a good evening,” Paxton said stiffly as he escorted his sister away.
***
“What’s wrong?” Lydia asked, loosening Paxton’s grip on her arm. He had informed her they were leaving.
“I’m tired.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re never tired. It’s Lady Evelyn, isn’t it? She’s the one you were waiting for earlier. I saw the two of you dancing. Everyone kept speculating as to why the Earl of Devonhurst would suddenly take part in dancing. A love interest perhaps?” Paxton scowled at her. “I didn’t say it.” Lydia let him help her with her cloak and they walked out into the starry night to their awaiting carriage. After they were seated inside, Paxton rapped on the roof to signal the driver.
“Lady Evelyn’s not too young and she has a look of intelligence about her,” Lydia informed him. “She stood up to you, which means I like her. Plus she’s quite pretty, which I’m sure you noticed.”
“I’ve noticed,” Paxton replied with a sneer.
“I don’t see why you’re upset. So you like her. She seems to like you too. Of course it goes without saying that she will want marriage. Is that what’s bothering you?” Lydia waited for a response, but Paxton quietly looked out the carriage window at the passing houses. He didn’t wish to think about marriage.
“You don’t have to answer. I know that’s the reason you’re agitated. I can’t believe you fear women to such an extent that you refuse to marry. I never imagined you were such a coward. Now if you ask me, you are in need of an heir and…”
“I didn’t ask you. I’m not afraid of women. And I’ve never been a coward,” Paxton said heatedly.
“Well no, but let us pretend you did ask me. I would tell you that you and Lady Evelyn seem like a suitable match.”
Paxton couldn’t take much more of his sister’s praising of Eve. It was already proving impossible to remove the woman from his thoughts. How dare Evelyn let that villainous French count take her home? And here he had thought to offer to escort her home. The situation had him wondering about her relationship with the count again. Lydia was still talking when Paxton came out of his reverie. “Speaking of suitable matches, was anyone able to hold your interest this evening?” he asked,
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