Read Online The Reluctant Debutante by Becky Lower - Free Book Online
Authors: Becky Lower
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rules would be set aside for tonight’s dinner. Which meant each would be given even more time to bore her senseless. She rolled her eyes and promised herself to get through the tedious evening on the horizon. Every time one of “the gnats” got on her nerves, she’d give herself the present of stealing a secret glance at Joseph.
She drew in a long breath as she gazed at her reflection one last time. She daubed a bit of lilac water behind her ears.
“Okay, I guess I’m ready,” she whispered to Colleen.
She ran a hand over her quivering stomach as she stood at the top of the stairs listening to voices coming from the salon, where the guests were gathering prior to dinner.
“You’re more than ready, miss. Don’t forget to have some fun this evening, too. Go on with you, then, down the stairs.”
• • •
“Basil, you look so handsome tonight,” Ginger gushed as she entered the room and took hold of her brother’s hands.
He leaned down and kissed his younger sister on the cheek. Then he whispered in her ear, “And you look like you forgot the top half of your dress. What are you thinking?”
She smiled up at him. “Don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy, Basil. You know this doesn’t begin to compare with the some of the shocking attire your actress friends wear. Besides, Mother approved of this dress.”
“Well, then, I guess she does intend to marry you off this season. From the looks of the eager young men in attendance tonight, she’ll have little to worry about.”
“And where is your friend, Joseph?”
“I am here, Miss Fitzpatrick,” Joseph said quietly from behind her.
Ginger turned around with a start, and looked up into his warm, brown eyes. His hand found hers. He wore a finely cut, short black wool coat layered over a silk brocade vest. The white ascot seemed to glow against his brown neck. Striped pants stretched over his muscular thighs and his boots were polished to a high gleam. His long black hair was sleeked back from his face and tied at the nape of his neck, bringing his exotic features into high relief. She caught her breath.
“Please, Joseph, call me Ginger. There’s no need for such formality when we’re in a private setting.” He continued to hold her hand, and his eyes locked with her own. “You cut a dashing figure tonight.”
Joseph’s eyes left her face for the first time, and drifted slowly over her body. “As do you, Ginger.”
The way he said her name made it sound almost like a caress. Ginger shivered slightly as his hand finally released hers. She closed her eyes briefly, to embed this moment forever onto her senses.
“There you are, Miss Fitzpatrick!”
The mood was broken abruptly as William Davenport muscled his way into the small group. Every society columnist in New York considered William to be the best catch of the season. The columnists even had ventured a guess he had already laid claim to young Miss Ginger Fitzpatrick. They did make a most handsome couple, with her unique hair coloring and small build and his blond hair topping his tall military-trained physique. He captured her hand, so recently warmed by Joseph, and kissed her wrist.
“Your dress is perfection, Miss Fitzpatrick. If I were proficient with verse, I’d write a sonnet about this gown.” His eyes raked over her as he made his pronouncement. As he straightened he looked squarely at Joseph, whom he had met at the Cotillion a few nights back. “Oh, Lafontaine, you’re here. Rumor has it you brought some horses to New York from the frontier. I’d like to see them.”
Basil clamped Joseph on the shoulder as he answered William. “Yes, Joseph did indeed bring some horses with him. I’m not really a qualified judge of horseflesh, but these are fast, beautiful animals. Are you interested in buying a new one?”
William snorted at the suggestion. “My steed is the best money can buy. My father decided an Army horse wasn’t good enough for me, and presented me with a
She drew in a long breath as she gazed at her reflection one last time. She daubed a bit of lilac water behind her ears.
“Okay, I guess I’m ready,” she whispered to Colleen.
She ran a hand over her quivering stomach as she stood at the top of the stairs listening to voices coming from the salon, where the guests were gathering prior to dinner.
“You’re more than ready, miss. Don’t forget to have some fun this evening, too. Go on with you, then, down the stairs.”
• • •
“Basil, you look so handsome tonight,” Ginger gushed as she entered the room and took hold of her brother’s hands.
He leaned down and kissed his younger sister on the cheek. Then he whispered in her ear, “And you look like you forgot the top half of your dress. What are you thinking?”
She smiled up at him. “Don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy, Basil. You know this doesn’t begin to compare with the some of the shocking attire your actress friends wear. Besides, Mother approved of this dress.”
“Well, then, I guess she does intend to marry you off this season. From the looks of the eager young men in attendance tonight, she’ll have little to worry about.”
“And where is your friend, Joseph?”
“I am here, Miss Fitzpatrick,” Joseph said quietly from behind her.
Ginger turned around with a start, and looked up into his warm, brown eyes. His hand found hers. He wore a finely cut, short black wool coat layered over a silk brocade vest. The white ascot seemed to glow against his brown neck. Striped pants stretched over his muscular thighs and his boots were polished to a high gleam. His long black hair was sleeked back from his face and tied at the nape of his neck, bringing his exotic features into high relief. She caught her breath.
“Please, Joseph, call me Ginger. There’s no need for such formality when we’re in a private setting.” He continued to hold her hand, and his eyes locked with her own. “You cut a dashing figure tonight.”
Joseph’s eyes left her face for the first time, and drifted slowly over her body. “As do you, Ginger.”
The way he said her name made it sound almost like a caress. Ginger shivered slightly as his hand finally released hers. She closed her eyes briefly, to embed this moment forever onto her senses.
“There you are, Miss Fitzpatrick!”
The mood was broken abruptly as William Davenport muscled his way into the small group. Every society columnist in New York considered William to be the best catch of the season. The columnists even had ventured a guess he had already laid claim to young Miss Ginger Fitzpatrick. They did make a most handsome couple, with her unique hair coloring and small build and his blond hair topping his tall military-trained physique. He captured her hand, so recently warmed by Joseph, and kissed her wrist.
“Your dress is perfection, Miss Fitzpatrick. If I were proficient with verse, I’d write a sonnet about this gown.” His eyes raked over her as he made his pronouncement. As he straightened he looked squarely at Joseph, whom he had met at the Cotillion a few nights back. “Oh, Lafontaine, you’re here. Rumor has it you brought some horses to New York from the frontier. I’d like to see them.”
Basil clamped Joseph on the shoulder as he answered William. “Yes, Joseph did indeed bring some horses with him. I’m not really a qualified judge of horseflesh, but these are fast, beautiful animals. Are you interested in buying a new one?”
William snorted at the suggestion. “My steed is the best money can buy. My father decided an Army horse wasn’t good enough for me, and presented me with a
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