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Authors: Ginny Hartman
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heart. She wasn’t sure what she was beginning to feel for the unconventional earl, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to find out.
Chapter 7
The next day, Gillian was sitting in the drawing room working on embroidering a lettercase for her dear cousin Lillian when the butler came in and informed her and her mother that they had visitors. Gillian laid her embroidery gently on the arm of the settee and watched expectantly as her friend, Lady Lydia, and a strange gentleman she had never met before, entered the room.
The man was strikingly handsome with dark wavy hair that curled around his collar and vivid green eyes. She briefly wondered if perhaps her friend had a tendre for the man, for certainly she wouldn’t blame her if she did.
Lady Lydia rushed to her side, grabbing both of Gillian’s hands in her own. “Oh my friend, it has been far too long since I have paid you a visit.”
“I agree. Perhaps that gentleman has something to do with your absence as of late,” she said lowly as she tilted her head inconspicuously toward the stranger who was bowing before her mother.
Lady Lydia giggled. “Actually, that gentleman is to thank for our visit this afternoon. He is my cousin and begged me for an introduction to you.”
“Truly?” Gillian asked in surprise. “But I have never even seen the man before.”
“That is because he has only just arrived from the country this week. His first outing this season was the Trenton Ball where he first saw you, but he never had a chance to acquire a proper introduction.”
Gillian’s eyes scanned the man once more as he moved with her mother to her side. How odd that she wouldn’t have noticed him, she thought, for he was undeniably attractive, the very type of gentleman who would normally have garnered her attention.
“Gillian,” the duchess said as she interrupted Lady Lydia and herself. “I’d like to introduce you to the Viscount Evander. He has only just arrived from the country where he has been seeing to his ill mother’s well-being.”
“Pleased to meet you, Lord Evander,” she said sincerely. “My apologies that your mother has taken ill.”
Lord Evander raised her hand to his mouth and gently kissed her knuckles. “Indeed, the pleasure is all mine. And I thank you for your concern.”
Gillian’s curiosity got the best of her, and without even thinking she asked, “What is wrong with your poor mother?”
“Gillian, how impolite of you to ask,” her mother chided, embarrassed by her daughter’s boldness. Gillian briefly wondered, with irritation, when her mother would get used to her speaking her mind.
“Oh I do not mind at all,” Lord Evander quickly replied, smoothing over any awkwardness. “My mother has come down with pleurisy, but the physician assures me that she will recover in no time.”
“I am very delighted to hear that,” Gillian answered sincerely.
“As am I.”
“And how have your parents been, Lady Lydia? I have yet to see them in London this season,” the duchess asked politely.
“My parents have taken to Bath for a spell so my father can partake of the waters for his gout. My Aunt Harriet is chaperoning me until they return. If you ask me, I think my father only exaggerated his condition so he could have an excuse to be away from London. He grows increasingly more weary of the festivities of the season as the years go on.”
“Lady Lydia, I can see why you and my Gillian are such good friends. You both have a propensity for over-sharing.”
Lady Lydia appeared properly chastised as she lowered her eyes and her cheeks bloomed with color. Laughing, Gillian took her friends hand in her own. “Do not let mother’s words bother you. She is secretly pleased when a lady is bold.”
The Duchess of Chesley sucked in a shocked breath. “I absolutely am not, I abhor it.”
Sensing the tension in the air, Lord Evander once more broke in, “There is a time and a place for boldness, and it’s a ladies obligation to
Chapter 7
The next day, Gillian was sitting in the drawing room working on embroidering a lettercase for her dear cousin Lillian when the butler came in and informed her and her mother that they had visitors. Gillian laid her embroidery gently on the arm of the settee and watched expectantly as her friend, Lady Lydia, and a strange gentleman she had never met before, entered the room.
The man was strikingly handsome with dark wavy hair that curled around his collar and vivid green eyes. She briefly wondered if perhaps her friend had a tendre for the man, for certainly she wouldn’t blame her if she did.
Lady Lydia rushed to her side, grabbing both of Gillian’s hands in her own. “Oh my friend, it has been far too long since I have paid you a visit.”
“I agree. Perhaps that gentleman has something to do with your absence as of late,” she said lowly as she tilted her head inconspicuously toward the stranger who was bowing before her mother.
Lady Lydia giggled. “Actually, that gentleman is to thank for our visit this afternoon. He is my cousin and begged me for an introduction to you.”
“Truly?” Gillian asked in surprise. “But I have never even seen the man before.”
“That is because he has only just arrived from the country this week. His first outing this season was the Trenton Ball where he first saw you, but he never had a chance to acquire a proper introduction.”
Gillian’s eyes scanned the man once more as he moved with her mother to her side. How odd that she wouldn’t have noticed him, she thought, for he was undeniably attractive, the very type of gentleman who would normally have garnered her attention.
“Gillian,” the duchess said as she interrupted Lady Lydia and herself. “I’d like to introduce you to the Viscount Evander. He has only just arrived from the country where he has been seeing to his ill mother’s well-being.”
“Pleased to meet you, Lord Evander,” she said sincerely. “My apologies that your mother has taken ill.”
Lord Evander raised her hand to his mouth and gently kissed her knuckles. “Indeed, the pleasure is all mine. And I thank you for your concern.”
Gillian’s curiosity got the best of her, and without even thinking she asked, “What is wrong with your poor mother?”
“Gillian, how impolite of you to ask,” her mother chided, embarrassed by her daughter’s boldness. Gillian briefly wondered, with irritation, when her mother would get used to her speaking her mind.
“Oh I do not mind at all,” Lord Evander quickly replied, smoothing over any awkwardness. “My mother has come down with pleurisy, but the physician assures me that she will recover in no time.”
“I am very delighted to hear that,” Gillian answered sincerely.
“As am I.”
“And how have your parents been, Lady Lydia? I have yet to see them in London this season,” the duchess asked politely.
“My parents have taken to Bath for a spell so my father can partake of the waters for his gout. My Aunt Harriet is chaperoning me until they return. If you ask me, I think my father only exaggerated his condition so he could have an excuse to be away from London. He grows increasingly more weary of the festivities of the season as the years go on.”
“Lady Lydia, I can see why you and my Gillian are such good friends. You both have a propensity for over-sharing.”
Lady Lydia appeared properly chastised as she lowered her eyes and her cheeks bloomed with color. Laughing, Gillian took her friends hand in her own. “Do not let mother’s words bother you. She is secretly pleased when a lady is bold.”
The Duchess of Chesley sucked in a shocked breath. “I absolutely am not, I abhor it.”
Sensing the tension in the air, Lord Evander once more broke in, “There is a time and a place for boldness, and it’s a ladies obligation to
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