Read Online Unconventional Suitors 01 - Her Unconventional Suitor by Ginny Hartman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ginny Hartman
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decipher when it is appropriate or not.” Gillian squinted her eyes at the man, her opinion of him lowering a tad. Fortunately, he redeemed himself when he continued to speak. “However, I myself am not offended by boldness in the least. I find it quite refreshing.”
Gillian grinned, highly impressed with the way he had just appeased her mother and herself at the same time—a rare feat indeed.
“My cousin and I must be on our way,” Lady Lydia said regretfully. “He has promised to take me into town to pick out a new bonnet since Aunt Harriet was too tired to go with me.”
“A very important errand, you understand,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “Will you ladies be at the Barringtide Ball this evening?”
Gillian looked to her mother for confirmation. “We will,” said the duchess.
“Delightful,” Lord Evander beamed at Gillian. “I’d be honored if you’d save me a dance.”
“Most Certainly, my lord.”
“Your Grace, my lady,” he said as he bowed before them. “Until tonight.”
Gillian embraced Lady Lydia before bidding her farewell. They had barely left the room when her mother turned to her, her eyes alight with pleasure. “That man is the pinkest of the pinks. You would do well to encourage his attentions.”
Gillian smiled. For once they were in agreement.
***
Benedict had been avoiding his mother since he had returned from his ride through Hyde Park with Lady Gillian the prior day, which had proved to be no easy task. He had largely kept to his rooms, the only thing keeping him from dying of boredom was reliving the time he had spent with Lady Gillian over and over in his mind.
He had been pleasantly surprised to learn that the beautiful chit was not as superficial as he had anticipated. She was a diamond of the first water, but her beauty went far deeper than her appearance. He found himself increasingly fascinated with the girl and slowly, the challenge of winning her hand in marriage was starting to appeal to him greatly. He had been counting down the hours until the next ball, anxious to see her again.
For the first time since his friends had gifted him with his new wardrobe, he didn’t cringe when it was time to dress for the evening. He had great hopes that Lady Gillian was beginning to see past his appearance to the man he was on the inside. Perhaps this bet would be easier to win than he had first thought.
Benedict descended the stairs, dressed in a prehistoric tailcoat an unsightly shade of puce. It was long and billowy in the back, but the front was cut too short, exposing too much of his plum colored waist coat. The snug breeches he wore made it hard for him to bend at the knee, making his descent down the stairs slow and awkward. And to add to his horror, when he finally made it to the landing, his mother was waiting for him, dressed in a tasteful yet elegant dress suited for a woman in half mourning.
“Benedict, you have been avoiding me.”
He didn’t even bother lying. “That is true, Mother, I have.”
“Why?”
Benedict scratched his head, furiously trying to conjure an acceptable excuse. When none was forthcoming, he went on the defense. “I simply did not wish to be questioned about my choice of apparel. I am a grown man and do not need your interference.”
“Well, I believed your silly excuse yesterday and allowed you to go see to your errands dressed so indecorously, but I am putting my foot down tonight. I will not allow you to escort me to the Barringtide Ball looking like a dunce. You will be the laughingstock of the season, and I refuse to be party to that. It is going to be one of my first events back in society since your father passed away, and I do not want it tainted by your horrendous behavior.”
“Then stay home, because I am going dressed as I am and that is final.”
His mother sucked in a shocked breath as she began furiously fanning her face. For a moment, Benedict wondered if she was going to faint. Guilt tugged at his
Gillian grinned, highly impressed with the way he had just appeased her mother and herself at the same time—a rare feat indeed.
“My cousin and I must be on our way,” Lady Lydia said regretfully. “He has promised to take me into town to pick out a new bonnet since Aunt Harriet was too tired to go with me.”
“A very important errand, you understand,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “Will you ladies be at the Barringtide Ball this evening?”
Gillian looked to her mother for confirmation. “We will,” said the duchess.
“Delightful,” Lord Evander beamed at Gillian. “I’d be honored if you’d save me a dance.”
“Most Certainly, my lord.”
“Your Grace, my lady,” he said as he bowed before them. “Until tonight.”
Gillian embraced Lady Lydia before bidding her farewell. They had barely left the room when her mother turned to her, her eyes alight with pleasure. “That man is the pinkest of the pinks. You would do well to encourage his attentions.”
Gillian smiled. For once they were in agreement.
***
Benedict had been avoiding his mother since he had returned from his ride through Hyde Park with Lady Gillian the prior day, which had proved to be no easy task. He had largely kept to his rooms, the only thing keeping him from dying of boredom was reliving the time he had spent with Lady Gillian over and over in his mind.
He had been pleasantly surprised to learn that the beautiful chit was not as superficial as he had anticipated. She was a diamond of the first water, but her beauty went far deeper than her appearance. He found himself increasingly fascinated with the girl and slowly, the challenge of winning her hand in marriage was starting to appeal to him greatly. He had been counting down the hours until the next ball, anxious to see her again.
For the first time since his friends had gifted him with his new wardrobe, he didn’t cringe when it was time to dress for the evening. He had great hopes that Lady Gillian was beginning to see past his appearance to the man he was on the inside. Perhaps this bet would be easier to win than he had first thought.
Benedict descended the stairs, dressed in a prehistoric tailcoat an unsightly shade of puce. It was long and billowy in the back, but the front was cut too short, exposing too much of his plum colored waist coat. The snug breeches he wore made it hard for him to bend at the knee, making his descent down the stairs slow and awkward. And to add to his horror, when he finally made it to the landing, his mother was waiting for him, dressed in a tasteful yet elegant dress suited for a woman in half mourning.
“Benedict, you have been avoiding me.”
He didn’t even bother lying. “That is true, Mother, I have.”
“Why?”
Benedict scratched his head, furiously trying to conjure an acceptable excuse. When none was forthcoming, he went on the defense. “I simply did not wish to be questioned about my choice of apparel. I am a grown man and do not need your interference.”
“Well, I believed your silly excuse yesterday and allowed you to go see to your errands dressed so indecorously, but I am putting my foot down tonight. I will not allow you to escort me to the Barringtide Ball looking like a dunce. You will be the laughingstock of the season, and I refuse to be party to that. It is going to be one of my first events back in society since your father passed away, and I do not want it tainted by your horrendous behavior.”
“Then stay home, because I am going dressed as I am and that is final.”
His mother sucked in a shocked breath as she began furiously fanning her face. For a moment, Benedict wondered if she was going to faint. Guilt tugged at his
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