Page 39 of The Gentleman Was Right
“That is correct. I thought…perhaps…”
“You’ve rethought my proposal?”
His cravat was suddenly too tight. She had come to him. In his brother’s house. Was she going to accept? Why did the prospect both terrify and excite him?
“I have stipulations,” she responded primly as she tugged her hands free.
Leaning back so he wasn’t tempted to reach for her again, he nodded rapidly, his heart expanding at her apparent agreement.
“Of course…yes…obviously.” He waited for her to start listing her stipulations, but instead, she turned her attention to his brother.
Sebastian. Of course. He hadn’t even introduced them. Clearly, he needed to do so. Once that was done, he would take her elsewhere. The last thing they needed while they conversed was Sebastian hovering and making her rethink what she wanted.
He rolled to his feet and said, “Sebastian, please allow me to introduce Miss Violet Shaw and Miss Isabelle Shaw.” He gestured toward the women. “This is my brother, Lord Greydon.”
The expression on Violet’s face as she eyed Sebastian was a dare. Or a challenge.
Sebastian inclined his head, while Violet and Isabelle rose and offered halting curtsies.
“It is lovely to meet you,” Violet murmured.
“We had a delightful conversation before you returned home,” Belinda interjected with a devious grin. He hadn’t seen his sister look this happy in months, and while he appreciated her joy, he had never been surer that he didn’t want to know what they had discussed.
“How pleasant,” he responded with a warning glance at her.
She cackled in response, while Violet and Isabelle looked between them. He could only imagine what they might be thinking as he stood between his stern older brother and his blunt younger sister. The encounter hadn’t become a disaster yet, but he could well imagine it devolving into one.
“Where is Emmeline?” Sebastian asked Belinda, his gaze darting about the room.
“She was a bit weary, so she retired to her bedchamber.”
“She is ill?” Sebastian asked sharply.
“No. She is—” Before Belinda could finish, Sebastian spun on his heel and disappeared into the hallway.
“Emmeline is expecting, and Sebastian is a bit concerned,” Edward attempted to explain.
Violet and Isabelle nodded.
“That’s sweet of him,” Violet said.
An awkward silence fell. Belinda widened her eyes and tipped her head toward the door.
Did she want him to leave or was she going to?
He quirked his brow, and she sighed. “Violet was telling me?—"
“—I could give you and Isabelle a tour of the library,” he suggested abruptly, cutting his sister off before she could finish her sentence.
Violet bit her lip. “I would like that.”
He braced himself for Belinda to insist on joining them, but she waved them away and retook her seat. Violet and Isabelle thanked Belinda for her hospitality and curtsied again before following him out of the room.
“Remember what I said,” Belinda called out before they got too far away to hear.
He refused to dwell on what she might have told Violet. Instead, he focused on the fact that Violet had come to him. It was wholly unexpected. And more welcome than he wanted to admit. The restlessness that had accompanied him from the cottage had dissolved immediately when he’d seen her.
He ushered her into the small library. It was nothing like the library at Greydon Hall, much less grand. The books were newer and the collection less impressive. Only two walls had shelves, and it was not large enough for a truly private conversation, but none of his siblings were lurking, so at least they wouldn’t be distracted. In an attempt to create as much privacy as he could, he placed his hand at Violet’s back and steered her toward the corner farthest from the door, while Isabelle helpfully perused the shelf closest to the door.
