Page 30 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Why would we go to London?” she asked, somewhat defensively. “It’s outrageously expensive and without many friends, the social aspects never held much fascination.”
“Drury Lane? The Opera? The British Museum? None of these tempt you?”
“It’s not a matter of if they tempt me, it’s the practicality. It would have been wasteful to attend the season when neither of my siblings was of age to participate.”
“What about you?”
Holly’s frown deepened.
“Oh yes, I should have gone to London, unchaperoned and without a sponsor to what? Stroll the Serpentine?” She shook her head. “It was an impossibility.”
“London should never have been out of your reach,” he said. The gentle declaration settled around the room. Holly glanced at him, unsure what to make of his statement. Evidently, even Gavin was uncomfortable with having said such a thing, for he was on his feet the next minute. “If you ladies will excuse me, I have some business to attend to,” he said with a quick nod before exiting the room.
Holly watched him depart, her eyes on the doorway until the fading sound of his footsteps disappeared utterly. Turning, she saw a wide-eyed Katrina and a smirking Violet.
“What was that all about?” Holly asked no one in particular.
Katrina’s brows hitched up as a realization came over her face. She reached for Holly’s wrist with both of her hands and squeezed.
“Do you think that the baron might… well, fancy you?”
Holly rolled her eyes and tried to pull her arm free of her sister’s hands.
“Really, Katrina.”
“I agree with Katrina. The baron seems practically smitten with you,” Violet said.
“Smitten?” Holly repeated, somewhat flustered. She tried to ignore the fluttering of her pulse at the idea of Gavin being interested in her. It was implausible of course. They were still practically strangers, but she had to confess that a small part of her had recently begun to consider what it might be like if Gavin actually fancied her. But she wouldn’t admit that out loud. “Do be serious.”
“Wearebeing serious,” Katrina continued. “Why, he told me just the other day that he found you attractive.”
To Holly’s dissatisfaction, her heart did that wobble that always seemed to happen when Gavin walked into the room. She bent her head slightly in her sister’s direction and tried to sound as uninterested as possible.
“Did he?” Holly asked.
“Yes,” Katrina said before her smile faltered. “Well, he did say you were as attractive as any young lady.” Holly pulled her arm away wholly. “But I think he meant it!”
“Yes, what a daring thing to admit,” Holly said sarcastically. “Really, Katrina, I know you want to romanticize our situation, but the baron and I are simply bound by an illegal contract.”
“But you’re married.”
“And seeking an annulment.”
Katrina huffed and sat back against her chair, her arms folding across her chest, while Violet continued to smile.
“Very well,” Holly’s sister said. “But he is right. You deserve some new gowns.”
“I’m perfectly content with my own dresses, thank you very much,” Holly said.
Katrina gave her sister a concerned look before standing up and leaving the dining room without so much as a goodbye. Violet shrugged and followed Katrina, leaving Holly to watch as they both disappeared around the corner. Was she being too cynical about the entire matter? John had wanted her to have fine things, and though she had refused him, as it was socially unacceptable, this arrangement she found herself in now seemed to free her from the constraints that usually surrounded social gift-giving.
Gavin wished to order her new gowns. Who was she to argue? Perhaps she should allow him to follow his uncle’s wishes, but the years of living shilling to shilling had made Holly wary. She couldn’t help but think of a dozen other places the money could go.
She should speak to Gavin about it.
Standing up, she went to find him but found his office empty. Frowning, she turned only to nearly run into Mr. Jorden.
“Oh!” She said, her hands coming up to her heart. “Mr. Jorden, I’m sorry.”
