Page 60 of The Baron Takes a Bet
Was she always so considerate? And since when had the style of gowns become so daring? He could barely concentrate on his own footsteps, knowing that she was dressed so alluringly.
Consumed in his own thoughts, the butler reached the doorway to the parlor and bowed before announcing their arrival as they entered a room full of familiar faces.
“The Baron and Baroness of Bairnsdale,” he said with a nod. “As well as Miss Margaret Winscombe and Miss Katrina Smyth.”
The Duchess of Combe, Clara, nearly skipped across the room as she came forward to embrace Holly, who had pulled away from Gavin. He was sorry to release her, but reassured to see how unencumbered the two women were in their embrace. No amount of fortune could take away their gentle country charm and Gavin was quite taken with it.
“I’m so glad you came,” Clara said, her chin tucked over Holly’s shoulder. “And Katrina! My, you look just the perfect young lady. You will be the pride of Lincolnshire at your debut.”
“Thank you, Clara,” Katrina said with a deep curtsy just as Violet entered the room, her smile genuine at the sight of her friend.
“Oh good! You’ve arrived,” Violet said, taking Katrina’s arm. “Fredrick and Lord Trembley should be along any minute. I can’t wait to introduce you to Fredrick,” she said with a loving sigh. “He’s quite brilliant.”
“When you aren’t sparring with him over literature,” Silas said from behind a small pink chaise lounge sat in the center of the room.
Violet gave her brother a teasing glare, just as Derek and his brother Fredrick arrived. Once the butler announced them, Violet was quick to introduce her fiancé to Katrina and Holly.
“A pleasure,” Fredrick said to Katrina, his tone light as his gaze fell on Holly. “And Lady Bairnsdale, it’s wonderful to see you again. We met last summer at Kingston House.”
“We did,” Holly said, recalling the house party. “How do you do?”
“Very well,” he said, turning to the man next to him. “May I introduce my brother, the Earl of Trembley.”
She curtsied before the earl, whose appearance was similar to his brother’s, though the earl was taller.
“Gavin has told me so much about you,” the earl said. He reached for her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “But I’m afraid his description hardly did you justice.”
“That’s very kind of you to say,” Holly said, blushing.
Though it was a simple gesture, a custom of long standing between gentlemen and gently bred women, Gavin felt the oddest twist in his gut as he stared, unimpressed with his wife and his friend’s introduction. Instinctively he moved betweenthem, effectively separating Holly from Derek, who gave his friend an odd gaze.
“Gavin, you didn’t tell me that you married one of the loveliest creatures this country has seen,” he said, oozing charm while Gavin felt the prickling of irritation grow. “She is a vision.”
Holly’s blush deepened and Gavin felt suddenly murderous.
“You are too kind, my lord,” Holly said.
“Yes, Trembley,” Gavin said, his tone gruff. “Stop.”
The simple command caught the earl’s attention as a single brow lifted. Holly’s smile fell away and she looked as though she was about to speak when Aunt Marnie’s voice sounded behind them.
“Ah, Trembley, still flattering everything with a pulse I see,” she said, holding out her hand. “Very well. Do you worst.”
“Miss Winscombe, what a pleasure,” Derek said through his teeth as he took her hand and bent over it. “I wasn’t aware that you would grace us with your presence.”
“Of course. The weather has been fair and isn’t attacking my poor bones. Now tell me, Combe,” she said as she turned around the room. “Who decorated this parlor? It is just the understated, tasteful style that is needed at Bairnsdale Terrace.”
“I believe my wife would be better suited to answer that question.”
“Nonsense. I wish to hear it from you.”
As Aunt Marnie crowded Silas, effectively forcing him to escort her about the room as she rambled on about paint colors, Clara smiled. She was obviously very entertained by the brash old woman.
“I should rescue him shortly,” she said softly to Holly, though loud enough for Gavin and Derek to hear. “But I think he should entertain her for a moment. I’ve heard she is fond of him.”
“She always has been, for some reason. Supposedly Silas reminds her of someone from her youth. Maybe Sir WalterRaleigh,” Derek said, causing Clara to hide a sudden peal of laughter. He turned to Gavin. “I didn’t think she would still be staying with you.”
“What am I to do with her? I can’t very well throw her out,” Gavin said under his breath. “Once I figure out how to get her to leave and go back to her house on Park Lane, I’ll be a happy man. But she refuses to leave Bairnsdale Terrace for some reason.”
