Page 22 of The Undesirable Duke
Lillian was on her way to the drawing room, clutching a new book that her father had gifted to her when she overheard her mother hissing those words. She stopped abruptly in her tracks and pursed her lips. The sound came from inside the study, and the door was only slightly ajar. Not enough for Lillian to see inside, but she could hear the conversation well enough.
Timothy had invited a guest to dinner that evening, as he had announced a few days earlier, and clearly, Lady Welsford was not pleased about it. She had been in a foul mood ever since she’d been told of it. It started to make sense to Lillian now as she listened. She came to the conclusion that this irritated mood was the reason her mother had been so incredibly rude to the gentleman outside the modiste.
“When you informed me that you had invited a guest for dinner, and to spend Christmas with us, I never dreamed that it would be him.”
“But Mother, why on earth should it matter? Heisa good friend and, since his mother passed away, he does not have any family left.”
“I am certain it is not such a tragedy as you make it out to be, my darling,” Lord Welsford pointed out.
“Indeed it is. What if people were to find out that he is here? What would that do to our reputation?”
“Mother, you are exaggerating.”
“I most certainly am not. That man-”
“That man is my friend, and I will not allow you to speak of him in such a manner.”
Lillian’s brow furrowed and she stood closer to the door. Were they speaking of the Duke of Yarmouth? Had Timothy invitedtheDuke of Yarmouth to their family dinner?
“Have you read what was written about him? He gambled away his fortune, which now has him in financial ruin, not even to mention the haunts that he frequents. I will not allow anyone to disgrace this family. We certainly do not need a scandal on our hands.”
“Mother-”
“Is it not enough that neither you nor your sister are yet married, and I am still without a grandchild? Must you torture me by bringing into my home a man who does not have even a shred of decency in his body?”
Lillian’s brow furrowed and she stepped away angrily. She knew that her mother was upset that she had not found a husband yet, but Lillian had not realized that her mother was ashamed of this. It shocked her that her mother was disappointed and felt ashamed that her adult children had not married. That was the very first time that Lillian had heard her express any anger and shame towards Timothy about not being married yet. She had always felt that her mother placed pressure upon her to marry, and not on Timothy. But it seemed that their mother was equally ashamed of both of her children.
Not wishing to upset herself any further, Lillian stepped away from the door of the study and quietly made her waydownstairs. The drawing room had always been her favorite room to unwind and clear her head. Since it was a quiet room as well, she did most of her reading there. In contrast, it was also the place where she met countless callers who expressed an interest in courting her. Although she had not received a single proposal from those suitors who had called, she realized that perhaps it was time to set her pride aside and give such things a chance.
Perhaps Lord Bertram was not as bad a choice for a husband as she thought. He was certainly a handsome gentleman, with deep brown eyes and a quirky smile which gave Lillian rather mixed feelings. He was well-spoken and had impeccable manners. But he did not make her skin tingle or cause her heart to race as the gentleman in front of the modiste had.
Lillian had to accept that, quite possibly, no other man would have such an effect on her.
If only she knew his name.
But what use would it be? After the way that her mother had glared at the man, he had most certainly been instantly put off by her behavior, and would not make any attempt to find out who she was.
Lillian sighed as she stepped into the drawing room, and found her usual reading spot waiting for her. It was a chaise placed in a secluded corner, hidden away from initial sight. She sat on the chaise, made herself comfortable, and began to read. She soon became so immersed in the pages of her new book that she did not even notice the footsteps approaching the drawing room. Or the person who entered.
“Oh, pardon me. I was not aware that someone was here,” he apologized.
Lillian instantly recognized the baritone voice, and her head snapped up. She gasped quite loudly and rose to her feet. Placing her book down on the chaise, she subtly tidied her hair. Shecould not believe her eyes and blinked numerous times to ensure that she was not seeing things that were not there.
The gentleman was equally stunned as he stared at her. The same hazel eyes that pierced her being and made her heart race were now looking at her with both shock and relief.
“It is you,” he uttered, his voice as smooth and luxurious as velvet.
“Me? I mean, indeed. And it is you, my savior from outside the modiste’s.”
“I would hardly refer to myself in such a way. I simply did what any gentleman would do for a beautiful young lady in distress.”
“You think that I am beautiful?” she asked, unable to contain herself.
“Strikingly so.”
Lillian gasped softly and subtly smoothed out the folds of her pale blue dress. It was one of her favorites, with matching lace trim wrapped around the bodice and the long sleeves.
“How did you find me?” she asked.
