Page 19 of A Gentleman's Kiss
“It’s about the other day in the park,” she began, waiting for him to accuse of being a bacon-brained light-skirt.
He nodded, his eyes narrowing and his lips thinning.
“Ah, yes. You mean the second time I happened to come upon you and Sir Trenton, in shall we say, a rather precarious position?”
Lillian’s face burned, her throat ran dry, and her response caught in her throat. Knowing he’d seen her with Sir Trenton made the embarrassment all the worse then when she only suspected he had seen.
“Yes,” she said hoarsely.
Dominick took her hands in his again, his countenance softening.
“Miss Whitmore, when I found out you went to the park with Sir Trenton I nearly burst. He is known to be a scoundrel, and you an innocent girl. I came to protect you.”
“Then why did you leave?”
“I didn’t.”
Lillian’s eyes shot up. “You didn’t?”
“No. When you jumped back to look at Sir Trenton, I motioned for him to take you home. He knows what he did. No doubt he apologized to you and made some sort of promise. No matter. I followed you home.” Dominick shrugged as if it were common knowledge.
Lillian was touched he cared so much, but angered at the same time. Who was he to tell her who she could and couldn’t kiss? Who was right for her and who was wrong?
“Miss Whitmore, I can see from the way your emotions are playing across your delicate cheeks, you are angry with me for what I did. No doubt wondering why I, the man who has caused you so much misery these last two weeks, would dare to interfere. It is only because I have grown fond of you,” he stopped, taking a deep breath. “We both may not know all the common ways of the court, but I do remember Sir Trenton. He and I went to Cambridge together.”
“Perhaps he has changed, my lord, just as you have,” Lillian said, standing.
“Perhaps,” he said with a doubtful smile, as he stood tall beside her. “Let us walk into court, I want to talk with the queen, and we shall straighten this mess out.”
Lillian nodded, changing the subject. “You said you love America, what do you love about it most?”
“I love the beauty and vibrancy. The freshness of the air, and the people. I delight in finding rare treasures.” He turned, his face filled with intensity and Lillian couldn’t help getting lost in his gaze. “America produces the most beautiful of pleasantries. I thoroughly enjoy all it has to offer. There is one particular gem I wish to know more intimately.”
The double meaning in his words came across loud and clear to Lillian, and she almost fell from the force of it. He more than cared about her. Somehow, she found herself beginning to warm to him. He spoke with her as an equal, and appeared genuinely interested in her as a person. She didn’t feel out of place with him. He wanted to protect her, and even though he had an awkward way of showing it, he respected her.
After speaking with the queen, who laughed at their predicament, she made an announcement to the group. Her handsome, eligible nephew discovered a new American treasure he wanted to share with England. She introduced Lillian as the Duke of Suffolk’s niece, and she was formally coming out this Season with the queen’s approval. She also warned any rumors against her nephew being attached before she knew about it, were to be disregarded.
Some of the crowd laughed at the queen’s humorous speech, and a few in particular sighed heavily in relief.
Why then did Lillian feel dejected?
