Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman.

by Buck, Gayle

  “I shall do so, Mama,” said Guin. Her mother exited, and she went over to the mirror, humming a little. The door opened and Lord Holloway was announced. Guin turned quickly from inspecting herself in the gilt mirror. “Oh!”

  Advancing into the room, Lord Holloway saw at a glance that she was alone. He slowly looked her up and down. A smile touched his handsome face. “Vastly becoming, Miss Holland,” he drawled.

  Guin suddenly felt that her elegant carriage dress was too close cut to her figure. Her heart began to pound as she met Lord Holloway’s knowing gaze. She took a steadying breath, telling herself that nothing could happen here in her own home. “You startled me, my lord. I shall ring to have a message sent up to my mother, for I am certain that she will be happy to see you.” She quickly moved to the bell rope and took hold of it.

  Lord Holloway was standing near enough to the bell rope that he was able to lay a restraining hand over hers. She snatched her hand away from his touch, taking a step backward. Lord Holloway was amused. “And you, dear Miss Holland? Are you not happy to see me?”

  Guin shook her head. She looked up at the gentleman who was smiling at her so arrogantly. A little spurt of anger emboldened her. Taking her courage in her hands, she declared, “I am not nor ever shall be, Lord Holloway.”

  “What a pity! I had thought we had come to a good understanding. Once I apologize to Mrs. Holland for my ... precipitate exit, I will be back in her good graces. And then, Miss Holland, we will pursue our acquaintance,” said Lord Holloway, his lips widening in a smile.

  Guin retreated strategically behind a chair, and her fingers tightened on its gilded edge. “Do not come near me.”

  Lord Holloway negligently waved his scented handkerchief. “It is an inopportune time, I fear. There is too much chance of interruption from a servant or—”

  The door opened again, this time for Sir Frederick to enter. He stopped abruptly when his gaze fell on Lord Holloway. His eyes traveled to Guin’s tense face. Without hurry he advanced farther into the room, leaving the door open wide behind him. “Lord Holloway, this is a surprise.”

  Lord Holloway had stiffened upon Sir Frederick’s appearance. His habitual smile vanished. “Sir Frederick. You seem to have acquired the habit of becoming annoyingly de trop.”

  “Have I? How extraordinary. I had quite thought the boot was on the other foot.” Sir Frederick flicked imaginary dust from his coat sleeve. He had his whip in his other hand, and now he tapped it gently against one shining boot.

  Lord Holloway’s eyes dropped to that suggestive movement. When he raised his eyes again, he said, breathing a little quickly, “I understand you, of course.”

  “I thought you would,” said Sir Frederick quietly, his gaze and his voice very even.

  Lord Holloway turned toward Guin. “There will be another time, Miss Holland.”

  “No, my lord, there will not,” said Guin swiftly.

  Lord Holloway whipped around on his heel and strode out of the front parlor.

  Sir Frederick reached for the door and slammed it shut. Flinging aside his whip, he bounded across the room to catch Guin’s hands in his. His eyes held concern. “My dear, you are all right?”

  Guin nodded, pretty color rising in her face. “Yes, I was never more glad than when you walked in! He is an awful, awful man.”

  Sir Frederick impulsively folded her into his arms. “My dear girl,” he murmured. She raised her face, a look of surprise in her eyes. She looked like a startled kitten, he thought. Sir Frederick laughed and bent his head to kiss her.

  He meant it as nothing more than a fleeting touch. But she made a sound in her throat and melted against him. Her soft responsive lips pressed warmly against his. Sir Frederick’s senses swam. His arms tightened about her.

  Abruptly he realized what he was doing, and sprang back. He stared at her, appalled. “Miss Holland! I—I don’t know what to say. I beg your pardon.”

  “Oh, pray don’t! I didn’t mind it in the least,” exclaimed Guin, her deep blue eyes shining.

  Sir Frederick shook his head. He was stunned alike by his actions and the feelings that had been roused inside him. “You don’t understand. I have taken the worst advantage of you.”

  “Didn’t you wish to kiss me?” asked Guin falteringly.

  Sir Frederick hated the dejection he could see forming in her eyes and how it caused a perceptible wilting in her demeanor. “My dear girl! I should think that was obvious,” he said quickly. “But that doesn’t make it right! Why, I have behaved no better than Lord Holloway toward you! Worse, for I have taken advantage of our friendship.”

  Not looking at him, Guin began tracing a random pattern with her finger on the back of the chair. “Sir Frederick, I know that I am wholly ignorant about such things. But I assure you that you have not behaved badly toward me at all.” She peeped up at him from under her lashes. She caught her underlip between her white teeth in an anxious moue.

  Sir Frederick drew in his breath. He had never seen her appear more bewitching. It struck him blindingly that he had never really seen her at all. She had been a girl to be pitied, to be helped and guided. Now she had become someone precious to his existence. He felt protective, tender, passionate, all at once. Dazedly, he wondered where his head had been while his heart had been lost.

  The door opened again. Colonel Caldar came in with a quick step. He was smiling. “Sir Frederick! I saw your phaeton outside. Have you come to take Guin driving?”

  “Yes, I had meant to do so,” said Sir Frederick. He bent down to retrieve his whip from the carpet.

  Colonel Caldar watched with gathering surprise. “What has been going on here?”

  “Lord Holloway was here, Uncle. He left when Sir Frederick came in,” said Guin, feeling that some explanation needed to be made since Sir Frederick stood unaccountably silent.

  Colonel Caldar’s face darkened. “That dastard! He dared to show his face here? I suppose your mother had everything to do with it! Did she leave you alone with him, Guin? Did she? I shall have something to say to her, believe me!”

  “No, no, Uncle, you mistake! Mama went upstairs before Lord Holloway arrived. She did not know anyone but Sir Frederick was coming,” said Guin quickly. “I suppose the servants did not realize that Mama had left me and so brought Lord Holloway up.”

  Colonel Caldar let out a sigh. He nodded to Sir Frederick. “Then we owe another debt of gratitude to you, Sir Frederick. I am glad you were close by. I don’t like to think of that fellow pressing his unwelcome attentions on my niece.”

  Unaccountably, Sir Frederick flushed. “You owe me nothing, sir.” He turned toward Guin. “Miss Holland, I hope that you will forgive me. I have recalled a rather urgent errand which I was commissioned to do by the Foreign Office. I trust that you will hold me excused from our drive today.”

  “Of—of course, Sir Frederick,” said Guin, taken aback. She looked up into his face as he raised her hand to his lips. “Shall I see you again?”

  He met her gaze. The shadow of a smile touched his mouth. “I suspect you will not be easily rid of me, Miss Holland.”

  “I am glad,” said Guin, relieved by the rueful twinkle in his brown eyes. For an awful instant, she had feared that he meant to cut short their friendship, all because of a single kiss. It would have been a silly thing for him to have done, which she would have told him if her uncle had not been standing in the room. Instead, she smiled at him and watched him leave after saying good-bye to her uncle.

  Once Sir Frederick was gone, Colonel Caldar turned with an anxious expression to his niece. He said gruffly, “You mustn’t take it to heart, Guin. I am certain Sir Frederick would not have canceled if it had not been extremely important.”

  “Oh, I am not in the least upset, sir,” said Guin, a small smile playing about her mouth. She hugged to herself the knowledge of Sir Frederick’s kiss. Perhaps the gentleman had begun to care for her, just a little.

  The date of Lady Beasely’s soiree arrived, and Gu
in actually anticipated attending the function. Since her extraordinary conversation with Miss Beasely, curiosity had overcome some of her usual dread of going into company. Her trepidation was laid entirely to rest when Colonel Caldar persuaded Lord Holybrooke to accompany them and make it a full family party.

  Since Lord Holybrooke had expressed not an iota of interest in Miss Beasely, or for that matter, in any lady, Guin entered the ballroom wanting to see just how Miss Beasely intended to captivate her brother.

  Lady Beasely and her daughter stood at the head of the stairs to receive their guests as they arrived. Lady Beasely greeted Lord Holybrooke and the rest of the party graciously. She was all kindness, even going so far as to compliment Guin on her gown. “How delightfully you look this evening, my dear!”

  “Thank you, my lady,” said Guin, surprised and shyly pleased by her ladyship’s condescension. She had little opportunity to say more before Mrs. Holland engaged Lady Beasely’s attention. She was not put out, however, for then she was free to move on to Miss Beasely.

  Miss Beasely greeted her as though they were fast friends. “Guin! I am so glad you came,” she said warmly, holding out both hands and squeezing Guin’s fingers. She tucked Guin’s hand into her arm. “Mama released me from my duties just as you came up the stairs. Come, I wish to introduce you to my particular friends. Pray join us, Lord Holybrooke! We are to have dancing before supper, just an informal romp. It will be good fun, I promise you.”

  “I should like that, Margaret,” said Guin.

  She glanced over her shoulder at her brother, curious as to how he was perceiving Miss Beasely’s animated style. Correctly interpreting Guin’s look, Lord Holybrooke grimaced ever so slightly. As Miss Beasely also glanced back to share a friendly word, his expression in an instant changed to one of polite civility.

  However, Lord Holybrooke’s bland politeness was abandoned when he discovered that Lord Tucker and a couple of his other particular cronies were among the company. “I didn’t expect you to be here, Chuffy,” he exclaimed, clasping his friend’s hand.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t miss one of Lady Beasely’s functions. Her ladyship always provides an amusing evening,” said Lord Tucker.

  “Thank you, my lord!” said Miss Beasely, laughter on her face as she swept a teasing curtsy. Lord Tucker grinned in response as though at a good joke.

  “Besides, her ladyship’s cook is superb,” put in one of the other gentlemen.

  All of the young gentlemen laughed, and so did Miss Beasely and Guin. “For shame! One would think you were ruled by your stomach, Peter,” said Miss Beasely with a mock frown, speaking with the familiarity of one who had known the gentleman from the cradle.

  “Well, so I am,” said Mr. Lychbold candidly. He was a very tall, very thin young man. “I am always hungry. Ask anyone.”

  There was another round of laughter. Miss Beasely seized the auspicious moment to introduce Guin and to suggest gently that Miss Holland was an elegant dancer, with the result that Guin had promises of partners for the evening. The unprecedented acceptance brought warmth to Guin’s face and a sparkle to her eyes. More than one of the young gentlemen gave her a second look, and Lord Holybrooke had the pleasant experience of having his sister described as a “taking little thing.”

  The composition of Lady Beasely’s guests tended toward the younger set, which, as her ladyship explained to Mrs. Holland and Colonel Caldar, was a deliberate move on her part. “I wish to foster friendly familiarity among the young people before the Season is well and truly begun,” said Lady Beasely. “I am a firm believer that our younger set, our daughters especially, must benefit from trying their wings in comfortable surroundings. Do you not agree, Mrs. Holland?”

  “Oh, of course,” said Mrs. Holland with a nod and lovely smile.

  When Lady Beasely remarked that she had several other duties to perform and graciously excused herself to them, Mrs. Holland said to her brother, “I am vastly disappointed, Arnold. This affair is not at all what I expected of Lady Beasely! It is such an undistinguished and small company. I was never more taken in.”

  “Were you not listening to her ladyship, Aurelia? This evening is for the younger set. Lady Beasely explained it all to us,” said Colonel Caldar mildly.

  “I know what she didn’t say, and that was that she wished her daughter to have ample opportunity to sit in Percy’s pocket,” said Mrs. Holland.

  “Really, Aurelia!” began Colonel Caldar, his brows snapping together. Then he saw Mrs. Roman crossing the floor and all desire to remonstrate with his sister died. “Excuse me, Aurelia. I have just seen someone I know.”

  Astonished and affronted at being so summarily abandoned, Mrs. Holland watched as her brother left her side. Colonel Caldar made his way purposefully across the ballroom to go sit down beside a tall, elegant woman whom Mrs. Holland had never seen before. “Well!” She gave a little toss of her head and turned away to find her own entertainment.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Guin enjoyed the dances promised her by Lord Holybrooke and the cadre of amiable young gentlemen, after which she unobtrusively went to sit down on a settee against the wall. She watched the rest of the company and thought herself fortunate to have had so much attention paid to her. She was grateful to Miss Beasely for having seen to her enjoyment of the dancing. If she did nothing else all evening, Guin thought, it was quite the nicest time she had ever had.

  However, she quickly discovered she had not been abandoned by her new friend. Miss Beasely brought up to her another gentleman who had arrived late and performed the introductions. Mr. Howard Lloyd was a sober middle-aged gentleman with a grave smile, well dressed but sadly inclined already to portliness. Knitted pantaloons and pumps did not become him.

  “Mr. Lloyd was most desirous to meet you, Guin. He will take the greatest care of you,” said Miss Beasely, easing herself away with a smile.

  “Your obedient servant, Miss Holland.” Mr. Lloyd bowed. There was the unmistakable creak of corsets.

  Guin stared up at the gentleman, disconcerted. For once in her life, all thought of her own awkwardness flew completely out of her head. She swallowed a gurgle of laughter and invited Mr. Lloyd to sit down beside her.

  Mr. Lloyd was nothing loath. “You are too kind, Miss Holland.” He shook out his handkerchief and absently flicked it across the surface of the beautifully upholstered settee, as though to dust it off before he sat down. As he lowered himself, there was again the disconcerting sound of a creaking corset.

  Guin discovered that she was still staring at Mr. Lloyd. She had to tear her eyes away. Mr. Lloyd was the oddest creature of her small acquaintance, she decided. She wondered with real sympathy whether Mr. Lloyd suffered from much the same malady of shyness as she did herself and that was what made him behave with such eccentricity. In addition, the gentleman’s sad dependence upon a corset must assure him of some ridicule, she thought compassionately.

  Guin became quickly at her ease with Mr. Lloyd, in part due to her own sympathetic nature toward a fellow being, but in greater part to Mr. Lloyd’s complete lack of self-consciousness. As Mr. Lloyd expounded on the worth of several scientific theories, it became slowly clear to Guin that he was not at all shy. Quite the opposite. Mr. Lloyd was totally absorbed by his intellectual pursuits and had not a particle of brain cell to spare for such mundane matters as social unease.

  Guin very quickly became bored, so much so that she could scarcely hide her yawns. She glanced around several times, hoping that someone would come to her rescue, for Mr. Lloyd had dominated her company for an inordinate length of time. However, no one seemed inclined to break up their tête-à-tête and since Guin was herself too conversationally inept, she could not think of how to graciously extricate herself from Mr. Lloyd without wounding his sensibilities.

  When dinner was announced, Lord Tucker sought her out to fulfill his obligation to squire her in, and Guin sprang up with relief. She held out her hand to Mr. Lloyd. “Th-thank you for your company, Mr.
Lloyd.”

  Mr. Lloyd got ponderously to his feet and ceremoniously bowed over her fingers. “It has been delightful, Miss Holland. I shall see you again, if I may?”

  Guin retrieved her hand hurriedly. “Yes, of course. I am certain we shall meet again,” she said brightly, while unobtrusively pinching Lord Tucker’s arm through his coat.

  “Here, I say!” exclaimed Lord Tucker, greatly astonished. He met her eyes and recognized the pleading expression in them. At once and with instant presence of mind, his lordship took leave of Mr. Lloyd and swept her away.

  “Thank you, my lord! You cannot conceive how eagerly I looked forward to your company,” said Guin in all sincerity, with a backward glance. Mr. Lloyd was watching her, met her astonished gaze, and bowed. Guin hurriedly looked away again.

  Lord Tucker cracked a laugh, his eyes dancing as he looked at her. “I shall take that, not in the spirit it was offered, but as a compliment, Miss Holland. Was Lloyd too prosy?”

  “Dreadfully so,” said Guin, smiling. She realized, when Lord Tucker laughed again, that she had actually managed an intelligible and amusing interchange. It was with a light step that she allowed Lord Tucker to escort her into the dining room. She didn’t know why the evening was going so well, but she intended to make the most of it. She could not recall ever enjoying herself more, except perhaps when she had danced and driven with Sir Frederick Hawkesworth.

  Guin’s happiness dimmed slightly. She had been disappointed to discover that Sir Frederick was not among the guests. However, she had already realized that Lady Beasely’s party was not designed for the haul ton, and so she was able to shake off the change of mood easily enough. She would undoubtedly see Sir Frederick again at some other function.

  After an excellent two-course dinner, there was more dancing. Guin stood up several times. There was no need for Miss Beasely to again make certain that Guin’s hand was solicited. All of the gentlemen who had danced with her earlier in the evening had discovered in her an undemanding and graceful partner.