“Certainly, especially since you’ve been in her company often of late, and I do fear that during that time you may have very well given Gertrude the wrong impression.”
“I’m definitely not grasping whatever subtle nuances you may be trying to get me to grasp.”
Mrs. Davenport released a bit of a sigh. “You are a handsome gentleman, Mr. Sinclair, possessed of a substantial fortune and adventurous attitude. You would turn even the most seasoned of heads, but paying attention to a young lady of Gertrude’s limited experience is not well-done of you. To be perfectly blunt, I’m afraid your association with her, one you just claimed was a mere friendship, may very well be setting her up with false expectations, which you and I both know will never come to fruition.”
Harrison stiffened. “I assure you, Mrs. Davenport, I have done no such dastardly deed. I have the utmost respect for Gertrude and would never do anything to harm her. I certainly haven’t behaved in an untoward manner with her, nor have I ever gotten the impression she viewed me as anything other than a friend.”
“Far be it from me to point out the obvious, but it’s a well-known fact that you’re somewhat oblivious when it comes to the ladies and how much attention they try to send your way.”
Opening his mouth to refute that statement, Harrison was denied a response when Mrs. Davenport lifted her chin and continued speaking before he could get a single word out of his mouth.
“Gertrude is not the type of young lady who draws much attention from gentlemen, Mr. Sinclair. Because of that, and because you’re a dashing gentleman, one who draws attention wherever you go, no matter that you neglect to realize that, she’s susceptible to your charm. That right there is why I’d like your word right here and now that you will begin distancing yourself from my companion so that her tender feelings will not be trampled to pieces in the end.”
Harrison frowned. “I would imagine Gertrude draws more than her fair share of attention from gentlemen. She’s a delightful young lady, possessed of her own adventurous attitude. Perhaps you simply have not taken note of that attention because it’s a circumstance you would rather not acknowledge.”
“Are you suggesting I’m not an observant sort?”
Refusing a wince because he was usually far more careful in how he spoke to members of the feminine set, especially since he’d grown up with three sisters, Harrison summoned up a smile. “Forgive me, Mrs. Davenport. I did not mean to offend. What I’m sure I meant to say was because you’re so very fond of Gertrude, and just recently claimed she’s the best companion you’ve ever had, you may avoid thinking about the gentlemen who pay attention to her since you don’t want to lose her companionship to one of those...”
Harrison stopped talking when Mrs. Davenport began looking more offended than ever.
“I’m sure I have no idea what you may be implying,” she said with a sniff.
Inclining his head, he blew out a breath. “Apparently, I have no idea what I might have been implying either, so perhaps it might be for the best if we simply change the subject before we find ourselves at odds with each other.”
Mrs. Davenport inclined her head as well. “A prudent choice, my boy.” She held out her arm. “You may take my arm.”
The corners of Harrison’s lips began to twitch as he offered her his arm. Turning her in the direction of the library, they began to move down the companionway, making it all of three feet before Mrs. Davenport stopped in her tracks. She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widened, and then a thud sounded from somewhere beneath her skirts.
With no more than a blink of an eye, she released his arm, nodded toward the library, and then shooed him on his way.
“I’ll join you in a moment” was all she said as she made a shooing motion again and then sent a pointed look toward the library.
Unused to being shooed, or faced with a society matron who seemed to be behaving in a slightly suspicious manner, Harrison didn’t take so much as a single step away from her. “Are you certain you wouldn’t like me to assist you with whatever trouble you’re currently experiencing—trouble that apparently has landed by your feet?”
“You’re far more perceptive than I’ve given you credit for,” he thought he heard her mumble before she squared her shoulders and wagged a finger at him. “My dear boy, while I’ve always been a lady who appreciates chivalry in a gentleman, I’m afraid now is not the moment for me to accept your chivalrous offer. If you must know, I was trying to spare you from a slightly embarrassing problem I’m experiencing, but since you seem to be an inquisitive sort, allow me to simply say that the tapes holding my bustle in place seem to be coming undone, unless it’s the garters that are holding up my stockings. Whichever catastrophe I’m experiencing does seem to suggest I’m falling apart where I stand, which means I need a spot of privacy to set my person to rights if you please.”
Even though the back of his neck was once again tingling merrily away, Harrison knew there was nothing to do but allow Mrs. Davenport her privacy, especially since her garters had been brought into the conversation. He was of the sneaking suspicion she’d brought up her garters to distract him, and while she’d certainly done exactly that, he was quite willing to do as she asked and continue to the library without her if only to discourage further talk of unmentionables.
“I’ll just nip on into the library and see if Gertrude’s there,” he said, earning a smile of approval from Mrs. Davenport. Striding down the companionway at a pace that was almost a run because he hadn’t missed noticing Mrs. Davenport was already twitching her skirts about, he hesitated right outside the library door, leaning closer to that door when another thud reached his ears, this one coming from inside the library.
When the thud was immediately accompanied by what sounded like a yelp, Harrison pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He froze on the spot, though, when his gaze went directly to Gertrude, who was standing in the library, rubbing a backside that seemed to be devoid of the expected clothing.
Chapter
Four
For what felt like an eternity, Harrison was incapable of getting his feet into motion. For the life of him, he could not comprehend what was unfolding in front of his eyes, but felt as if he’d entered some peculiar world—one where ladies talking about their unmentionables, or frolicking about in those unmentionables around his library, appeared to be the order of the day.
Clearly, something of a peculiar nature had caused Gertrude to abandon the frock he knew she’d been wearing the last time he’d seen her, but what that event was, he truly had no idea. He also had no idea why Gertrude, along with Permilia Griswold, was now laughing uproariously, both ladies clutching their sides as their peals of amusement bounced around the room, until...
“Good heavens, it’s Harrison!” Gertrude practically roared right before she jumped over the fainting couch, while Permilia scrambled to stand in front of that very couch, spreading her arms wide in an obvious effort to hide a barely covered Gertrude from his view.
“I do beg your pardon” was the only thing he could muster up as he spun around and headed for the door, his exit blocked by none other than Mrs. Davenport.
She’d apparently gotten herself put back together, but the smile on her face was soon replaced with a frown as she tried to peer over his shoulder.
“What is all the ruckus about?” she demanded.
