Adelaide laughed. “I’ll give you this—you are resolute in your determination to see me settled. Nevertheless, if you’re hoping that last match would revolve around me, know that Gwendolyn offered numerous times to help me out in the gentleman department. I told her I couldn’t possibly accept her assistance.”
“Why in heaven’s name would you have refused what you should have seen as a godsent opportunity?”
“I highly doubt God spends His time worrying about sending me a matchmaker simply because I’m not a beacon for marriage-minded gentlemen. Besides, even though Gwendolyn proved to be beyond competent with securing matches, I’m not your typical society lady. I come with far too much baggage. It could’ve strained the friendship Gwendolyn and I developed if she’d taken me on and discovered I’m a hopeless case.”
“You’re not a hopeless case.”
“You’re my mother, so you’re required to say that, but I’m a realist. In fact, after the troubling event that occurred earlier, I’m beginning to consider abandoning the marriage mart altogether and simply accepting my fate as a confirmed spinster. My time in the city will be far less stressful as well as less mortifying for everyone involved.”
Phyllis blinked. “There’s no need to be hasty. Why, showing everyone your unmentionables wasn’t even that noteworthy. I imagine everyone has already forgotten about it.”
“You just said tongues would be wagging for the foreseeable future.”
“Not if we nip this situation in the bud.” Phyllis lifted her chin. “I say we return to the ballroom and proceed as if nothing happened.”
“AndIsay, given that I almost fell into a fountain and then experienced a bustle mishap, we should err on the side of caution and keep me well removed from everyone for an hour or so.”
“Oddly enough, that makes a certain amount of sense.” Phyllis settled a stern eye on Adelaide. “I will, however, expect you at dinner.”
“I told you, I’ll be ravenous by then, and you know I’m not one to ever pass up a ten-course meal.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good thing you’re more excited about a meal over enjoying the company of the guests here this evening,” Phyllis grumbled before she gave Adelaide a quick peck on the cheek, then turned and glided away.
Anxious to get down to some serious reading, Adelaide strode into motion, slowing when she caught sight of a door that was cracked open at the very end of the hallway. Making a beeline for it, she gave it a tentative push, wincing when it creaked. Her wince turned into a grin a second later, though, when she stepped into the room and discovered it was a well-appointed library, and better yet, devoid of people.
“Much better,” she said as she spotted a comfy-looking fainting couch and hurried over to it. After perching on the very edge of it—done so because her bustle wouldn’t allow her to do anythingbutperch—she opened the large reticule that certainly didn’t favor her gown and riffled through the contents, pulling out her copy ofMy Winter on the Nile: Among the Mummies and Moslemsby a Mr. Charles Dudley Warner. She flipped to the page she’d marked with a ribbon, then stilled when, from out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the heavy damask drapes moving ever so slightly.
Rising to her feet, she moved to shut a window that a servant had evidently forgotten to close, not wanting Mrs. Nelson’sdrapes to become ruined by the storm everyone was saying would hit by midnight. She came to a rapid stop, though, when a pair of shoes captured her attention, ones that most assuredly belonged to the man she just realized was lurking behind the drapes—a man who was even now beginning to step out from the folds of expensive damask, his features cloaked in the shadows the wall sconces were unable to banish.
It took all of two seconds to fling her book in the direction of a gentleman who was obviously up to some manner of shenanigans before she opened her mouth to release a resounding scream.
Unfortunately, before she could get so much as a croak past her lips, the man grabbed hold of her arm and slipped his other hand over her mouth, stifling a scream that no one would now be able to hear.
Two
“Don’t scream. I won’t harm you.”
Recognition was immediate and had Adelaide forgetting all about screaming, although she had no control over the fact that the hair on the nape of her neck stood to attention—something that frequently occurred whenever she heard the voice that had just whispered into her ear.
It was a voice a lady was hard-pressed to forget because it was smooth like velvet and suited this specific gentleman, who was thought to be a bit of a rogue—or at least he looked the part, what with his raven hair, formidable physique, and a face that recalled images of fallen angels or gentlemen who spent their time pursuing danger.
Gentlemen who looked as if they courted precarious activities always seemed in possession of voices that practically caressed a person’s ears, that pesky business responsible for ladies’ hearts going pitter-patter with alarming frequency—not that Adelaide permitted her heart to do any skittering about when Mr. Gideon Abbott was in her vicinity. Such a thing would be sheer folly because rumor had it that Gideon was not interested in settling down into wedded bliss. That rumor was reinforcedby the fact that he never showed particular attention to any lady, not that the ladies didn’t try to attract his consideration.
“Gideon?” she finally whispered when she realized he was waiting for a response from her, even though the response she attempted to give him was almost indecipherable since his hand was still covering her mouth.
Seemingly convinced that she wouldn’t scream, he removed his hand and released her arm, which allowed her to turn and face him, her gaze traveling over the gentleman who’d just scared her half to death.
It came as no surprise to find him doing justice to the formal evening attire he was wearing. The pristine cut of his jacket highlighted his broad shoulders and trim waist, suggesting he was in possession of a tailor who knew exactly how to dress a gentleman to perfection.
“Why am I not surprised to discover it’s you?” were the first words out of Gideon’s mouth, pulling Adelaide from her perusal. “Honestly, Adelaide, I would think you’d have better things to occupy yourself with other than retreating to a library during a dinner party. Care to explain what you’re doing here?”
A shiver of delight shot through Adelaide, due no doubt to Gideon’s use of her given name, which wasn’t a novel experience, since he’d begun addressing her informally after he’d rescued her from a most unpleasant fate a few months before, one that could have resulted in a rather grisly death if he’d not been close at hand to save her. She forced herself to meet his gaze, her sense of delight fading when she detected a hint of vexation in his eyes.
Truth be told, she wasn’t unaccustomed to exasperating people on a somewhat frequent basis, but in this instance, she’d done nothing exasperation-worthy. She lifted her chin. “I believe a more pressing question would be what were you doing lurking behind those curtains?”
It was rather irritating when, instead of answering her, he gave her arm a pat.
“I’m afraid the unintentional fright I gave you has allowed you to misinterpret the situation, but now is hardly the moment to discuss the matter.” Gideon began nudging her toward the door. “I’ve just noticed you’re looking concerningly peaked, which is entirely my fault.”
