“Your Grace, your wisdom is so very much appreciated, and I’m certain these young ladies would be wise to follow your example.”
The voice came from a middle-aged woman, but she didn’t sound familiar to Gavin. He was certain he hadn’t met all of his grandmother’s friends, even though she’d tried to make the introductions. Her matchmaking skills were quite obvious, whether she knew it or not.
“How kind of you to say, Lady Browning,” the dowager duchess said confidently. “I certainly want to share my knowledge in hopes of helping some young lady.”
Gavin bit his lip to keep from laughing. If these ladies only knew what kind of troublemaker his grandmother had been in her younger years, they would leave the party with burned ears and warped minds. But he wouldn’t tell. However, he was growing rather bored of eavesdropping, and although he didn’t want to go in and have his grandmother introduce him to the maidens who were looking for a husband, he may as well get it over and done with.
He moved away from the wall and walked inside. The women were sitting in a large circle, sipping their tea and eating pastries. He wouldn’t mind eating the few pastries still left on the cart, but he would refrain. Of course, once he left, the kitchen would be his next stop.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” he greeted them loudly, getting their attention.
Almost in unison, the women’s heads turned toward him, and the eyes of the young misses grew wide as they straightened in their chairs. But once his attention landed on one certain woman, he didn’t want to look any further.
Priscilla was lovely today in her cream and peach silk day dress. The see-through short sleeves and square bodice enhanced her slender figure. Her black hair was fashioned in a loose coil, leaving wisps of curls around her ears and along her neck. Although he hadn’t studied the other women in the room, he could honestly admit he had never seen a more beautiful woman.
“Oh, goodness.” The dowager’s voice lifted with excitement. “You have come.”
It was difficult, but he tore his gaze from Priscilla and focused on the hostess as he walked to her chair. He leaneddown and kissed her cheek. “Of course, Grandmother. After all, you invited me, or have you forgotten?”
She laughed and patted his cheek. “I have invited you many times, but it is a rare occasion when you actually come.”
“Well, I thought I would take a break from my duties and visit for a moment with you and your friends.” He moved his gaze back to Priscilla. Although she didn’t look on him with bashful eyes, like some of the other young misses were doing, at least her attention was on him and not her lap.
“Splendid.” The dowager squeezed his arm. “Then I pray you will take a moment and allow me to introduce you to some of my guests.”
“But of course.” He smiled, not wanting the introduction—but he would try to be patient regardless.
“You remember Lady Caldwell, and this is her daughter Miss Beatrice.”
As his grandmother introduced each woman, he nodded or gave them a polite greeting. Yet he couldn’t stop his gaze from jumping back toward Priscilla from time to time. How could he help himself, especially after the kindness she’d shown him last night, when she had reason to loathe his very presence?
“I’m not sure if you remember,” his grandmother continued, “but this is Lady Burns, who was friends with your parents, and her daughter, Miss Georgina.”
Gavin briefly glanced at the daughter, giving her a nod, but then something caught his interest, making him want to look at her longer. Her wavy, dark brown hair was the same color as his, but it was her memorable green eyes that made his mind stall. His father also had those eyes and that hair, which were passed down to Gavin. But it was more than that which made him think he was looking at someone familiar. Her face structure was very much like his father’s, long nose, high cheekbones, and small ears—something Gavin had not gotten from his father.
And the girl’s name was Georgina. How odd, since his father’s name had been George. Strange, but the young woman stared at him as though challenging him.
Gavin’s stomach twisted, and his gaze jumped back to the young woman’s mother. Another thing he found odd was that Lady Burns wasn’t meeting his eyes, and her cheeks grew pinker by the second.
Inwardly, he groaned. Did his father really think he could hide it from the family? Gavin was surprised his grandmother hadn’t noticed the resemblance between him and the girl. And did his mother know about her husband’s infidelity before she passed on?
“And this is Mrs. Smythe, visiting from London,” his grandmother continued.
He tried not to show his irritation as he finished greeting the other women in the circle, but at this moment, he didn’t want to be here. Hadn’t his father ruined his son’s life enough?
When he heard Priscilla’s name, he snapped out of his anger and stared at her beauty once again. Just seeing her look at him with her pretty blue eyes softened his heart.
“It is good to see you again, Your Grace,” she said, curtsying. “I trust you are well?”
“Indeed, I am. And how are you faring?”
She nodded. “It has been a wonderful day, thank you.”
“I’m so happy to hear that.”
“Gavin, my boy,” his grandmother said, forgetting to use his title in front of her guests, “would you stay and take some tea and pastries with us?”
He looked down at her. “Thank you for the offer, but no. I need to be getting back to the ledgers.”
