A Gentleman Never Tells(66)

It would be so easy for her to just accept the fact her father wanted her to marry him. Because the truth was she wanted to be with him, and she had wanted to be with him since the moment she saw him standing in the mist. It was as if fate had said to her, This man is yours for the taking. Take him . But Brent had not chosen her. By her actions that morning, she had forced all this on him, and now she had to do her best to give him back his freedom to choose his own wife.

Slowly her smile faded. She could easily allow herself to fall in love with him, if only he wasn’t merely fulfilling his obligation for being caught kissing her.

When she laid her things on the table, she noticed a letter addressed to her on the silver calling card plate. “Staunton,” she said, quickly picking it up. She had been waiting to hear from him. She broke the seal and read.

My Dearest Gabby,





If you should find yourself taking in the sights of St. James tomorrow afternoon, perhaps our paths will cross.





I am with kindest regards,

Staunton





It wasn’t the friendliest of correspondence, but at last he’d finally answered her. She needed to find Auntie Bethie immediately to see if she was free for a ride in the park.

Gabrielle walked down the corridor and looked into the drawing room. Auntie Bethie was reading in a chair by the fireplace. Brutus greeted her with a woof and wagged his tail but didn’t try to rise from his pillow.

“Good afternoon, Auntie,” she said, walking over and giving her aunt a kiss on her cheek, and then over to Brutus to pat his head and scratch his ears. Thanks to Brent, her old companion had had a wonderful time in the park.

“How was your afternoon?” Auntie Bethie asked, closing her book and laying it in her lap.

There was no way Gabrielle could keep a big smile off her face as she said, “It was quite enjoyable, Auntie.”

“I thought it would be. Lord Brentwood is certainly handsome enough to look at for an entire afternoon.”

“Most definitely,” Gabrielle said, holding her hands in front of the low-burning fire to warm them.

“Sit down and tell me all about it. I want to hear everything.”

Gabrielle made herself comfortable on the settee and took her time telling about the day. She went into great detail about the viscount losing his hat because of her bumping him with her parasol, about Brutus slobbering on the glossy shine of Lord Brentwood’s Hessians, and about the woman with the dog they had chased down. But she left out all references to the few exciting and satisfying minutes she spent in Brent’s arms.

When their laughter over the afternoon’s events had died down, Auntie Bethie said, “I’ve been thinking about something for a long time, even before I arrived in London, and it’s time I told you about it.”

Gabrielle moved to the edge of the settee. “Yes, tell me.”

“I’ve decided to leave Southampton and find a place here in London to lease.”

“Oh, Auntie, that is wonderful news! You know how I have always wanted you to be close by so we could see you more often.”

Her aunt’s eyes took on a sheen Gabrielle had never seen in them before and, for the first time she could ever remember, her aunt was close to tears.

“Yes, I know, my dear, but your father has never wanted that, and I have been somewhat at his mercy financially, as you know, for many years.”

Gabrielle rose from the settee and knelt in front of her aunt, taking hold of her hands. “I’m sorry my father has always treated you so atrociously.”

She lightly squeezed Gabrielle’s fingers. “No, my dear, he hasn’t. How can I think that when he has provided exceptionally well for me all these years because of his vow to my dear sister? And he has allowed me to visit you and Rosa a couple of times each year, so I can’t be too harsh on him. I have been very frugal, and because of his generosity, I’ve been able to save a good portion of my yearly allowance from him. I’ve made one or two investments that have paid me well. I now have enough that even if he stops my monthly allowance, I will live comfortably in London for the rest of my days.”

Happiness surged inside Gabrielle. “Stay in London, Auntie. You know I would never let you go without anything you needed.”

Her aunt’s eyes cleared, and she laughed in the deep, throaty voice Gabrielle loved to hear. “Thank you, dear. It makes me very happy to know you want me to live close by.”