Page 31 of The Undesirable Duke
Timothy had been a protective older brother since Lillian could remember, but never before to this degree. There was definitely something Timothy was not telling her.
“Lord Bertram also attended Oxford. Do you know him from there? Were you friends?”
“No, we were most certainly not friends. And why do you have all these questions?” Timothy asked with clear discomfort.
“I only wish to know why you think that he is not a good suitor.”
“You will not have a fulfilled life with him, Lillian, and that is all I will say on the matter,” Timothy said.
Lillian studied him for a moment, hoping he would change his mind and tell her what he knew, but much to her dismay, he did not.
At this rate, she might never know.
“Timothy, I-”
“Lillian, darling,” Lady Welsford entered the room theatrically, a bright smile on her face.
Lillian turned away from Timothy and hastily removed her elbow from the table before her mother saw it. But she did not appear to notice anything, especially not the guilty expression on Lillian’s face, or the annoyed expression on Timothy’s.
“Mother, you are in a cheerful mood this morning,” Timothy said as he rose to his feet.
“I am indeed. There is a gentleman caller for you this morning, Lillian.”
Lillian’s shoulders tensed and she gazed at her mother.
“Who is it, Mother?”
“Lord Bertram,” Lady Welsford beamed and clasped her hands together. “Isn’t that delightful?”
“Very much so, Mother.”
“Come along then, Lillian. Let us not keep the gentleman waiting.”
Lillian bit her lower lip and sighed. She rose from the table and smoothed the skirt of her pale green day dress.
“Let us not.”
Lillian followed her mother into the drawing room, and the memory of the Duke flashed before her. The Duke was incredibly handsome, and yesterday he had been dressed in formal attire with an air of sophistication surrounding him. His dark brown hair had been meticulously styled and Lillian’s skin tingled from the memory.
As she stepped inside, Lord Bertram turned from where he stood at the window.
“Lady Lillian,” he beamed, his eyes intently focused on her.
“My Lord, how lovely it is to see you.”
“You look radiant this morning, I must say. “
Lillian nodded tightly, forcing a smile.
“You are too kind, my Lord. Shall we sit?”
Lord Bertram motioned to the sofa, and they sat on opposite ends. Lady Welsford lingered in the background, and Lillian was rather grateful. She did not wish to be alone with Lord Bertram, especially since Timothy knew something about him that he did not want to disclose to Lillian.
“I brought you a gift, Lady Lillian.”
“You did not need to do that, my Lord, Indeed, that is a little… presumptuous of you…” she insisted.
Behind her, she heard a small rustle which indicated that her mother had just stiffened, not entirely happy that Lord Bertram had done something that wasn’t quite proper.
