Page 5 of The Undesirable Duke
“Perhaps Lillian should refrain from seeking a husband in such dreary conditions. It does nothing for her complexion. Wait until Spring, rather, for the sunbeams to add some color to her porcelain skin.”
Lillian’s jaw dropped, and she stared at Timothy. She was not certain whether to be shocked by his words or welcome them with open arms. She would be forever grateful to him if he could convince their mother to postpone her matchmaking for Lillian until the Spring - if anyone had that power and influence, it would be Timothy.
“Never in my life have I heard such fustian nonsense. Wherever did that come from, Timothy?”
Timothy shrugged his shoulders and glanced around.
“It does seem rather pointless. It is winter and so close to Christmas. And speaking of Christmas-”
“Timothy, apologies for interrupting, but what of Lord Bertram?”
Lady Welsford sounded, most unusually, actually a little annoyed with Timothy.
“Is he not too old for Lillian?”
“He is the same age as you are.”
“That is precisely my point. Would she not fare better with a gentleman her own age?”
“That is not how this works, Timothy. You ought to know this.”
Lillian’s gaze moved back and forth between her mother and her brother. They spoke of her as though she was not standing beside them, and it was infuriating.
“Do I not get a say in this?” Lillian interjected.
Both her mother and brother paused for a moment and turned to her.
“Doyou want a say in this, sister?”
“At least a little,” she answered, wringing her hands together inside her muff.
“Perhaps Timothy is right,” Lady Welsford sighed theatrically. “Perhaps we ought to hold off for a while, until the new year, at least. I will consider it.”
Lillian gazed at Timothy gratefully but lowered her gaze before her mother could notice.
“What were you going to say about Christmas, my darling?” Lady Welsford asked Timothy.
“Oh, yes. A very good friend of mine, whom I met while at Oxford, is returning to London soon. Would it be alright if he joined us for Christmas? He has no other family, and I do not wish him to spend Christmastide alone.”
Lady Welsford and Lillian exchanged puzzled and intrigued glances, and Lady Welsford asked, “Who is this friend?”
“We attended university together in Oxford, as I mentioned.”
Timothy grinned, his shoulders straight, his hands behind his back.
Lady Welsford’s eyes narrowed curiously.
“You have never introduced us to this friend, have you?”
“I have not. But he and I have exchanged letters for a while. He is managing his estate in Cornwall but is traveling to London to visit me. Please, Mother. I consider him family, and to him, I am the only family he has,” Timothy uttered.
“Very well, but I will consult with your father when we arrive home.”
“Wonderful.”
As Lillian watched her brother, she noticed something strange in his behavior. He had been very vague when he spoke of his friend and had not even given his friend’s name. Who was this friend of Timothy’s, and why was he doing his best to keep his name a secret?
Lillian bit her lower lip as she wondered what her brother was hiding since she had never truly seen him act this way before.
