Page 15 of The Undesirable Duke
Who was this beautiful young woman who had quite literally fallen at his feet?
Chapter Six
Oh my.
Lillian’s heart pounded in her chest as the handsome gentleman before her stared intently at her. His hazel eyes were mesmerizing and warm. The manly scent of him had created a whirlwind of fluttering inside her stomach. His mere presence brought forth many curious feelings, but a sense of overwhelming excitement as well. Her racing heart was evident enough to create curiosity inside her.
Who was this man?
Why was his gaze so alluring to Lillian?
And why could she not utter a single word without her cheeks coloring?
This gentleman had rescued her from humiliation, although she felt incredibly foolish. She was not a clumsy young lady under normal circumstances, but she had never been that close to a man before. They had not even been properly introduced, and already she had imagined their future together. It was rather presumptuous of her to imagine such things from only meeting someone so swiftly, but Lillian could not help herself. Those thoughts were overwhelming and quite remarkable.
Lillian’s brow furrowed as she composed herself and straightened her shoulders.
“Thank you for your assistance. It would have been rather embarrassing if I had fallen.”
“It was my absolute pleasure. Allow me to introduce myself. I am-”
“Perhaps you ought to keep your introductions to yourself,” Lillian heard her mother utter rather rudely, and she looked at her over her shoulder to see that Lady Welsford’s cheeks were colored, but it was not from embarrassment. Her eyes flashed angrily, and she wrapped her fingers around Lillian’s arm. “We must go,” she hissed at Lillian and pulled her in the opposite direction from the gentleman.
“Mother, wait. This kind gentleman saved me from a potentially humiliating fate. I missed the step and I-”
“Perhaps you should watch where you are walking, dear.”
Lillian’s brow furrowed at her mother’s tone, and she turned to the gentleman.
“Pardon my mother.”
Before she could apologize to the gentleman, Lady Welsford pulled Lillian’s arm with more vigor and forced her in the opposite direction. The two ladies crossed the road and Lady Welsford almost shoved Lillian into their carriage. She watched as her mother settled opposite her, and felt almost smothered inside the confined space with her suddenly rather rude and unpleasant mother.
“What is wrong, Mother? Why were you rude to that gentleman?”
“That was not a gentleman, Lillian,” her mother hissed, adjusting the sleeves of her dress, and straightening her clothing. She appeared rather distressed, although Lillian could not imagine why. She had not seen her mother act in such a way before, and it puzzled her immensely.
“Mother, are you well?”
Lady Welsford narrowed her eyes at Lillian for a few moments and shook her head. She stared out of the window of the carriage and sighed theatrically.
“I hope you realize that everything I have done for you your entire life was to ensure that you were raised as a proper young woman who would easily find a husband.”
“I do realize that. But you still have not answered my question. Are you well?”
“I am well. Your concern is appreciated, my dear. And I must apologize for my behavior. That gentleman outside the modiste was not the kind of man you should keep company with.”
Lillian’s brow furrowed, and her heart suddenly raced in her chest. Her palms felt clammy, and her cheeks colored once more. She lowered her gaze, to hide her affliction from her mother. She certainly did not need her mother to notice the flush in her cheeks at only the mention of the handsome stranger who had rescued her from an embarrassing fall in the busiest street in Mayfair.
“I understand, Mother, as you were quite clear the first time. What I do not understand is why you were so rude to that gentleman. Are you familiar with him?”
“I am familiar with his type,” Lady Welsford scoffed and crossed her arms. “And I would very much appreciate it if you were to stay as far away from him, and men like him, as possible in future.”
Lillian pursed her lips as she noticed the carriage continue past their home in Mayfair.
“Mother, where are we going?”
“We are meeting your brother at the tearooms.”
