Page 16 of A Gentleman's Kiss
As she continued to descend the stairs she chanced a quick glance at him again out of the side of her lowered lashes. He was now intently staring at her.
“You look dazzling, my dear,” Uncle Luke said. “I see you have your mother’s pearls on.”
Lillian’s hand immediately moved up her throat. Her mother’s pearls? How had they come to be in the duchess’s possession? Why didn’t Aunt Georgiana tell her that when she left them for her upstairs?
“My mother?” Lillian’s voice sounded strangled and bewildered.
“Yes of course,” her uncle said with a smile, seeming not to notice her confusion.
Lillian smiled tentatively back, fingering the necklace. She didn’t feel right about wearing her mother’s pearls, when she had been the cause of her death.
Lord Wessex walked toward her. She turned to face the other direction, not willing or ready to face him yet. Heat infused her face, and she wished she could melt to the floor.
“Miss Whitmore, may I escort you to the carriage?”
Lillian turned back to him and opened her mouth to answer, when exclamations abounded from around them. The loudest of all coming from Aunt Georgiana.
“Oh Tamara, you look enchanting!” the duchess said, in an admirable tone, her face lighting up. She glanced furtively toward Lord Wessex. “Isn’t she beautiful, Lord Wessex?”
“Yes, indeed Madam,” he said half-heartedly. “Lady Tamara is always a sight to see.”
Tamara floated down the stairs, all poise, obviously some of the polish Lillian lacked. She snapped up Lord Wessex’s arm, shooting Lillian a scathing look. Lord Wessex gave her an apologetic lift of his brows and mouthed the words,I’m sorry.
Tamara’s behavior was annoying, but to be honest, this time, Lillian was not in the least disturbed.
The ride to the queen’s tea was almost unbearable for Lillian. She felt utterly inadequate as she imagined what it would be like to be presented to a queen. She knew how to curtsey, but what if she became unbalanced and fell? What if the queen found her lacking? Could she banish her from London? No…Queen’s didn’t do that anymore did they?
On top of her fears of inadequacy, she now harbored even more feelings of guilt regarding her parents. Wearing her mother’s precious pearls brought back so many more horrifying memories. She didn’t feel like she deserved them.
She rode in the closed carriage with Tamara, Susannah and Lord Wessex. Her aunt and uncle were in another. Lillian chanced a peek through her lashes at Lord Wessex, who sat across from her. His unwavering gaze was concentrated on her. His brow was furrowed, and the muscle in his jaw ticked repeatedly. She couldn’t figure out if he was scowling or just deep in thought. At any rate, heat cascaded its way through her veins. She wished he would look away.
“Miss Whitmore, may I have the honor of escorting you into the tea?” Lord Wessex asked.
Lillian’s gaze shot up to meet with his. A storm cloud of need was brewing in his eyes. He was definitely not scowling at her. For a moment she was speechless. The intensity of emotion emanating from Dominick sent the most ethereal sensations through her body. What would it be like to kiss him? She couldn’t imagine him pressing hard lips to hers like George had. No, she sensed his kiss would be soft, enticing. And any woman’s dream…
She was brought back to reality by the sudden jab of Susannah’s elbow into her ribs.
She pulled her gaze from Dominick and looked pensively at her other cousin. The daggers coming from Tamara’s eyes dared her to say yes and warned of punishment should she do so.
“Yes, thank you, my lord,” Lillian said, keeping her eyes on Tamara and reveling in the small triumph. She was tired of her cousin’s deep seated hatred and she could care less if they were unhappy. They’d been so rude to her since her arrival, if she could take just this one thing away—the chance of an escort by Lord Wessex—then she would.
Her words shocked the group, and elicited another rather painful jab from Susannah. She decided the pain and later punishment would be worth it. Despite paying her cousin back for her rudeness, she needed to know what Lord Wessex had seen of her and Sir Trenton in the carriage, and if he could keep it to himself. She then needed to explain that she expected Sir Trenton would be proposing very soon.
And she’d best forget the desire she felt crackling between herself and Dominick.
Lillian did indeed receive several scathing stares from her aunt and cousins as she gladly took Lord Wessex’s arm upon exiting the carriage at Buckingham Palace. Her uncle, however, beamed, and whispers among the guests hissed above the crowd as she entered on his arm.
Introductions to Queen Victoria went swimmingly, with Lillian doing as she was instructed. The Queen sat in her gilded throne, her loving Prince beside her, beneath a pair of winged angels holding garlands. Although her dress and jewels were intimidating, her smile was kind and reassuring.
Lillian’s aunt and cousins drifted aside with Lillian in tow, but Lord Wessex stayed behind to chat with the queen. What was his relation to Queen Victoria? They smiled in her direction. Lillian returned their smiles, not sure what to make of it.
She turned to Aunt Georgiana, who stood at her side, and was greeted with an open glare.
“What relation is Lord Wessex to Her Majesty, Your Grace?” she asked softly, ignoring her aunt’s hostility.
“Ought you to know such things, of the man you intend to wed?” Aunt Georgiana asked sharply before turning from her.
What!?
