Gentleman's Trade by Holly Newman Page B

my appearance, no? ”
    “Oh, of course,” Vanessa agreed dryly. She silently watched Leila arrange Paulette’s hair for a moment more, then took her sister’s arm and led her over to the bed. She sat down and urged Adeline to join her. Adeline looked at her inquiringly, but nonetheless she acceded and sat down beside her.
    “I have a favor to ask of you. I know you believe Mr. Danielson to be my suitor as well as Mr. Wilmot,” she said slowly, staring down at her tightly clasped hands. She failed to see the delicate pink blush begin to stain Adeline’s cheeks. “Unfortunately, Father has placed me in an untenable situation by inviting both gentlemen to this theater party. I like and admire both gentlemen well enough, though honestly, I cannot say who I prefer as a suitor. I am thus left in the uncomfortable position of balancing my attentions to both.” She looked up at Adeline to see if she understood. Adeline nodded briefly, her color strangely high.
    “At the Langley Ball I virtually ignored Mr. Wilmot, and he is not a gentleman to take kindly to that. I fear he used you most abominably, dragging you along as he followed in my wake. It was highly flattering, but very poorly done on my part. I have decided I must make amends this evening. That, however, will leave Mr. Danielson bereft.”
    Color flared brighter in Adeline’s face and she was moved to interrupt. “Oh, no, Vanessa, I don’t think . . .”
    “Yes, it will.” She clasped Adeline’s hands in her own. “Calm down, please. I’m not asking you to do anything I wouldn’t do for you. All I ask is that you pay attention to Mr. Danielson, talk to him, and allow him to be your escort. He is a very charming man.”
    “Yes, yes he is,” whispered Adeline miserably.
    “I know you don’t like to put yourself forward, but please, do this for me.”
    Her sister smiled wanly and nodded. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Vanessa.”
    She patted Adeline’s hand and stood up. “Everything will be fine.”
    “And I hope I know what I’m doing,” Adeline murmured softly, ruefully, but Vanessa didn’t hear. She was already across the room, teasing Paulette on the length of time she was taking with her toilette.
    Vanessa and Adeline paused at the head of the stairs, trading mute requests for courage. Each was preoccupied with uneasy feelings of trepidation, and both were annoyed that they agreed to Paulette’s plan to precede her down the stairs.
    Vanessa’s glance swept the hall below. The gentlemen gathered there, under the light of the graceful crystal chandelier, presented an intriguing tableau. Mr. Wilmot, dark and swarthy, resplendent in black, exuded an aura of alertness and measured determination. Mr. Danielson, arrayed nattily in a coat of royal blue and tan pantaloons, displayed a boyish charm when he looked up and saw them on the stairs. Mr. Talverton, his broad shoulders filling a darker blue coat with a casual elegance seemingly at odds with his proportions, smiled lazily, his eyes so hooded he might have been asleep on his feet. Instinctively, Vanessa bristled at Mr. Talverton’s inattention. Perhaps Adeline and she did not possess Paulette’s young, vivacious beauty, but, they were ladies, more than passably attractive ladies, worthy of a gentleman’s attention. A slight frown wrinkled her forehead and her lips set in a straight line as she descended the stairs with her sister. Most likely he was again making odious comparisons to the fashionable ladies of London, and in his arrogance he found them lacking. Paulette was welcome to this rude, insufferable Englishman. She wished her joy.
    Her father’s wishes to the contrary, her attentions this evening were going to be directed at Mr. Wilmot. Guiltily, she realized she had not yet returned that gentleman’s steady regard. Her brow cleared, and she slid her gaze in his direction, smiling warmly just as they reached the point in the stairs where the chandelier’s glow bathed them