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“—as a thank-you for helping me,” Gabriel finished firmly over the top of Lily’s single-word protest and the countess’s hesitant refusal. “I assure you, I mean no impropriety by suggesting it.”
Lily realized, by the bizarre turn this conversation had now taken, that she had delayed far too long in recovering her wits after their butler had announced the Duke of St. Albans’s arrival, followed by his immediately entering the salon.
Long enough for her mother to behave as a simpering and flirtatious ninny. Behavior which did not suit the often acerbic and obviously middle-aged countess in the slightest.
Lily’s delay had also allowed Gabriel to take complete control of the conversation before making this outrageous request.
The Duke of St. Albans could not, most assuredly couldnot, buy her a new gown!
It would be scandalous for him to do so under any circumstances but even more so after they had been seen talking alone together the previous evening.
She could not allow—
“After all, I am old enough to be Lily’s father,” he now added with a pointed glance in Lily’s direction.
She gave him a glowering one back. “I will happily accompany you on a visit to the seamstress to help you choose the material for Chloe’s new birthday gown.” There was much Lily would like to say to this arrogant duke in private! “But purchasing a second gown for me as a thank-you for that assistance is unnecessary.”
“I disagree,” he stated haughtily.
“You—”
“I am afraid there is no more time for us to argue the point,” St. Albans told her after a glance at his pocket watch. “The seamstress is expecting us to arrive within the next fifteen minutes.”
He sounded so sincere, Lily realized, when in reality they both knew there was no reason for her to accompany him toa seamstress. Indeed, Lily very much doubted there was an appointment with a seamstress to attend.
Lily put aside questioning therealreason for his visit in favor of inwardly debating how odd it was they had both chosen the purchase of Chloe’s new gown as the explanation for their conversation the previous evening.
Even odder that Gabriel now wished to whisk her away from her home.
“You should have stated you were in a rush to leave when you arrived, St. Albans,” the countess snapped. “Lily must be accompanied by her maid, of course—”
“I drove here in my phaeton, I am afraid,” St. Albans dismissed unapologetically.
“A vehicle only seats two people comfortably.” The countess sounded scandalized.
“My point exactly, Countess.” The duke gave a slight bow of acknowledgment.
“Lily’s maid might travel up front with the driver, I suppose,” the older woman said distractedly.
“I prefer to drive myself, so I did not have it designed with a seat at the front.” St. Albans shot that suggestion down too.
“I supposeIcould—”
“We would all be made very uncomfortable if you were to accompany us,” the duke warned.
“Yes, of course.” Lily’s mother looked deeply irritated by this turn of events. “I am not sure it is seemly for Lily to be alone in a carriage with you.”
“It is a very small and open carriage, my lady,” he reminded.
“I really cannot understand why you would have chosen to drive here today in such an unsuitable vehicle,” the countess bit out her irritation with the situation.
He shrugged. “It is a pleasant day, and I am sure Lily will be warm enough if she wears her winter cloak. Unless you think me an unsuitable chaperone for her?” he challenged.
Lily bit her bottom lip to stop herself from bursting out laughing at how neatly St. Albans had turned the tables on her mother.
Confirming for Lily that there was far more to the duke than he allowed the majority of thetonto see. Well, of course there was. He would not have the ear of the Prince Regent nor have avoided the matchmaking mothers for so many years if he were not ruthlessly intelligent.
Lily’s mother did not have either of those attributes.