Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante (5 page)

Phoebe glanced up. Her eyes popped
open in surprise before she gave him a brilliant smile. “Good
evening, Lord Sandlin. How are you?” She placed her foot on the
ground and slipped it into the light blue matching slipper before
she shook out her gown.

“
It seems you have had
another lapse,” he stated with an edge, trying to keep his eyes on
her face and not her bodice .

“
How so?”

“
I just stopped another
eager young man from following you in here.”

Her faced paled when she realized how
vulnerable she had been. “Oh dear.”

“
That is a start.” He
stepped back and waited for her to come forward. Offering his arm,
he escorted her back to Felding. As he relinquished his hold,
Taylor shot his friend an angry look.

“
Thank you, again, Lord
Sandlin.”

He gave her a quick nod and returned
his attention to Noah. “I need a drink. Please try to keep an eye
on her.” He strode away before Felding questioned him.

*

Taylor leaned back in his regular
chair and watched Felding approach their group of
friends.

“
We have taken the liberty
of drawing up a schedule.” Martin chuckled and signaled the waiter
to refill his glass.

Felding took his seat. “Schedule for
what?”

“
To act as your seconds of
course,” Chambers offered.

“
My what?” Felding
practically yelled.

Taylor studied him, not feeling the
same amusement as their friends. Of course they didn’t know what he
had seen and how he had reacted. He wondered sourly if one of them
would offer to be his second if Felding called him out.

“
You heard him. Your
seconds. We have each taken a couple of weeks.” Parker laughed and
continued. “Sooner or later you might find yourself in a position
to defend her. We are simply planning ahead so you know who to call
on when the time arrives for the morning appointment on the dueling
field.”

Felding didn’t comment. Taylor watched
as he signaled for a pint and then offered his own advice.
“Personally, I would recommend you chain her to your
wrist.”

The comment startled the lot of them.
“Are you suggesting I have been derelict in my duty?” Felding
returned in a cool tone.

“
Not at all. But, the
minute your attention is diverted, she is off.” Taylor chuckled,
trying to lighten the situation.

Felding slumped back with a sigh.
“Yes, I know. And thank you. You’ve done an admirable job of
keeping her safe so far.”

“
My pleasure.” Taylor
raised his glass to Felding with a forced smile.

“
Janine has decided to
have a house party at the end of the month,” Martin
announced.

Each man smiled, perhaps in
anticipation to the distractions house parties tended to
offer.

“
Before you start planning
your own entertainments, you should be aware that she is planning
this for Lady Phoebe.”

A bucket of ice water couldn’t have
altered his thoughts quicker.

“
Why on earth would she do
a thing like that?” Chambers demanded.

“
Because the other young
ladies have been discussing these gatherings and Janine thought it
would be wiser to initiate Lady Phoebe into one under a more
controlled environment.”

Felding was the first to agree. “That
is an excellent idea. I had completely forgotten about weekend
country parties, or that Phoebe might be asked to
attend.”

“
Since it will be
controlled, then I assume we need not attend.” The last thing
Taylor needed was to be thrown into the country for a long weekend
with Lady Phoebe.

Martin grimaced. “On the contrary.
Janine insists we all attend. You don’t want to know what I have
been threatened with if you don’t.”

“
So, she finally let you
back into her bed and you don’t want to lose the spot again.”
Parker laughed.

Martin glowered at his
friend.

“
I suppose the house will
be filled with lovely young ladies who normally wouldn’t be allowed
to attend such a gathering with the likes of us,” Chambers
assumed.

“
Exactly. There will be
some fine young men there as well. Those who Janine and Lady
Felding deem appropriate suitors for Lady Phoebe.” Martin turned to
address Felding, “You will be given a list prior to the invitations
being sent.”

“
Sounds dreadfully
boring,” Parker observed.

“
Who is picking the young
ladies?” Chambers asked, as if seeing advantages where the others
saw none.

“
Apparently, Lady Phoebe
will be making the list from the young girls she has
met.”

“
The party is a week
away,” Felding interrupted. “I need to know if each of you will be
at Almacks tonight.”

They all nodded in agreement, except
Lavins who simply grinned.

“
Why do you look so
pleased?” Felding asked Lavins a few moments later.

“
Why shouldn’t I be? I’m
anticipating a quiet evening at home with my wife.”

“
Why should you be granted
a reprieve?” Taylor demanded.

“
Because he was rejected
by the Lady Patroness.” Martin laughed. “I would find a way to be
banned from Almacks myself if Janine would allow it.”

“
I had forgotten. What was
the offense that got you kicked out of those hallowed halls?”
Taylor asked.

“
Patroness Lady Jersey
didn’t like the cut of my coat, among other items about my person,”
Lavins offered, not sounding offended in the least. “Don’t worry
gentlemen, you won’t be far from my thoughts.”

“
Somehow I doubt that,”
Taylor muttered.

“
I suppose we can’t wait
until shortly before eleven to make our entrance?” Martin
suggested.

“
And leave Felding alone
guarding the girl?” Taylor protested. “I shudder to think what
would happen. Besides, if anyone of them were even a minute past
eleven they wouldn’t be granted entrance.

*

Tonight was the night. The night of
all nights. The most important night of her debut. The night that
would make or break her success. At least that was what had been
drummed into her head over and over by her mother. After being sent
to her room for a rest before the long evening ahead, Phoebe
wondered what was so important about being accepted at Almacks.
Apparently her mother’s opinion was shared by all. Her new friends
were also anxiously awaiting the evening with a mixture of dread
and anticipation, worried they would be turned away, even though
each had already been granted a voucher. Personally Phoebe couldn’t
care less if the Lady Patronesses welcomed her or not. But it was
important to her mother, so she would do her best to win
approval.

Phoebe stood in front of her mother
and slowly turned as she examined her. “Perfection,” her mother
announced, which Phoebe accepted. After all, her mother had a
biased view.

“
Now remember, you are not
to dance until A Lady Patroness has chosen your first partner.
Especially do not waltz without their consent,” Lady Felding
reminded her, again, and Phoebe obediently nodded. Her mother was
already assuming she would be a success.

An hour later Phoebe found herself
standing in the grand ballroom, awaiting permission to dance.
Apparently, it had already been decided who her first partner would
be, but he had yet to arrive. What if he didn’t arrive? Would she
be forced to stand on the sidelines all evening? For some reason
the ladies were confident the gentleman would show.

Phoebe couldn’t help but feel like she
had been made part of some fool’s jest when Lord Sandlin
approached.

“
Apparently, the Ladies
found it quite fascinating that Sandlin rescued you three times in
one short week and thought it only fair to reward him with the
honored dance,” Janine whispered before Sandlin led her
away.

Her face was hot enough to
burst into flames, but she executed her curtsey and Sandlin bowed.
This would be her first
real
waltz. When Lord Sandlin took her hand, she
placed her other on his shoulder, which sat higher than her dance
master’s. His strong hand settled warmly on her waist. The moment
the music began, he swept her in a circle. The music was Mozart. It
lightened her soul. Phoebe’s nervousness drained away and she
smiled brilliantly at him. “I just adore Mozart.”

Sandlin smiled down at her. “You
seemed worried when we first took the floor.”

“
I wasn’t sure what to
expect. I have watched couples dance and they appeared to be in
conversation.”

Taylor quirked brow. “You are afraid
to talk to me?”

“
I wondered if they were
truthfully conversing or counting.”

“
Counting?” Taylor asked
with a perplexed expression.

“
Yes. My dance instructor
always counted. If I spoke I messed up the count and we always had
to start at the beginning again.”

“
Would you prefer me to
count?”

“
No. I find it much more
pleasurable to converse,” she answered before her smile dimmed.
“Unless you need to count, Lord Sandlin.”

In answer to her question, he swept
her in another turn, almost lifting her off her feet. “I don’t need
to count.”

“
Oh, I’m so glad. This is
much more enjoyable than with my instructor.”

Phoebe sighed and allowed herself to
be swept away by Lord Sandlin. He wasn’t anything like her former
dance master. Besides not needing to count, Sandlin was much
taller. Why a girl could rest her head on his shoulder and be quite
comfortable. Not that she would do such a thing, of
course.

Sandlin was also a powerful dancer.
She could feel the strength in his hand as he guided her in the
turns. A girl could become giddy in such power. Thankfully she was
a reasonable girl and in no danger of succumbing to his charm. She
was much too intelligent to think such a perfect dancing partner
could be anything else. Phoebe reminded herself to find him a wife.
Any manner of young lady would be pleased to have Lord Sandlin. Not
only did he dance divinely, but he was also exceedingly handsome
and charming. When he wasn’t vexed with her, that is.

*

Too enjoyable, Taylor thought to
himself. They flowed through the steps together as if they were
one. Briefly their legs would touch and then break away again.
Nothing scandalous of course. The top of her dark head came to his
chin and Taylor had to continually fight to keep from pulling her
closer, to see if they fit as perfectly as he believed.

Who was he fooling? He already knew
their bodies melded perfectly. He could tell by her steps and how
effortlessly they matched his. Never had he waltzed with such ease
and enjoyment.

He should have never accepted the
dance. Nor would he waltz with Lady Phoebe again. It was too much
torture to his peace of mind and physical well-being. The waltz
also reminded him that he needed to find a mistress. He wondered if
it would be possible to procure one tonight.

Phoebe fumed, angry with
herself. For the last few days Lord Sandlin had come to her rescue
on three separate occasions. Each time she decided to distance
herself from the crowd for a moment of reprieve, she was
sure
—
no,
positive
—
nobody
was watching her. Just moments ago she had slipped into the
beautiful conservatory on her way from the retiring room. Such
glorious instruments and her hands itched to sit at the pianoforte.
The door had been left open and she had little concern. That was
until Lord Hawkins entered and attempted to shut it behind him. The
gleam in his eye and lecherous grin on his lips set her in a near
state of panic. Why, oh why, didn’t she think her actions through?
He barely stepped further into the room before the door opened and
Lord Sandlin stepped in, much to her relief. At each rescue
Sandlin’s attitude became angrier, shorter and cooler. She was at a
loss as to why he seemed to be so upset with her. After all, she
was trying her best to be careful.

Though he seemed terse, he led her
onto the dance floor upon reentering the ball room.

“
Once again, thank you,”
Phoebe bit out, irritated that she couldn’t find peace in the
crush. “Don’t you have better things to do?”

“
No,” he
snapped.

“
Not that I don’t
appreciate what you have done, but why do you always seem to be
about? It is as if you are watching me.” She had to ask. Her
curiosity had finally gotten the best of her. Why was he always
there at just the right moment?

“
I have been keeping an
eye on you from the minute you first stepped into society, young
lady.”

“
Why? Shouldn’t you be
looking for a wife?”

“
I do it because your
brother has asked me, all of us, to keep an eye on you. After
witnessing your ability to consistently put yourself in damaging
situations, I can see why he felt the need for
reinforcements.”