"Thank you. I do hope everything is well at Stonemede."
Richard nodded and then took his leave. He hoped his assignment from his friend, as well as the difficulties at Stonemede, would take his mind off of the most incredible hazel eyes he had ever seen.
Chapter 4
He'd failed miserably, Richard noted. He had spent the past hour hearing about all the troubles his steward experienced at Stonemede, but his mind remained on Lady Brianna Denton. Deciding to forgo taking his carriage home, he hoped the fresh air would clear his head of thoughts of her. The day, surprisingly clear and dry, was a pleasant change from the normally wet London.
As he passed by the numerous shops down the busy street, he wondered what had possessed him to ask his solicitor to inquire about Lady Brianna. It should not matter to him how appropriate her social standing would be for the position of his marchioness, since she didn't meet his requirements. Any lady bold enough to kiss an unknown man was not his idea of an obedient soft-spoken wife.
Richard tried to think of the other ladies he met to determine which ones satisfied his requirements. Unfortunately, he could not picture a single one. His search was not being conducted favorably, and considering the nature of evening balls, the setting was not conducive to his purpose. At his next opportunity, he would pick several ladies to call upon to give him a better chance at determining their eligibility.
"Mr. Richard? Is that you?" He heard a familiar voice calling from behind him.
Not knowing anyone who would address him thusly, he ignored her, assuming she spoke to another gentleman. Then he stopped, suddenly realizing who the voice belonged to, for he had been hearing it inside his head all day.
His mind must have conjured her, for the odds of her passing at the exact time as he was unfathomable. Richard felt anticipation welling up inside him as he slowly turned toward her voice. He sighed. She looked as spectacular in her day clothes as she had the other evening in her ball gown. The soft pink fabric taunted him as it encircled her perfect form.
"Lady Brianna, what a happy coincidence to see you here," he replied, enjoying the way her face lit up with a brilliant smile.
"You remember me," she said, pleasure clear in her voice.
How she could possibly imagine he would have forgotten her, he could not understand.
"I find it difficult to forget such a beautiful lady." He omitted the fact that their unorthodox introduction would forever be preserved in his mind.
"So, what brings you here?" she asked, cocking her head, unable to hide her blush at the compliment. "Are you looking for something in particular? I may be of assistance, for I'm quite familiar with the shops in this area."
Her companion, who appeared to be a maid, gasped at her offer, but Lady Brianna continued watching him expectantly. Would she ever cease to surprise him? From the companion's reaction, this was not the behavior she typically exhibited, so why was she acting so now?
He wondered if someone had put her up to this. Had she found out who he was, and now she would hunt him like the rest of them? If not, then why would she choose to associate with him, a proclaimed untitled gentleman? He had so many questions, and he felt the compulsion to ferret out all of her secrets.
He'd been on the verge of allowing her to join him when he caught himself and realized what was happening. He was becoming too involved with this unsuitable lady, for she already fascinated him. If he didn't proceed carefully, he could easily become engrossed until it was too late to escape.
"Thank you for your kind offer. However, I'm merely passing through to attend to some business. It was lovely to see you again." His voice came out more abrupt than he'd intended.
"Yes, very lovely," she replied, her smile falling.
Richard didn't hesitate long enough for her to question his sudden change in mood. With a polite nod, he turned and made his way back to his town house. All the while he reaffirmed his resolve to keep away from this fascinatingly beautiful lady.
Brianna allowed her dance partner to lead her to her mother. The end of yet another ball neared, and she'd been unable to locate Mr. Richard. It had been too long since she'd last seen him, and she began to wonder if he was purposefully avoiding her.
She'd felt so lucky the other day when she and Ashley had run into him on their way to the milliner's shop. He appeared even more handsome in the light of day, and Brianna found herself wanting to spend the day with him. At first, she thought he seemed pleased to see her, but after her offer, his immediate departure confused her. Although not the worst she had done, she knew her behavior verged on improper. Still, her actions had not warranted his immediate departure.
Now Brianna once again searched for him, while doing her best to appear nonchalant so as to not alert her mother. She desperately wanted to apologize to Mr. Richard if she offended him, and, if not, she wanted an explanation. Spending time with him was necessary in order to determine if he would be a suitable husband, and she tired of waiting.
Casting him from her mind, she scanned the ballroom for another target. If Mr. Richard was unavailable, she would have to find another potential candidate for the position. Spending all her time looking for someone who was not there did nothing to aid her search. In addition, the activity only served to depress her.
"Hello, Brianna. Has any gentleman caught your eye as of yet?" Jillian asked as she appeared by Brianna's side. This was also Jillian's first Season, and although Brianna had not spent time getting to know any of the other girls, she was on favorable terms with Jillian.
"Not exactly, though my mother has found her pick."
"Mine, too. Let me guess, your mother has her sights on the Marquis of Stonemede?"
"Of course, as I'm sure your mother has the same idea. Have you been introduced?" Brianna asked, although she suspected Jillian's mother had been first in line. "I have not had the pleasure, much to my mother's dismay."
"We were introduced, and I was able to share one dance with him. I must say, he is an exceptional dancer."
"How wonderful," Brianna responded, trying to keep the surprise from her voice. She had imagined someone with his advanced years would have trouble walking, and therefore dancing would not be an option.
"You will soon have your chance, although he has not appeared this evening."
"That is quite all right. My mother may hope for the marquis, but, between us, I have an entirely different agenda," Brianna replied proudly.
"Really? Then you would not be competition should I decide to pursue him?"
"Certainly not, and I wish you luck, for I imagine you are not the only one who has shown preference to him."
As the two girls enjoyed their light-hearted conversation, Brianna allowed her tense body to relax. If the marquis was not in attendance, she had no reason to fear her mother tonight. She looked around and noticed a striking man walk past her. His hair shone like gold, and his face boyishly handsome. She had never seen him before, so she watched as he approached a chaperone. After a few words, she deduced he was being denied a dance with her charge. Brianna had never witnessed such a display, and her curiosity as to why he would be turned away piqued.
"Jillian, do you know who that gentleman is?" Brianna nodded to him.
"I believe he is Baron Marks's youngest son."
"Why do you suppose Sarah's chaperone denied him a dance?" She hoped Jillian would fill her in. It was commonly known that Jillian's mother was a considerable gossip. After beginning her Season, Jillian saw the trouble such a practice caused, so she kept away from anyone she believed would spread gossip around.
"I'm not certain." Jillian pressed her lips in a tight line.
"The information shall not be passed on from me. I simply don't wish for my mother to grant him dances with me if he should be avoided." Brianna widened her eyes in sincerity. It was obvious Jillian knew more than she let on, and Brianna's curiosity always got the best of her.
"Well, as I said, I'm not certain," Jillian replied hesitantly. "However, I have heard his father cut him off, so he is penniless. It's also said that he is anxious to find an heiress to set himself up and prove his worth to his father."
Brianna swiveled back toward the gentleman in question to see him through new eyes. His financial situation suited her perfectly, as well as his good looks. He didn't appear powerfully exciting or as devilishly handsome as Mr. Richard, but he had a certain charm, which appealed to her. She could not be certain if pity or admiration brought it on, but, regardless, she was happy to have two candidates to consider. Her next task was to spend as much time as possible with them to determine which one, if either, would be more suitable.