Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. by Buck Gayle

Author:Buck, Gayle [Buck, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-04-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

By the time they had arrived at Gunther’s and he was helping Guin down from the carriage, Colonel Caldar was encouraged to think that she was in a happier frame of mind. Pushing down his own natural misgivings, he hoped that he was right about Lady Smythe’s offer and that Guin would benefit by her ladyship’s sponsorship. In any event, her ladyship’s benevolence could hardly do worse harm to Guin than had his sister’s mismanagement, he thought acidly.

“Miss Holland!”

Guin turned quickly on the walkway, at once recognizing the cheerful voice. “Miss Beasely!” she said in surprise.

She saw that Miss Beasely was accompanied by a tall dignified lady whom she did not know, and she nodded politely. The lady smiled and nodded.

Miss Beasely gave an easy laugh. The expression in her green eyes was friendly. She held out her hand to Guin. “I’ve startled you! Are you going to Gunther’s? Do let us join you! It is already so hot that I persuaded my cousin to stop for an ice before we returned home from our shopping. Oh, this is my widowed cousin, Mrs. Clara Roman.”

Guin realized her own social obligations. She said a shy hello to Mrs. Roman. “I—I don’t believe you have met my uncle, Colonel Caldar, Miss Beasely. Uncle, may I present Miss Beasely and her cousin, Mrs. Roman?”

Colonel Caldar gravely exchanged civilities with Miss Beasely and her companion. He invited them to join himself and his niece, gallantly insisting that the expense was to be his, so that they had formed a friendly party before entering the portals of the famous Gunther’s.

Miss Beasely chatted away in a lively style, drawing everyone else into conversation. Before many minutes, Colonel Caldar discovered that he had known Mrs. Roman’s late husband, a major with the army. The major had been a great correspondent, so that Colonel Caldar and Mrs. Roman could talk of many of the same events and people.

Miss Beasely regarded Colonel Caldar and her cousin with satisfaction before turning to Guin and drawing her attention by lowering her voice. “I must say, I am glad that Clara and your uncle seem to have hit it off so well. It makes it ever so much easier to talk to you.”

“I fear that I am not a-a good conversationalist,” confessed Guin worriedly. She was still bemused by Miss Beasely’s friendliness and apparent desire to further their acquaintance.

Miss Beasely chuckled. “How droll you are! But that is why we shall get along so amazingly for the next fifty or so years.”

Guin was surprised into unthinking comment. “What a queer thing to say!”

“No, why? It is quite true, you know! For I shall be your friend and your sister-in-law,” said Miss Beasely matter-of-factly. She spooned up some of her lemon ice as though she had not just uttered something fantastic.

Guin regarded Miss Beasely with fascination. “Shall you? I mean, I would be delighted to have your friendship, of course.”

Miss Beasely looked shrewdly at her. There was an unsettling gleam in her green eyes.

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