Julia Justiss by The Untamed Heiress

Author:The Untamed Heiress [Heiress, The Untamed]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SEVERAL MORNINGS LATER, Adam rose early. Rather than take coffee in his room, as had been his habit since the arrival of his houseguest, he prepared to descend to the breakfast parlor. Tonight Miss Lambarth would make her first appearance with the Darnell ladies at a ball given by another of Lady Darnell’s Society friends. Though his stepmother had told him not to worry about escorting them to the event, he’d decided to honor his sister’s debut and his stepmother’s reentrance into Society by returning after dinner with his fiancée to take them to the ball.

Though she knew Miss Lambarth would be a part of the group, Priscilla had been entirely supportive, a gracious gesture which had done much to smooth over the tension that had lingered between them since their disagreement over his handling of his domestic debacle. More cheerful than he’d felt for some time, Adam planned to surprise his stepmother with the news over breakfast—and incidentally, take the opportunity to chat with Miss Lambarth, whom he’d not seen since their interview several days previous.

Conscious of his resolve to deal carefully with that lady, he resisted the impulse to enter and perhaps find her alone. Not until he heard his sister’s voice along with her husky tones did he proceed into the room.

“Adam, what a surprise!” Charis cried, coming over to hug him. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

Nodding to acknowledge Miss Lambarth’s curtsey—though it hadn’t required that gesture for him to notice her, for he’d felt her presence the instant he walked in—he returned the hug. “Must I have some hidden purpose to take breakfast with my favorite sister?”

“I should hope not, though despite the fact that the house has been free of merchants for over a fortnight, we’ve seen very little of you. The obligations of an affianced gentleman, I expect!”

He allowed his gaze to return to Miss Lambarth, garbed this morning in a plain, high-necked gown of deep rose-apricot—its hue like that of the banked coals glowing on the hearth. And like them, she radiated a warmth and energy that urged one to draw nearer. Dismissing the whimsical analogy, he said, “Miss Lambarth, I see you’ve reconciled with the ladies?”

She smiled slightly, a hint of the expression that had captivated him at their previous meeting. “Aunt Lillian is still not entirely happy, but I’ve been most penitent. Have I not, Charis?”

“If you’re referring to Nell and Dickon, Adam, after Helena explained to me how they were circumstanced, I understood perfectly why she felt it essential to hire them. A brave decision on her part, do you not think?”

While Helena shook her head in demurral, Adam replied, “Risky, certainly.”

“I shall endeavor to do nothing else to distress Aunt Lillian,” Helena asserted. “I am even being careful in my conversation when we go out, that I not embarrass her.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Charis said. “Since her drive with Mr. Dixon a few days ago, Helena has been surrounded by admirers at every call we’ve made.

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