June Calvin by The Jilting of Baron Pelham

Author:The Jilting of Baron Pelham [Pelham, The Jilting of Baron]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Lord Threlbourne stood in front of Davida and Pelham, looking back and forth between them as if believing and hoping one or the other would begin laughing and give the joke away.

“Engaged! You two? Stap me if that ain’t outside of enough. Cut line, will you?”

“Don’t matter how much cant you bedazzle us with, Gil, the fact remains. Today I have asked Miss Davida Gresham to be my wife and she has accepted me.” Pelham’s manner as he repeated his announcement was smug.

“It won’t do, Monty. It won’t do at all. Not good ton.”

Pelham drew in a sharp breath. He had known there would be some eyebrows raised at his fiancée’s obscure family. With his title and fortune, he could have looked very high in the ten thousand for a wife. But he certainly had not expected such a good friend to blatantly object.

“Now see here, Gilbert. Won’t have you insulting my intended in that way.”

“Not insulting her.” Threlbourne turned to Davida and took her hand, patting it fondly. “Davida is good ton, right up to her pretty little ears. But you, Pelham. This dashing from engagement to engagement just won’t do. You and Elspeth are behaving like children.”

Real temper began to show in Pelham’s voice. “This has nothing to do with Lady Elspeth. I haven’t been dashing from engagement to engagement. And I won’t let you put a damper on our happiness.” He glanced rather anxiously at Davida, who had grown progressively more agitated as this conversation continued.

“Happiness!” Davida tossed her head with a most unladylike snort. “He is only saying what everyone else will say. I tried to . . .”

Pelham quickly interrupted her. “Yes, I know, dear, you tried to get me to postpone our announcement for a while, but I can’t wait to make you mine. Get your pelisse and we’ll go shopping for rings.” He gave her a not very gentle nudge toward the door. “Sorry to deprive you of her company today, Gil, but I know you’ll understand.”

“Oh, I understand, well enough,” Threlbourne intoned gloomily, trailing them down the steps.

Once he had her settled in the curricle beside him, Pelham began a rapid-fire monologue that deliberately gave Davida no opportunity for further discussion.

“Of course, I could give you a family heirloom. Mother is still wearing her ring and wouldn’t part with it, but it wouldn’t suit you anyway. None of our old pieces will, the rings, at least. You have your own style. I picture you with something light. Perhaps a star sapphire set in diamonds. Your eyes aren’t quite sapphire, though.”

He caught and held her eyes with his deep cobalt gaze. “Lovely eyes, bright blue with flecks of white and amber like little lights in them. First thing that I really noticed about you, Davida, was your sparkling eyes. And don’t shoot fire at me with them now, missy. It don’t become you!’

“Spanish coin, sir,” she began, but he leaned over and stopped her protest with a quick, firm kiss on the mouth, then laughed gleefully at her discomposure.

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