An Unexpected Gentleman Read Online Free PDF Page A

ones. France was most assuredly of the latter variety.
    “It doesn’t matter to where,” she said with a shrug. “So long as it’s new. Any place more than twenty miles from my home would suffice. I’ve never left Scotland.” It was less than a half day’s drive from her home to the border, and less than five miles from where she sat now, and yet she’d never made the trip.
    “You’ll have your chance after the wedding.”
    Her eyes flicked in the direction of the house. “I’ve not yet received a proposal.”
    “But you expect it.”
    There didn’t seem a reason to deny it or play coy. “I do. I thought perhaps tonight.”
    “Where will you go?”
    “For a bridal tour?” The pleasure of the game dimmed. “I won’t go anywhere. Sir Robert does not care for travel.”
    “I see,” he said. It was astounding, really, how much understanding could be conveyed in those two little words.
    That sort of understanding made her uneasy. It was too similar to pity for her liking. She didn’t want Connor to feel sorry for her, in part because it pricked her pride, but mostly because it was depressing to think that there might be good cause for sympathy—that a marriage to Sir Robert would, in fact, be a pitiable state of affairs.
    “He has many other fine qualities,” she blurted out.
    If Connor was taken aback by the emphatic statement, it didn’t show. His lips twitched. “I am agog to hear them.”
    “He is a baron,” she reminded him.
    “In possession of five thousand pounds a year. Yes, I know,” he replied with a nod. Then he just sat there, obviously waiting for her to elaborate on Sir Robert’s fine qualities. Which was unfortunate, because “he is a baron” was really all she had at the ready.
    It took a full thirty seconds for her to think of something else. “He is considered handsome by the ladies.”
    “And do you agree?”
    “Well . . .” She frowned, picturing him in her mind. Sir Robert brushed his hair forward in a severe manner, so that nearly every strand ran parallel to the ground. And he had a penchant for brightly colored waistcoats and overlarge cravat pins. “I think Sir Robert is, possibly, on occasion . . . much dressed.”
    “Much dressed,” Connor echoed and ran his tongue along his teeth as if tasting the description. “That is very diplomatic.”
    “Diplomacy is a useful and admirable tool.”
    “Sometimes. Sometimes it’s a crutch and a barrier.” He bent his head to catch her gaze, and she saw the inviting light of humor in his eyes. “Sir Robert and I are not friends, Adelaide. He’ll not hear of your opinion from me, nor believe a word of it, if he did. I wager you can’t speak of it to your friends or your family. Why not speak of it to me?”
    He made it sound so tempting, so simple. And perhaps it was. Why shouldn’t she speak her mind, here where only the two of them would hear? Why not say aloud what she had always thought?
    “He’s rather like a parrot caught in a mighty tailwind.”
    Connor’s deep laughter filled the courtyard.
    Appalled, she slapped a hand to her mouth. Then made herself drop it when she realized she was mumbling behind her fingers.
    “I didn’t mean to say that. I should not have said that.”
    “I’m delighted you did.”
    “It was most unkind.”
    “Not at all. Unfortunate styles of hair and dress are easily remedied. Unkind would be to point out he has an oversized nose. Poor man can’t do a thing about that.”
    “ You’ve an oversized nose.” Good heavens, what had come over her?
    “You see? Very unkind.” He tilted his head just a fraction to the side. “You’re a little bit foxed, aren’t you?”
    “Certainly not.” She gave the idea further consideration. “How does one know?”
    “In this case, one is informed by an objective bystander. You’re a little bit foxed.”
    That would certainly explain what had come over her, and why her thoughts seemed to flit about her head like hummingbirds arguing