Cupid's Choice: She's a shy beauty in distress. He's a chivalric gentleman. Read Online Free PDF Page B

circle of acquaintances. She was in her element, and if she noticed how backward her daughter was in social situations, she blamed Guin for being so entirely stupid.
    “I do hope you learn to overcome this embarrassing awkwardness, Guin,” she said, seating herself across from her daughter. “I scarcely knew where to look when you simply stared at Lady Beasely in such an idiotic way when she so graciously addressed you during our drive yesterday.”
    “I-I was woolgathering, Mama,” said Guin guiltily, knowing full well the excuse would not be well received. The nervous flutter in her stomach, one she was hardly ever without, intensified.
    “Pray confine your woolgathering to your own bedroom,” said Mrs. Holland with asperity.
    “Yes, Mama. Would you like me to read to you now?” asked Guin quickly and setting aside her embroidery in order to pick up the novel that she had started the evening before.
    Mrs. Holland shrugged, artfully arranging her skirt to her satisfaction. “I don’t know why I should allow you to do so when your voice sets my teeth on edge. But there is nothing else to do until the ball at Lady Smythe’s this evening. I am told that your uncle and dear Percy have gone out again. How I wish Percy was here! He does not fret me like you do.”
    “I wish Percy was here, too,” said Guin quietly, turning to the page where she had left off. Indeed, she thought, at times it was almost more than she could bear to be without her twin’s support. Without his timely interventions, their mother was more wont to chide her. She understood that her mother was feeling Lord Holybrooke’s neglect, just as she was herself dealing with loneliness, but it scarcely made Mrs. Holland’s oft-expressed displeasure more palatable.
    “We are going to tea with Lady Beasely tomorrow, Guin. Pray try to behave with some semblance of intelligence,” said Mrs. Holland. “And I trust you will do the same this evening. Listen to me, Guin! I do not wish to hear that idiotic stammering. It does not make you in the least interesting, which I suspect you believe it does.”
    “Yes, Mama,” whispered Guin, her heart sinking. Her stomach started churning as she thought about the inevitable mess she would make of everything.
    Guin never uttered a word of complaint over her mother’s social plans. Often she was made sick with apprehension at being thrust into social situations for which she was ill-equipped by her upbringing. She had been taught from childhood that her place was to be a silent support to her mother.
    Her lack of polish was the least of it, however. She stammered much of the time in company, despite her best efforts otherwise. She knew she was a dismal failure. No matter how hard she tried, Guin felt that she always fell short of her mother’s expectations.
    Guin began to read aloud a chapter from one of the popular romance novels that her mother favored. Her mind was not on it, however. She was nervous about the engagement that evening. Lady Smythe’s invitation was the most important they had yet received.
    However, Lord Holybrooke would be accompanying them, so she could at least present a show of calm at the prospect of her first dress ball. If Percy meant to stay close by, Guin thought hopefully, she might possibly scrape through the evening without incurring her mother’s wrath.
    However, the visit with Lady Beasely was an entirely different matter. Anxiously, Guin hoped her brother would not have a prior commitment so that he could also accompany her and Mrs. Holland to the Beaseleys. She felt certain that otherwise her genius for gaucherie would undoubtedly draw down on her head another of her mother’s dreaded lectures.
    Guin lacked confidence, and it was pathetically obvious to anyone of the meanest intelligence. It was a crippling handicap to a young miss embarking on her first Season. She had singularly failed to make a favorable impression with any of their new acquaintances. The ladies had